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The Jaguar Mk. VII at 70

By Harry Brown |

7th October, 2020

Seventy years ago today (16^th October), Jaguar introduced a large saloon that epitomised the famous slogan ‘Grace, Space, Pace’. Here are 20 facts about the Mk. VII family.

Jaguar kept the Mk. VII a secret until its debut at Grosvenor House on 16^th October 1950.
The sales material claimed the Mk. VII was ‘An entirely new car of unparalleled beauty’ - and it was undoubtedly a star of Earls Court -
The Mk. VII replaced the Mk. V; there was no “Jaguar Mk. VI” as the name was registered to Bentley.
The XK120 was intended as the test-bed for the Mk. VII’s 3442cc DOHC straight-six engine.
The initial price was £1,693, which included adjustable steering, a sliding roof, fog lamps, and (naturally) leather upholstery.
The top speed was a shade over 100 mph – an astounding achievement for the period.
On 25^th April 1952 Autocar magazine concluded the Mk. VII was an outstanding car. It has extremely good performance, is very comfortable to drive and to ride in, is very completely equipped, has a modern yet dignified appearance and is very good value – indeed, it is in that respect phenomenal.
1952 saw the Mk.VII became the first Jaguar available with Borg Warner automatic transmission; albeit on export models only.
Laycock de Normanville overdrive became an optional extra in 1954.
Stirling Moss drove a Mk. VII to victory at the 1952 and 1953 International Trophy Production Touring Car race at Silverstone. Ian Appleyard equalled this feat in 1954.
In September 1954 the Mk. VII was facelifted as the Mk. VIIM, featuring externally mounted auxiliary lamps, improved transmission and flashing indicators.
Automatic transmission was now available on the home market, and Autocar of 11^th May 1956 descried the Borg Warner-equipped Jaguar as ‘a happy marriage’.
Famous Mk. VII owners included Diana Dors, Jack Hawkins, Peter Sellers and HM The Queen Mother.
Browns Lane fitted their Mk. VII test-car, registration KRW 621, with lightweight magnesium body panels, disc brakes, modified suspension and the D--type.
The Jaguar crewed by Ronnie Adams Frank Biggar and Derek Johnstone took first place at the 26^th Monte Carlo Rally in 1956 -
Later that year, the Mk. VIII made its bow at the London Motor Show - .
As compared with its predecessor, the latest model sported a single-piece windscreen and a choice of two-tone paint finishes. The 3.4-litre engine now sported a modified “B-Type” cylinder head. Jaguar also enhanced the list of equipment, and the automatic version even boasted a clock for the rear passengers.
In 1958, the Mk. IX featured the famous 3.8-litre engine and – “firsts” for a Jaguar – power-assisted steering and all-disc brakes as standard.
Motor Sport described the Mk. IX as: the business executive’s ideal motor-car, handsome, impressive, able to hurry to the tune of 0-60 mph in under 19 secs and a top speed of over 115 mph when called upon, yet luxuriously and sensibly appointed and equipped.
British films frequently used the Mk. VII family as screen getaway cars into the early 1960s – perhaps most famously in The Fast Lady -:
The Mk. X replaced the Mk. IX in October 1961 – by which time the previous generation of “Big Jaguars” had re-defined an entire market sector.