1967 Jaguar 420G

This LHD auto 1967 Jaguar 420G (VIN: GID72210BW) comes to us with little provenance, ownership lineage and no service history.

We have no idea where it was or what it was doing before 2013/14, when it entered a static display in a private collection in the Middle East.

And we know that it hasn’t really turned a wheel since then, but the engine did start and run when Bonhams sold this very car less than a year ago.

Today, the odometer reads 24,075, just as it did then. The gentleman who bought it last year intended to recommission the car, but sadly other commitments mean he hasn’t found the time to do anything with it at all.

The car seems to us to be in very good overall cosmetic condition, and although it’s not perfect, we’re of the opinion that this is an honest, serviceable vehicle and one that has survived the ravages of time with commendable fortitude.

Although we had had the car running on site a year ago, we didn’t try to test drive it, as the sensible thing to do with this car prior to attempting this would be to give it a thorough recommissioning, a comprehensive service, a brake overhaul, fit some fresh tyres and to flush out the fuel system. 

In fact we’d recommend taking it for an MoT test just as a gauge of its roadworthiness, not that it actually requires a test by law, as it’s exempt.

This car has acres of bodywork (it’s about the size of the Queen Mary), and pretty much all of it is in really good condition.

That’s impressive because this car is black, which is notoriously unforgiving of dirt, scratches, amateurish paint jobs, or any other sort of aberration that might well go unnoticed for longer on a white or silver car. There are various signs of the lacquer being affected by spots of bird poo in places.

There are few significant dinks, dents or creases to the bodywork. The panels look straight and true.

The shut lines seem consistent and the doors close with reassuring weight and precision – with the exception of the offside rear door, which is stubbornly refusing to open at present. And the owner tells us that the door locks are inoperative.

The wheels seem to be in fine fettle, but we’d highly recommend fitting a new set of tyres before driving this car, as the ones on it, despite having tread, are ancient and the rubber will have hardened.

The chrome is generally in good nick, with most of the larger pieces, such as the grille, hub caps and bumpers, bright and shiny.

The wing mirror on the driver’s door is missing, but it’s not lost: you’ll find it sitting inside the car.

The offside corner of the front bumper looks as though it’s dropped (or been bent) down a little.

There are a few stone chips and areas of scuffed paint on the inner edges of the wheel arches and on the bodywork below the boot lid.

There’s no corrosion to speak of on the bodywork but we think the very first signs of micro-blistering are starting to show below the windscreen and in a one or two places below the door windows. At present, these are barely discernible.

Some of the rubber trim around the windows is cracked or perished.

It’s much the same story of good overall preservation with the car’s cavernous interior.

The mottled grey and blue fabric upholstery, both front and back, is in excellent nick and there is no damage anywhere that we can see.

The driver’s seat might want to make itself more presentable by surrendering to a damp cloth and some soapy water.

The wood and veneers on the dashboard and the rear picnic tables have held up well. So too the door cappings, with the exception to the rule being the driver’s door, where some of the lacquer has lifted and there are some cracks and holes in the veneer.

The door cards are in good condition, as is the headlining. The carpets and mats are reasonable in the front but are rather more frayed, worn and stained in the back.

The instruments, steering wheel, column shift and handbrake all look fine.

We can’t make many claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t driven the vehicle. But last year the dash did light up, and the engine turned without a fuss.

The boot is solid and contains a spare wheel (with a shredded tyre attached) some tools and a few assorted spare parts.

In general, most of what’s visible looks to be in fairly decent condition, although there is some corrosion in evidence, particularly on the offside, in and around the undersides of the sills.

You’ll want to look for yourself and reach your own conclusion on whether or not the structural integrity of the vehicle is affected.

The engine and engine bay appear to be clean and dry and, as far as we can tell, everything is in its right and proper place, although the radiator hoses are not connected. It appears there is a an oil cooler missing, and all the old hoses would almost certainly need replacing as they too will have hardened over the years.

The engine 420 G’s 4.2-litre XK is in full E-Type, triple carb spec.

The owner tells us the car is no longer running, although this is probably just because it needs a fresh battery, as he’s done absolutely nothing to it in the year he’s owned it.

The car comes with no history, no service records and no MoT certificate, although as it’s now 57 years old it no longer needs one.

It does come with a new V5 and a Jaguar Heritage Certificate.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would strongly encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

The current owner bought it from Bonhams last year with the intention of getting stuck into the project, but he simply hasn’t found the time for it, so is now reluctantly selling it.

In our opinion, this 420G is in fundamentally decent condition, both inside and out.

Someone, somewhere, has looked after it with care and diligence for much of its long life.

We think the mileage on the odometer is genuine.

Provided, of course, that the car’s structural integrity, engine and mechanicals are as good as the bodywork and interior, we think this car has enough underlying quality and integrity to more than repay the next owner’s investment of time and energy.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £5,000 - £10,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Newcastle upon Tyne. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.