Jaguar's Postwar Saloon Redesign: The Mark V

Jaguar's Mark V (1948-1951) was the company's first redesigned postwar car (along with the XK120 sports car also introduced in 1948, but not initialy planned for mass production).  It succeeded the retroactively named Mark IV that was a pre-World War 2 design.

Following the Mark V came the Mark VII (1950-1956) that had more appropriate postwar styling features.  As for the Mark V, its design was largely a cleaned-up, slightly better integrated, slightly bulkier version of the Mark IV.  This was when most carmakers were rapidly following the trend to integrated "envelope" type bodies.

Why was Jaguar such a laggard?  I can only speculate.  Perhaps it was something "in the air" of the British automobile industry at the time.  A rough rule was that brands closer to entry-level were first to modernize styling and upper-end cars featured more traditional designs for their postwar restylings.  Jaguar had the reputation of providing good value for prices, but its cars were aligned much closer to the high end of the price-prestige continuum than the low end, so it falls into this conservative design category.  As noted, the Mark VII brought Jaguar more into line with postwar trends.

I previously wrote about Mark IV and Mark V Jaguars in my post "Jaguar's Tucked-in Aft Roof Line" here.  Today, I compare overall appearance of saloons (sedans) of both marks.

Gallery

1947 Jaguar Mark IV 3 1/2 Litre Saloon - HandH Auctions photo
First, general views of each design.

1949 Jaguar Mark V 3.5-Litre Saloon - Bonhams Auctions photo
The Mark V seems larger, but their wheelbases are the same: 120-inches (3048 mm).

1948 Jaguar Mark IV 3 1/2 Litre Saloon - car-for-sale photo
Front quarter view.  Mark IVs seem less spindly than, say, mid-1930s British cars.

1950 Jaguar Mark V 2.5-Litre Saloon - Hyman, Ltd. photo
But the Mark Vs look more massive, in part because they were wider -- 69.5-inches (1765 mm) -- than Mark IVs' 65.5-inches (1660 mm).  Grilles are similar, and so are the hoods (bonnets), though the Mark Vs is less horizontal in profile.  Headlights are smaller and partly blended into the fenders.

1949 Jaguar Mark IV 2 1/2 Litre Sports Saloon - car-for sale photo
Presumably a late-1948 model.  The trunk (boot) is large and integrated into the body -- again, unlike many mid-1930s British designs.

1950 Jaguar Mark V 3.5-Litre Saloon - car-for-sale photo
Rear end styling is essentially the same.

1948 Jaguar Mark IV 3 1/2 Litre Saloon - Bring a Trailer Auctions photo
Doors are aft-hinged "suicide" types.  The B-pillar is substantial.

1950 Jaguar Mark V 3.5-Litre Saloon - car-for-sale photo
Rear passenger doors are hinged on the B-pillars.  The passenger compartment greenhouse is reshaped -- greater windshield slant, thinner roof, thinner A- and B-pillars, and a more curved profile.  The beltline falls off to the rear more strongly.  Fenderlines are similar.  No louvres on the side of the hood, making for a cleaner appearance.