Jaguar Mark VII
Encyclopedia
The Jaguar Mark VII was a large four-door sports sedan launched by Jaguar Cars of Coventry
at the 1950 London Motor Show. It replaced the Jaguar Mark V, but as there was a Bentley Mark VI already on the market, Jaguar decided to call the next model Mark VII. A version of the Jaguar Mark V with the XK engine
had been designated the Jaguar Mark VI, but it is thought that only two were built.
with which the Mark VII shared its 10 feet (3,048 mm) wheelbase. But for this latest offering Jaguar designed a modern and streamlined looking body, featuring fully integrated headlights and mudguards along with an increased rear overhang which gave the car enhanced presence. As on the Mark V, the upper part of the rear wheels was covered by the body work (properly called spats, and removable for flat tyre wheel changes). In place of its predecessor's flat windscreen, the Mark VII design included a two piece front screen, adumbrating the gently curved one piece screen that would become available with the Jaguar Mark VIII
.
The predecessor model
had been powered by an engine of prewar design, originally developed by the Standard Motor Company
. The Mark VII featured the remarkable newly developed XK engine
first seen in production form in the 1948 XK120
. The 3442 cc straight-six engine provided the same 160 bhp
power output in this application as in the Mark VII's sports car contemporary
. Despite its size, a top speed in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h) was claimed for the Mark VII.
The Jaguar Mark VII's arrival coincided with some relaxation of the desperate economic situation that pervaded Britain after the Second World War. Already in 1951 the enthusiastic reception of the Mark VII in the UK and US markets was given by the company as the reason for their relocation to larger premises, in a plant built for wartime production as a so-called "shadow factory" and now available for immediate use. By the time of the Mark VII's 1954 upgrade, 20,908 had been produced.
A car tested by the British magazine The Motor
in 1952 had a top speed of 101 mph (162.5 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.7 seconds. A fuel consumption of 17.6 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1693 including taxes.
The Mark VII M could be distinguished from its predecessor most easily by the "horn grills" beneath the headlights. These replaced the formerly integrated auxiliary lamps which were now perched on the bumpers slightly further from the centre of the car than hitherto. The newer model also had "wrap-around" bumpers that wrapped a little further along the sides of the car.
Early in 1956 a Mark VII won the Monte Carlo rally
. During the next few years big Jaguar sedans would play a leading part in British saloon car racing.
One year after presenting the Mark VII M, Jaguar introduced their elegant smaller 2.4-litre saloon. In 1956 the Suez
Crisis
broke. Talk in Britain was of a return to fuel rationing: bubble car
s appeared on the streets. For Jaguar the focus switched towards the middle-weight saloons, and neither the Mark VII M nor any of its increasingly powerful but thirsty direct successors would match the production volumes of the original Jaguar Mark VII. Nevertheless, before giving way to the Mark VIII
, the Mark VII M notched up 10,061 sales during its two-year production run.
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
at the 1950 London Motor Show. It replaced the Jaguar Mark V, but as there was a Bentley Mark VI already on the market, Jaguar decided to call the next model Mark VII. A version of the Jaguar Mark V with the XK engine
Jaguar XK6 engine
The renowned Jaguar XK dual overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder engine was introduced in 1949 and continued in manufacture until 1992. It was produced in five displacements for Jaguar passenger cars, with other sizes being made by Jaguar and privateers for racing...
had been designated the Jaguar Mark VI, but it is thought that only two were built.
Jaguar Mk VII 1950–1954
The Mk VII chassis came from the Jaguar Mark VJaguar Mark V
The Jaguar Mark V is a saloon car built by Jaguar Cars Ltd. The origin of the name is rather odd since, back in 1948 there had been no Mk I to IV Jaguars: the MK IV designation was only given to the predecessor after the launch of the Mk V...
with which the Mark VII shared its 10 feet (3,048 mm) wheelbase. But for this latest offering Jaguar designed a modern and streamlined looking body, featuring fully integrated headlights and mudguards along with an increased rear overhang which gave the car enhanced presence. As on the Mark V, the upper part of the rear wheels was covered by the body work (properly called spats, and removable for flat tyre wheel changes). In place of its predecessor's flat windscreen, the Mark VII design included a two piece front screen, adumbrating the gently curved one piece screen that would become available with the Jaguar Mark VIII
Jaguar Mark VIII
The Jaguar Mark VIII is a large four-door sports sedan introduced by the Jaguar company of Coventry at the 1956 London Motor Show.-The body:The car shared its wheelbase with its predecessor, the Jaguar Mark VII, which outwardly it closely resembled. However, the interior fittings were more...
