The 1948 Mark IV Drophead Coupe was the first postwar Jaguar model and the first offered with left-hand drive (LHD). The elegant 3-position Drophead Coupe variant remains a favorite.

The Jaguar Mark IV, built from 1945 to 1949, was a re-launch of a pre-World War II model made by SS Cars Ltd. from 1936. After the war, the company changed its name to Jaguar, disassociating itself from the negative connotation of the term "SS" — short for Schutzstaffel, Hitler's elite military unit.

The Mark IV is an emphatic statement of Jaguar's brand of luxury and elegance. Its distinctive looks included an upright grille with leaping Jaguar ornament atop the radiator, and massive freestanding headlights. Its long front end sported extensive chrome and was framed with two huge bookends called mudguards or fenders. While the front of the car presented an extravagant face, the sides and body embodied pure simplicity.

The interior was finished in white leather. Its wood dashboard showed off a number of dials with black faces, chrome switches, handles, and buttons.

Of all the early postwar cars, the 1948 Mark IV Drophead Coupe holds a special place in British motoring history.

• Wheelbase, inches: 120.0
• Weight, lbs: 3,510
• Length, inches: 186
• Width, inches: 66
• Height, inches: 61
• Base price: $4,630-$4,755
• Current Value: $159,500

• Type: spark-ignition 4-stroke
• Displacement: 3486 cm3 / 212.9 cui
• Fuel system: 2 carburetors
• Engine: I6 3485 cc | 212.7 cu in. | 3.5 L.
• Compression ratio: 7.2:1
• Horsepower @ rpm: 125 hp @ 4250 rpm
• Torque @ rpm: 184 @ 2000 rpm
• Transmission: 4-speed manual

• Top Speed, mph: 92 mph