1967 Jaguar 420 'Manual' Saloon

Description

The Jaguar 420 represents the ultimate expression of the compact luxury sports saloon theme initiated by the company in 1955 with the retrospectively named Mark One 2.4. Not only is the 420 the most luxurious of the series, it is also the only one to be equipped with the much-improved 4.2-litre engine (which superseded the 3.8). The S-Type (1964) improved the Mark 2 formula with independent rear suspension per the E-Type and Mark X as well as a larger boot and richer interior. Three years later, the 420 further advanced the concept with a squarer Mark X-style frontal aspect and notably higher performance. By the second half of the 1960s, the trend was towards automatic transmission but Jaguar enthusiasts will usually prefer a manual gearbox with overdrive, which was less regularly specified by 420 customers. When Mark 2 values soared – especially for 3.8s equipped with manual/overdrive and wire wheels – less attention was paid to S-Types and less again to the 420. But the 420 is the finest of the long line of compact Jaguars and is only now beginning to receive the deserved level of recognition.