by Richard Waugh
2026 review by Autolycus
This softback volume has been written by a New Zealand enthusiast for these cars, the Rev. Richard Waugh – and it is therefore not surprising that 40 of the book’s 165 pages are devoted to stories of the cars that have survived in that country. This in no way makes it just a “New Zealand” history –far from it. Richard Waugh has created a superb history of the engineering and styling development, marketing, production, survival and lasting influence of these Big Cats.
The front cover succinctly adds a clue to the thoroughness of the book: “With the groundbreaking design evolution story of the Mark VII and the Mark V & XK120”. The story of the the origin and evolution of the Mark VII to Mark IX cars only makes sense when put into the context of the Mark V – an interim model necessary to maintain sales while its successor big saloon was under development – and the XK120, originally conceived as a low-volume halo model to excite customers for the marque, but, because of delays in the launch of the Mark VII caused by shortage of materials, a car that became by happenstance the first to use the famous twin-cam Jaguar engine and which sold in far greater numbers than originally planned and also cemented Jaguar’s sporting reputation.
The book starts with a short introduction that explains the importance of the Mark V and XK120 in this story. Chapter 1 then deals with Origins – and provides a well-researched and fascinating history of the Jaguar company from its start as a builder of sidecars in Blackpool, up to the challenge and opportunity it faced after World War II. It includes a sidebar that covers the development of the Jaguar twin-cam engine and the vital part it played in the company’s success.
Chapter 2, “The ‘100 mph Saloon'”, explains William Lyons’ (the author has used this simpler possessive throughout the book) vision of a car that would achieve this speed in comfort and with impeccably sporting handling, how he set about creating it, and how he was forced to put what was ready of the chassis into the Mark V interim car, with a pre-war engine.
But it is in Chapter 3 that some of the finest parts of this book are to be found. Its title is “Evolution of a Style”, and is a beautifully explained and illustrated history of how Lyons’ ideas moved from first prototypes to the final production-ready car. The photographs, many from Jaguar itself, clearly show how much effort was put into getting the styling of the car, and its underpinnings, just right. And the story includes the detail of how the Mark VII styling influenced the XK120, to create two cars that were among the most strikingly beautiful of their era.
Chapter 4, “Launch and Acclaim”, tells how well received the car was from its introduction at Earls Court in October 1950. It includes two pages of quotes that confirm the positive opinions of all who saw it and tested it.
Chapters 5 and 6 cover the evolution of the Mark VII into each of its successors up to the Mark IX. And that evolution was surprisingly limited, which only confirms the essential rightness of the original 1950 car.
Chapters 7 to 10 deal with survivors in New Zealand – and there is much here that brings to light Jaguar’s overseas marketing and sales approach, not just stories of restoration and use on road and racetrack in that country.
The book closes with some delightful sections on the model’s influences on other makes, contemporary road tests, racing achievements in the hands of drivers as distinguished as Stirling Moss, Ian Appleyard and Tom Rolt, as well as fine drivers in Australia and New Zealand. At the end is a short section on scale models of the car.
In November 2025, the New Zealand Club held a national gathering for the 75th anniversary of the Mark VII, considered to be a very influential British sports saloon in that country in the early 1950s. They gathered 24 examples and the author sent us a YouTube clip of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhZSY-Ypjjw
The Mark VII to Mark IX cars were a highly important part of post-war motoring history. This book matches that importance in a way that makes fascinating reading. It is highly recommended, not just to Jaguar enthusiasts but also to anyone interested in how the best cars go from the ideas in the head of a visionary company leader to well-earned success in the market.
Publisher: The Kynaston Charitable Trust
Price: Around £24 to £26 including postage on eBay. Also avialble by International Order Form direct from Batemans in New Zealand:
International Order (Batemans)- New Jaguar book
Description: Softback 165 pages. 28cm x 21cm. Many photographs in black & white and colour.
ISBN: 978-0-473-74936-1
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