Jaguar Mark IV

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SS Jaguar & Jaguar Mk IV
Mark IV
Manufacturer Jaguar Cars
Production 1935–1949
Predecessor SS Cars Ltd SS1
Successor Jaguar Mark V
SS Jaguar & Jaguar Mk IV 1½ Litre
Production 1935-1949
13,046 made
Body style(s) Saloon
Drophead coupé
Engine(s) 1608 cc or 1776 cc Straight-4
Wheelbase 112.5 in (2,860 mm)
Length 173 in (4,400 mm)
Width 65.5 in (1,660 mm)
SS Jaguar & Jaguar Mk IV 2½ Litre
Production 1935-1948
7230 made
Body style(s) Saloon
Drophead coupé
Engine(s) 2664 cc Straight-6
Wheelbase 120 in (3,000 mm)
Length 186 in (4,700 mm)
Width 66 in (1,700 mm)
SS Jaguar & Jaguar Mk IV 3½ Litre
Production 1937-1948
5424 made
Body style(s) Saloon
Drophead coupé
Engine(s) 3485 cc Straight-6
Wheelbase 120 in (3,000 mm)
Length 186 in (4,700 mm)
Width 66 in (1,700 mm)

The Jaguar Mark IV (pronounced mark four) was a saloon car built by Jaguar from 1945 to 1949. It was a relaunch of a pre World War II model made by SS Cars Ltd from 1936.

Before World War 2 the name Jaguar was the model name given to the complete range of cars built by SS Cars Ltd. The saloons were titled SS Jaguar 1½ litre, 2½ litre or 3½ litre. The two seater sports car was titled the SS Jaguar 100 2½ litre or 3½ litre.

After the war the company name was changed to Jaguar Cars Ltd. Whilst the post war saloons were officially the Jaguar 1½ litre, 2½ litre etc the term 'Mark IV' was applied by the trade simply to differentiate them from the officially named Mark V.

Contents

[edit] SS Jaguar & Jaguar Mk IV 1½ Litre

The smallest model of the range originally featured a 1608 cc side valve Standard engine but from 1938 this was replaced by a 1776 cc overhead valve unit also from Standard.

Pre war the car was available as a saloon or drophead coupé but post war only the closed model was made. Up to 1938 body construction on all the models was by the traditional steel on wood method but in that year it changed to all steel. Performance was not a strong point but 70 mph (110 km/h) was possible and the car featured the same well appointed interior as its larger brothers.

[edit] SS Jaguar & Jaguar Mk IV 2½ Litre

Again the engine was sourced from Standard but had the cylinder head reworked by SS. Unlike the 1½ Litre there were some drophead models made post war.

The chassis was originally of 119 inch (3023 mm) but grew by an inch (25 mm) in 1938 to 120 inches (3,000 mm).

[edit] SS Jaguar & Jaguar Mk IV 3½ Litre

The 3½ Litre, introduced in 1938, was essentially the same body and chassis as the 2½ Litre but the larger engine gave better performance but at the expense of economy. The rear axle ratio was 4.25:1 as opposed to the 4.5:1 on the 2½ Litre.

[edit] External links

Jaguar Mark IV drophead coupé, built in 1948
Jaguar Mark IV drophead coupé, built in 1948
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