One of the best examples of the very rare Jaguar 420G Sport Sedan

Jaguar's 1967 advertising slogan speaks volumes about the 420G ........."Grace, Space and Pace”

Five firsts!

Recently entered in seven car shows. She achieved first place, in its class, in five of them including Jaguars on the Island, North Americas largest Jaguar car show, an excellent example of a very handsome and rarely seen model Jaguar 420G sports sedan.

Technical Specifications and Key Points

• 4.2 Litre (4235 cc 258 Cu in) Straight Six Twin Overhead Cams
• 265 Brake Horsepower
• 0-60 mph 9.9 seconds
• Top Speed 121.5 mph
• Triple 2 Inch side draft SU HD.8 Carburetors
• 3 speed Borg Warner Auto Transmission
• Brakes 4 wheel assisted discs, rears inboard
• Power steering
• Jaguar Heritage Certificate
• Colour: Old English White with Red interior

Jaguar's ultimate expression of a series of "Sporting Saloons"

The Jaguar 420G introduced at the October 1966 London Motor Show and produced for two years as the ultimate expression of a series of "sporting saloons". Jaguar took advantage and used the new sports car technology that was developed for the iconic E-Type including the independent rear suspension with inboard discs and utilizing the proven 265 BHP legendary XK engine. The first of Jaguar's line up to have a monocoque design which sits the car lower enabling its formidable handling characteristics.

This is a true British classic!

The finish of this Old English White sports sedan reflects the care and attention given in its very recent restoration. As previously said she is not quite concourse but very close. The vehicle has an authentic Jaguar Heritage Certificate detailing its history and original ownership. Numbers agree save for the engine which was replaced with an identical 1978 newer one. Odometer records 3167 real mileage is unknown.

Description

What "is known" is that this superb example of a fully restored Jaguar turns heads. The paint is excellent and shows a few tiny defects that cannot be seen without very close inspection. The chrome work is all new except for exterior handles and side glass trim,which didn't require a re-plate. The interior was completely reupholstered with correct English wool-cloth headlining, faux leather, new carpets including ¾ inch under-felt, all imported from the UK, all rubbers everywhere have been replaced. Wood trim has been restored throughout. Period 3 point inertia seat belts have been fitted. The 27 cubic feet of trunk has been reupholstered with correct biscuit material and comes complete with period correct matching Jaguar faux luggage. The original radio works well with a new period correct electronic aerial. All electrics work as they should.

White wall radial tires on steel rims with new chrome, no curb scuffs. New exhaust, brakes, suspension rubbers, engine and transmission mountings, carburetors rebuilt, electronic distributor fitted, new power steering pump, new alternator and viscous fan coupling. New hoses. Detailed to near perfection.

It has the original owners manual and a complete workshop manual.

The car drives extremely well, it is powerful and fast yet quiet and astonishingly comfortable as all Jaguars should be! "Your turn behind the wheel Sir? Yes Jeeves, splendid, thank you”

James Bond and Royalty?

The Jaguar 420G was the upmarket luxury version of the Jaguar Mk X and it was designed to appeal to heads of state, captains of industry, bankers, and other status conscious and ridiculously wealthy people and indeed the 420G did sell to some of those. But this luxurious four door limousine was also very attractive to Third World despots, captains of organized crime, bank robbers, and those,(Kray twins),who were making a very nice living being rather nasty to their fellow human beings. It was a car that James Bond would look quite at home in, it was a car that British Royalty would look at home in, and it was a car that a James Bond villain would look quite fitting in also. It was a car that had an amazing social mobility.

The Jaguar 420G has an interior that looks like it should smell of cigar smoke. In fact if you are a cigar aficionado this is an ideal smoking lounge to enjoy either with your chauffeur piloting you around whilst you partake of something from Romeo Y Julietta or with you at the helm with a Winston Churchill smile on your face whilst you get that 4.2 litre E Type engine fully into the spirit of the drive.

Jekyll and Hyde

Although the early Jaguar Mk X began life with the 3.8 liter six cylinder DOHC engine that Sir William Lyons and his team had designed whilst on "Fire Watch" during the Blitz it was not quite enough engine for the big wide body of the car so it was upgraded to the 4.2 liter version in 1964. This transformed the car into the Jekyll and Hyde automobile Sir William Lyons had designed it to be. With its fully independent suspension front and rear and wide body this was a quick cat that could go, corner and stop with something approaching the litheness of a Mini. The car was fitted with a Thornton Powr-Lok limited-slip differential so if the driver got into some serious wheel lifting cornering the big Jag would squat down under acceleration and go around the corner as if it were on rails.

The Jaguar 420G version of the Jaguar Mk X was introduced at the London Motor Show at Earls Court in October 1966. The era of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Mary Quandt and Carnaby Street. It was born into a Britain whose Empire was being transformed into a Commonwealth. This was the luxury model that shared the undercarriage of the E Type, a car which had taken the world by storm. The 420G was never described as being as beautiful as the E Type but it was an unashamedly luxurious car with the suspension, engine and brakes of the E Type underneath it.

With its smooth automatic transmission and cigar lounge interior this is a car that I think Winston Churchill himself would have enjoyed. Its a car for an old fashioned gentleman who just wants to have fun.

(Adapted, courtesy Jon C. Branch)