.
The predecessor model
Jaguar Mark V
The Jaguar Mark V is a saloon car built by Jaguar Cars Ltd. The origin of the name is rather odd since, back in 1948 there had been no Mk I to IV Jaguars: the MK IV designation was only given to the predecessor after the launch of the Mk V...
had been powered by an engine of prewar design, originally developed by the Standard Motor Company
Standard Motor Company
The Standard Motor Company was founded in Coventry, England in 1903 by Reginald Walter Maudslay . The Standard name was last used in Britain in 1963, and in India in 1987.-1903–1914:...
. The Mark VII featured the remarkable newly developed XK engine
Jaguar XK6 engine
The renowned Jaguar XK dual overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder engine was introduced in 1949 and continued in manufacture until 1992. It was produced in five displacements for Jaguar passenger cars, with other sizes being made by Jaguar and privateers for racing...
first seen in production form in the 1948 XK120
Jaguar XK120
The Jaguar XK120 is a sports car which was manufactured by Jaguar between 1948 and 1954. It was Jaguar's first sports car since the SS 100, which ceased production in 1940.-History:...
. The 3442 cc straight-six engine provided the same 160 bhp
power output in this application as in the Mark VII's sports car contemporary
Jaguar XK120
The Jaguar XK120 is a sports car which was manufactured by Jaguar between 1948 and 1954. It was Jaguar's first sports car since the SS 100, which ceased production in 1940.-History:...
. Despite its size, a top speed in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h) was claimed for the Mark VII.
The Jaguar Mark VII's arrival coincided with some relaxation of the desperate economic situation that pervaded Britain after the Second World War. Already in 1951 the enthusiastic reception of the Mark VII in the UK and US markets was given by the company as the reason for their relocation to larger premises, in a plant built for wartime production as a so-called "shadow factory" and now available for immediate use. By the time of the Mark VII's 1954 upgrade, 20,908 had been produced.
A car tested by the British magazine The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
in 1952 had a top speed of 101 mph (162.5 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.7 seconds. A fuel consumption of 17.6 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1693 including taxes.
Jaguar Mk VII M 1954–1956
British manufacturers in the 1950s generally launched new models at the London Motor Show which took place in October: at the 1954 motor show Jaguar presented the Mark VII M. The engine was of the same size and had the same 8:1 compression ratio, but now the power output was 190 bhp permitting a claimed top speed of 104 mph (167 km/h). The standard transmission remained a four speed manual gear box: additionally the three speed Borg Warner automatic, introduced in 1953 but hitherto available only on exported cars, became an option for British buyers.The Mark VII M could be distinguished from its predecessor most easily by the "horn grills" beneath the headlights. These replaced the formerly integrated auxiliary lamps which were now perched on the bumpers slightly further from the centre of the car than hitherto. The newer model also had "wrap-around" bumpers that wrapped a little further along the sides of the car.
Early in 1956 a Mark VII won the Monte Carlo rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
. During the next few years big Jaguar sedans would play a leading part in British saloon car racing.
One year after presenting the Mark VII M, Jaguar introduced their elegant smaller 2.4-litre saloon. In 1956 the Suez
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
broke. Talk in Britain was of a return to fuel rationing: bubble car
Bubble car
Bubble car is a subjective term used for some small, economical automobiles, usually produced in the 1950s and 1960s.- Varieties :The Messerschmitt KR175 and KR200, and the FMR Tg500, had aircraft-style bubble canopies, giving rise to the term bubble car to refer to all these post-war microcars...
s appeared on the streets. For Jaguar the focus switched towards the middle-weight saloons, and neither the Mark VII M nor any of its increasingly powerful but thirsty direct successors would match the production volumes of the original Jaguar Mark VII. Nevertheless, before giving way to the Mark VIII
Jaguar Mark VIII
The Jaguar Mark VIII is a large four-door sports sedan introduced by the Jaguar company of Coventry at the 1956 London Motor Show.-The body:The car shared its wheelbase with its predecessor, the Jaguar Mark VII, which outwardly it closely resembled. However, the interior fittings were more...
, the Mark VII M notched up 10,061 sales during its two-year production run.
Sources
- Schrader, Halwart: Typenkompass Jaguar - Personenwagen seit 1931, Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart (2001), ISBN 3-613-02106-4
- Stertkamp, Heiner: Jaguar - Die komplette Chronik von 1922 bis heute, 2. Auflage, Heel-Verlag (2006), ISBN 3-89880-337-6