In all fairness I should tell you that my father owned a 1966 Jaguar S-Type while I was growing up and I’m very partial to these cars. I’m not sure after reviewing the minimalist ad here on craigslist that this is worth the $3,500 being asked for the car, but I do think it may be a worthwhile project. Thanks to AMXBrian for this “salient” find (look it up if you don’t know what it means, Jaguar called the S-Type features “salient” in their 1966 US brochure).
It amuses me that Jaguar considered this a compact luxury car. I suppose it was compared to the Mark X which was absolutely huge, but even an S-Type isn’t tiny by any means. With four-wheel independent suspension and the DOHC XK inline six-cylinder engine it was no slouch for its time, either.
Back to this car — we know it’s an automatic based on the one interior picture below, but we don’t know whether it’s the small (3.4 liter) or large (3.8 liter) version of the engine. We are literally told nothing else about the car. We can, however, see some rust in typical S-Type spots in the rocker panels. What I’d really like to see is some under car shots to determine the rust down there.
I can’t say I’m fond of the blue and red color scheme here, but I’ve seen similar ones before so it might just be original.
It’s hard to tell much about the interior from this one picture, but I am encouraged by the intact veneer on the dash. Frequently things are just peeling away. If I were local to this car (it’s in Skowhegan, Maine) I’d go take a look. Any Maine readers up there?
I so dig these type of cars. when is the restomod craze going to cross over to the cool Euro cars? This car needs a modern driveline out of a late model Jag.
What you’re talking about is and has been done in England for sometime – particularly old Jags that get modernized and rebuilt with modern stuff. The finished cars are usually insanely expensive too but apparently have near supercar performance!
I wonder what’s really the story here – the key has a tag which could have been put on at an auction or used car lot or perhaps more likely, by the mechanic that delivered the bad news that caused the owner to simply park it! But, in reading the Craigslist post, I see it has those rare options, DUEL carbs and cams so I guess this is one mean fighting machine!!
I would keep it completely stock and restore it, especially if it has the 3.8 l motor.
It’s hard to tell from photos (or childhood memories for that matter ;-) what size these really are; excellent proportions can have that effect. I was surprised at how small a Mark 2 was when I saw one in person, and an S-type is basically a Mark 2 with a revised rear end, so I’d say Jaguar was accurate in describing this as a “compact” car.
Actually it was the front end that was more revised than the rear which, to most people, is why it just didn’t appeal to most people either back in the sixties or the present day buyers. Check out the asking prices for a Mk 2 against an “S” Type. The hooded headlights etc. were very off putting although the finished product was evidently a much better handling car.
The front end revision was more a matter of relatively minor detail changes, such as the hooded headlight buckets you mention and other lighting alterations; the rear end aft of the back doors was entirely different, with a entirely new roof profile, rear window, trunklid and fenders making the car half a foot longer, not to mention the new Jaguar IRS replacing the Mk 2’s live axle for improved ride and handling.
Too true, however, in most people’s case it was the front alterations that put most people off I think as that is the most popular view when looking at a car.
Very nice! Another find on here I would like.
Did mine nearly 50 years ago. Got the car
given to me by a friend of my Dad’s who
wanted it removed from his property. It
had been heavily damaged by an electrical fire that took out all the internal
parts from the dashboard forward. After
rewiring the car, my friends and I installed
a ’69 or ’70 350 Chevy V-8 with a Turbo
350 tranny. A trip to the body shop for a
repaint, and she was good as new–only
better! What I wound up with was a car
with European styling and handling and
American reliability. It rode well and
drove great! And I had a long list of young ladies just itching to drive it too!
If I had it to do over again, I’d do it the
same way I did back in ’72. Other than
the fire damage, my car was pristine and
complete and had desirable options like
a sunroof and wire wheels. Why, when
one of the young ladies and I went on a
picnic, we used the picnic basket and ate
off the china plates that were inside it!
The only stupid thing I did was sell it to
a local doctor for $4K, a princely sum
at the time. Took the cash and bought
a ’62 Buick LeSabre ragtop and a ’59
Plymouth Sport Fury. Sold the Fury,
kept the Buick and all my lady friends too!
Several years ago I almost added two of these to my retirement project collection, local seller was asking $2,000 for the pair, I about bought them when they dropped to $800. What was amazing was how great the chrome on the bumpers looked. When I thought of restoring all the wood trim inside I passed, never did hear where they went. He was also selling a Chevy V8 XJ6.
A cockpit that you can ‘read’ at a glance, and a telescopic steering shaft. What more could I ever want than a lumbar support in a decent seat? A real driving machine.
How did we ever drive back then without a ‘heads-up-yor-arse’ display?
My friend from the gym has one that he would love to sell. His was converted to a Ford V8 and converted back to an unknown Jag engine. He says the interior has been redone in pleather (fake leather) I have only seen the outside from a distance.
The car has spent many weeks or months at a local foreign car shop with fuel leaks. First somewhere near the rear, then at the carbs and now somewhere in between.
I worked on these in the late 1960’s and 1970’s Fuel leaks and carb repair should be easy. I still have my SU carbs tools. He mentioned a $5000 price, and quickly said that he just wants to get rid of it. It is not worth close to $5000 to me.
Tell us where you are, Ben :-)
2985 miles one way from my house and that’s taking the short cut through Canada! The 10k MK 2 is looking better and only 4 hours away. Can’t justify either but I can still dream.
The blue, even faded is not an original hue blue. So its been shot at least once, and given the location faaaar NE, I’m gonna fathom a guess that the rust we see in the limited photos is a repeat. That said, I still want it. Not this one at $3,500 but I would like to have one. Dad had two of them 40 years ago, a 3.4 4spd with OD and a 3.8 automatic (4spd was mote fun to drive!). Would love to prep one as a DD. My DD right now is an 86 XJ6 and it needs parked to work on.
Great vid link attached to the CL ad. I love watching the little A40 and the Metropolitan dice with those big Jaguars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnNkDWu_KcA
Anyone know if that blue is original? If so what’s the shade?
Greetings All,
While lots of love for that rear independent suspension, the prices rarely reflect that.
They also don’t tell you what a PITA a rear tire change is with those rear wheel cut outs.
Nice vehicles, majority that I’ve seen were auto boxes and that means no Overdrive.
Might be priced real good if undercarriage is intact.