Jaguar Mark VII

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Jaguar Mark VII
Jaguar Mark VII M
Jaguar Mk VII
Manufacturer Jaguar Cars
Production 1951–1956
30,969 produced[1]
Predecessor Jaguar Mark V
Successor Jaguar Mark VIII
Class Large luxury car
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
Engine(s) 3442 cc I6 ,
160 bhp (119.3 kW)
((1951 - 1954)
3442 cc I6,
190 bhp (141.7 kW)
(1954 - 1956)
Wheelbase 120 in (3048 mm) [2]
Length 196.5 in (4991 mm) [3]
Width 73 in (1854 mm) [3]
Curb weight 3696 lb (1676 kg) MK VII
3724 lb (1689 kg) MK VII M

Contents

[edit] Jaguar Mk VII 1950 - 1954

The Jaguar Mark VII was a large four door sports sedan launched by Jaguar Cars of Coventry at the 1950 London Motor Show. The chassis came from the Jaguar Mark V with which the Mark VII shared its 10 feet (3,048.0 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. 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 in successor models.

The 3442 cc straight six engine provided the same 160 bhp (119.3 kW) 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.

The Jaguar Mark VII's arrival coincided with some relaxation of the the desperate economic situation that pervaded Britain after the war. By the time of the models' 1954 upgrade, 20,908 had been produced.[1]

A car tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1952 had a top speed of 101 mph (163 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 13.7 seconds. A fuel consumption of 17.6 miles per imperial gallon (16.1 L/100 km/14.7 mpg US) was recorded. The test car cost £1693 including taxes. [3]

[edit] 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 (141.7 kW) 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.

Early in 1956 a Mark VII won the Monte Carlo rally[4]. 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 model. In 1956 the Suez Crisis broke. Talk in Britain was of a return to fuel rationing: bubble cars 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.[1]


[edit] No Jaguar Mk VI

The Jaguar Mark VII had replaced the Jaguar Mark V. A high powered version of the Jaguar Mark V had been designated the Jaguar Mark VI, but it is thought that only two of these were built[2].


[edit] 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

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Sedgwick, Michael; Gillies (1993). A-Z of cars 1945-1970. UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-39-7. 
  2. ^ a b Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2. 
  3. ^ a b c "The Jaguar Mark VII saloon" (April 16 1952). The Motor. 
  4. ^ Georgano (Ed), G N (1968). The Complete Encyclopaedia of Motorcars 1885 - 1968. London: Ebury Press. 
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Jaguar Cars, a subsidiary of Tata Motors since 2008, road and race car timeline, 1940s–1980s — next »
Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sports XK120 XK140 XK150 E-type S1 E S2 E-type S3 XJ-S XJ-S HE
Saloon Mark 1 Mark 2, 240, 340
S-Type XJ-C
420 XJ6 S1 XJ6 S2 XJ6 S3 XJ6 (XJ40)
Mk IV Mk V Mk VII Mk VIII Mk IX Mk X 420G XJ12 S1 XJ12 S2 XJ12 S3
Supercar Jaguar XKSS
Racing C-Type D-Type E-Type XJ13 XJ-C XJ41
XJ42		 XJRs
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