1947 Jaguar Mark IV

1947 Jaguar MK IV 3. 5 Litre Sports Saloon – An Exceptional Provenance

It is with great reluctance that this remarkable 1947 Jaguar MK IV 3. 5 Litre Sports Saloon is offered for sale.

Presented in outstanding condition, this matching-numbers example combines originality with usability, benefiting from a sympathetically installed 5-speed gearbox that makes modern touring a genuine pleasure while preserving the character of this iconic Jaguar.

The 3. 5-litre MK IV Sports Saloon represented the pinnacle of Jaguar's immediate post-war production. As the marque's flagship model, it featured the largest engine available, elegant all-steel pressed bodywork, Ace wheel discs, a sliding sunroof, factory radio, sumptuous leather interior and a plethora of polished wood capping's and wooden dash-board. Capable of exceeding 100 mph, it was an extraordinary achievement for 1947 and, in an era of post-war austerity, was a motor car reserved for only the most affluent buyers.

Originally supplied new by Jaguar in 1947 to a farmer in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, JE 9611 spent its early life in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Following a serious accident in which the car overturned, it was returned to Jaguar and rebuilt with a brand-new factory body—one of the very last MK IV bodies ever produced and supplied by Jaguar. It was subsequently purchased by its second owner, a farm contractor from Caxton, Cambridgeshire, who enjoyed many years of faithful service before the car was eventually laid up in a farm barn for over 25 years.

The most significant chapter in the car's history began in the late 1970s when it was acquired by internationally renowned Jaguar specialist David Davenport. A lifelong enthusiast with a particular passion for the MK IV, David retained the car as part of his own personal collection before undertaking a meticulous restoration in the early 2000s to his exacting standards. Restored not for sale, but for his own enjoyment, the car has since been cherished and regularly enjoyed by David and his family.

This provenance alone places JE 9611 in a very special category. Cars from David Davenport's personal collection are exceptionally rare to come to market and are recognised throughout the Jaguar community for their authenticity, quality of restoration and meticulous care. Few MK IVs can boast such distinguished ownership.

Adding further to its significance, JE 9611 was chosen to appear on the front cover of Alan Crouch's book on the Jaguar MK IV—further testament to its quality and standing among enthusiasts.

Today, the car remains in exceptional condition, reflecting both the standard of its restoration and the care it has received ever since. It has recently undergone a comprehensive service and is ready to be driven, shown and enjoyed immediately.

This is far more than simply a beautiful Jaguar; it is an important, highly documented example with an enviable history, exceptional provenance and direct links to one of the world's foremost Jaguar specialists. Opportunities to acquire a car of this calibre and pedigree are exceptionally rare.