1967 Jaguar 420

Jaguar 420 (Saloon), 1966-1968

The Jaguar 420 was in production from 1966 until 1968. Styled by Sir William Lyons, it is a front- engine, rear wheel drive saloon car seating five people.

The Jaguar 420 was the furthest development of the MkII, via the S-Type. The smaller Jaguar saloons were getting tired by the mid 60s, but with the XJ6 still some way off Jaguar had to do something. The S-Type could be uprated - moreover, this would help to retain sales from those unimpressed with the girth of the gargantuan MkX. The larger car's nose was grafted onto the S-Type, a new dashboard fitted, and the bigger 4.2 litre engine fitted - but otherwise it was pretty much business as usual. That meant all independent suspension, disc brakes, a choice of four speed manual with overdrive or automatic transmissions and a car which cornered incredibly by the standards of the day. Not only that, but the 4.2 litre engine meant that in the real world it was every bit a match for the reputation the fearsome MkII 3.8 had earned itself. Unlike the E-Type and MkX however, it had just two carburettors in this installation instead of three. Power was 245bhp, as a result. The Borg Warner 35 was replaced with the tougher Model Eight, the car gained dual circuit brakes, a viscous fan, negative earth electrics, a pre-engaged starter and an alternator in place of the S-type's dynamo. Suspension stayed the same as the S-type, including the IRS which Jaguar had near-standardised by that time.

The 420 was discontinued in 1968 when the XJ6 was launched. 10,236 were built. Unsurprisingly, they drive like an S-type, which is to say a more refined MkII. Cars with power steering are undoubtedly easiest, though those without aren't impossible to drive. One notable advantage over the MkII is that the independent rear suspension enables the tyres to stay in touch with the tarmac for longer, resulting in far better cornering than the car upon which it's based. It's the best a small Jaguar saloon ever felt, and there were many who mourned its passing with the launch of the new XJ6 in 1968. It's certainly as close to the XJ experience as the MkII derived cars ever got.

That MkII lineage means parts are fairly plentiful, through specialist such as SNG Barratt. Many body panels are shared with the S-Type and MkII, while mechanically much is the same as the E-type, MkX and early examples of the XJ6. That which isn't, is shared with the S-type. The 420 also shares the S-type's propensity to corrode, so check the valances, sills and arched thoroughly and don't be surprised if some of it isn't as solid as it looks. These cars may well have had bodywork, and the 420 is still the least valuable small Jag. It's entirely possible that at some stage, repairs have been effected on the cheap.

This is one Jaguar saloon where wire wheels don't add a significant premium. Perhaps the four light nose makes many feel they're out of place? As with every other 1960s Jaguar however, manual gearboxes are at a premium, sometimes as much as 20% for the right car. The automatic isn't a bad bet and is certainly a bargain, but sporting drivers prize the manual most highly and prices do reflect this.

The Jaguar XJ6 which replaced it would be the best competitor for the 420, though the 3.8-litre S-Type might also be worth a look. The Rover 3500 might also be worth considering, or the Mercedes 250 saloon. A natural, if obvious, alternative would be the badge engineered Daimler Sovereign, which lasted to 1969. This car was a 420 in all but name, though prices differ given the different enthusiast profile of the Daimler marque. Its big, big value MkX sibling may be worth a look if you have an aircraft hanger for a garage too.