1967 Jaguar 420 Saloon

This particular example is a 1967 Jaguar 420, fitted with the optional four-speed manual transmission with overdrive. Finished in an attractive hue of Opalescent Silver Blue Metallic over a black leather interior, this 420 exudes pedigree and classic British charm, but wouldn’t look out of place on the set of a Kray twins movie or similar London gangster ‘flick.’

With a relatively low mileage reading of just over 70,000 miles and the last owner having custodianship of the vehicle for over 25 years, it’s safe to say this 420 has a rich and interesting history, and the treasure trove of paperwork that accompanies the vehicle would certainly seem to back this up.

Commanding an incredible presence for a vehicle that is no larger than a standard German sedan of today, this 420 Saloon looks simply fantastic in the unusual shade of Opalescent Silver Blue Metallic, and is sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

Digging deeper, the paintwork is in generally good condition throughout, though there are numerous small marks and scratches which are commensurate with the age and mileage of the vehicle. There are also a number of small patches of paintwork bubbling, most notably around the nearside horn grille and adjacent to the nearside indicator lens. The driver’s door does not appear to close flush with the rest of the bodywork, though this may be something as simple as a dropped or failed hinge, and the door still opens and closes as it should with no resistance.

The wire wheels are in good condition and present very well indeed, though they would benefit from a full strip, refurbishment and polish to bring them back to A1 condition. The same is true of the chrome detailing and other brightwork that adorns this classic British saloon, with it looking to be in good shape but there are signs of pitting beginning to show, particularly around the window frames, bumper over-riders and on the guttering rails.

The lenses are all free of cracks and major stone chips, though the offside inner lamp lens appears to be fogging up or discolouring, which is the only major noticeable flaw to the exterior of the car.

Open the door of this 420 Saloon and the smell of classic cars, leather and old-fashioned motoring hit you in the face, just as it should with any thoroughbred classic.

The condition of the interior is generally pretty good for its age, though the carpets in particular are showing their age and mileage, and would benefit from a full replacement. The door cars on the offside are in good condition, though the nearside door cards both appear to exhibit signs of moisture ingress or surface mould, though this should be relatively easy to wipe off.

The seats are all free of rips and tears and are still wonderfully comfortable even to this day, though the cover of the driver’s seat appears to be coming off slightly around the front left corner. The wood trim is all present and correct, though again this is exhibiting a ‘patina’ finish now, particularly around the windows which can be seen in the photographs.

The headliner and sun visors are both in great condition with no sagging on the headliner, though a deep clean to remove some small stains certainly wouldn’t go amiss. All the interior courtesy lights are working correctly.

In the boot, the spare wheel and associated tools are present, while the boot carpet is also present and in good condition. Underneath the floor, the ‘tub’ appears to be in solid condition, and numerous photographs of inside the boot and underneath the floor can be viewed in the gallery below.

Interested parties should note that the clock, oil pressure gauge and speedometer were not functioning correctly during our test drive, and we couldn’t get the blower to work correctly. The ‘Brake Fluid / Handbrake’ light also remained illuminated throughout our short test drive, despite the handbrake being fully released, so this will need investigating.

For a 50+ year old car to start on the button is an impressive feat, and we’re happy to report that is exactly what this 420 Saloon can do. Starting with ease and settling into a refined idle, the automatic choke on this example seems to be working as it should, with no hesitation even with repeated starts. The gears all work as intended, though we were unable to test the overdrive functionality during our test drive. The clutch is certainly on the heavy side, though this is likely due to the age of the vehicle, rather than any untoward issues.

The engine bay presents in fine shape, though as with the rest of the vehicle, it would benefit from a full degreasing and cleaning to bring it back to its best. During our test drive, the power steering belt squealed loudly when on full steering lock, though this did not appear to affect the drivability of the vehicle. Other than that, there certainly doesn’t appear to be any sort of mechanical issues here, and the car starts, stops and behaves exactly as you’d expect from a 50+ year old saloon.

Underneath, the usual surface ‘bloom’ is prevalent, though there was nothing that we noticed during our inspection that caused any concern, nor are there any signs of leaks from the engine bay. For peace of mind, we’ve provided an in-depth gallery of photographs showing the engine bay, inner wings, firewall and underside of the car, which can all be viewed below.

The history file that is included with the vehicle is nothing short of absolutely outstanding, documenting everything from full-blown services to small odds-and-ends such as new batteries and other consumable items. It’s certainly fair to say that this 420 Saloon has been maintained with no expense spared, which should put any potential bidders minds at ease.

While it is difficult to read some of the handwriting on the hand-written invoices and purchase notes, it is clear to see that the vehicle has recently been fitted with a new radiator header tank, fuel filter, battery, refurbished viscous fan coupling and a new coolant header tank.

In addition to the invoices, there is also a plethora of old MOT certificates and other paperwork. If you’re the sort of owner that loves rifling through the history of your cars, this 420 Saloon will have you on cloud nine.

Thanks to its age, this vehicle is now exempt from mandatory MOT testing, however between 2006 and 2018 the vehicle only failed one MOT, which was all the way back in 2008! Clearly, this is a well-maintained example, and our own short test drive and time with the vehicle certainly backs up this notion.

If you’re looking to make a statement with your choice of transport, this 1967 Jaguar 420 Saloon would do just that. Finished in a stunning colour scheme and with a wonderfully in-depth history folder from the last owner of 25+ years, this is a truly cherished example of Jaguar’s ‘sports saloon’ of the late 60’s, and is sure to make an impression wherever it goes.

We estimate that this Jaguar 420 Saloon will fetch in the region of £9500 - £15000 so if you’re interested, be sure to get your bids in early, as we have a feeling this will be a popular one!

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us in Abingdon. To arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.