1950 Jaguar MK 5 - $89,000 - Santa Barbara, CA - Offered for sale for the first time in decades is an exceptionally beautiful, rare, numbers matching, mechanically sound, solid and honest 1950 Jaguar Mark V Drophead Coupe finished in understated Burgundy over Parchment, a particularly attractive livery on the Mark V’s elegant, regal lines. Just out of the William Young collection in Seattle following more than 30 years of ownership, the car has been fully gone through mechanically and is ready to enjoy, whether as a fabulous weekend driver or as a Jaguar Club of North America (JCNA) event participant.
William Young has been a significant collector for the last 40 years and while his collection has included cars as notable as the ex-Constance Bennett 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Town Car by Brewster (now valued at $3M+), Jaguars were always his true passion and we were fortunate enough to have acquired three of his XK120 Roadsters and this Mark V. A JCNA regional president for many years, Mr. Young always bought only the most honest examples and kept them exceptionally well maintained, as evidenced by this car’s fantastic condition. Dispatched in July of 1950 and delivered new to its original owner in Vancouver by Canadian distributor Thomas Plimley, the car remained in the area until the early 1980s, when Mr. Young was apprised of its availability by a fellow JCNA member. Traveling the brief distance up the coast from his Seattle area home, upon seeing the car's well-preserved condition, he knew it was the perfect platform for a high quality restoration: original, solid, numbers matching and rare enough that it would be sure to appreciate.
Today the car presents nearly as well as it did following the completion of its restoration, at which point it was high scoring in JCNA events. The gorgeous Burgundy finish is not without its blemishes, but as the pictures exhibit, they are few, far between and completely insignificant in terms of taking away from the car’s overall appeal, which is substantial. The body is entirely straight, without any evidence of bondo or accident repair and the panel fit is consistent with even gaps all around. The brightwork is in excellent shape, as are both the rubber and glass, and the steel wheels with complimentary hubcaps are wrapped in brand new wide white wall tires. Mr. Young always felt that the Mark V Drophead was more attractive without its original rear wheel spats and we’re inclined to agree, however they do come with the car. He also had a charming custom chrome leaping cat mascot affixed to the radiator cap, which we rather like, but the correct mascot isn’t difficult to source if that would be the new owner’s preference.
The Parchment leather interior is in equally as clean condition, appearing virtually untouched. The seats show only the most negligible amount of wear and the same is true of the interior panels. The ornate wood trim is in excellent condition, glossy and free of any cracking and the Everflex convertible top is in excellent condition. The car has never been subjected to the elements, evidenced by the untainted, rust-free undercarriage, rounding out an entirely pure, numbers-matching and honest example, one that needs only a new owner’s garage and the same doting care that it has received for the last 30+ years.
Mechanically the car is fantastic, its original 3.5L engine firing up effortlessly, idling consistently and pulling strongly and smoothly through each of the original gearbox’s gears. The car brakes straight and true, the suspension is sound, and excellent, even compression across all cylinders ensures a fantastically smooth, comfortable ride quality. The car is a joy on the road, whether tooling through town or cruising down the highway. It is also worth noting that the car comes with its original shop manual, sales brochure and, most importantly, a complete and original tool kit, a rarity for Jaguars of this vintage and exceedingly difficult and expensive to replace.
With only 577 left hand drive Mark V Drophead Coupes produced, this is an excellent opportunity to acquire a gorgeous, rare and appreciating investment grade classic that has all the right things going for it: beautiful cosmetic condition, a timeless and appealing color combination, excellent provenance and strong mechanicals. We considered consigning the entire collection to the Gooding and Co. or RM Auction, but have instead opted to sell the car (or the entire collection) privately to a good home.
We want this car to go to great home and would be happy to further discuss it and answer any questions, so please feel free to email us or call us at 805-202-4557. You can also visit us online at GoodmanReed.
Goodman Reed Motorcars
We’ve always had an appreciation for classic European cars and over the years have created an eclectic personal collection. We only buy cars that we’d personally be interested in owning and generally only sell them to make room for other acquisitions. That time has come for this Jaguar (if the price is right, of course – this isn’t a fire sale). We try to give accurate descriptions of the cars we’re selling, but we’re enthusiasts, not experts, and we encourage and are happy to help facilitate personal or professional inspections. But please do so before bidding, as the alternative harms our ability to make sales to other interested parties who have done their proper due diligence before bidding.
For U.S. buyers a 10% non-refundable deposit is required within 3 days of the auction’s end, the balance to be paid within 7 days of the auction’s end. Foreign buyers must pay in full within 7 business days of the auction’s end. Buyer is responsible for shipping, however we’d be more that happy to help with recommendations and arrangements. The car is listed locally and we reserve the right to end the auction at any time should it sell prior to auction’s end. Thanks for your interest.