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Idaho Barn Find: 1967 Jaguar 420

After snoozing in an Idaho barn for 20 years, this 1967 Jaguar 420 sedan seeks a new owner here on eBay. This right-hand drive classic presents a daunting restoration effort and may well constitute a collection of conveniently-attached parts. Though rusty and rough, its motor turns, it’s reasonably straight and complete, and priced affordably.

Looking more like 1952 than 1967, the 420’s rear styling could be called “classic” compared to its contemporary American cars. By 1967, few styling cues from the fabulous ’50s remained on Main Street U.S.A. The wraparound bumper looks straight and, while useless against rust, it likely protected the rear fenders from parking damage.

A Jaguar sedan may be the last vehicle that needs a $25 steering wheel from the “Demolition Derby Collection.” Though the seller hints at a complete restoration, the condition of the leather, wood, and sheet metal suggest that no such project could be justified financially; Hagerty states #3 cars fetch about $16,000.  However the seller realistically set the Buy It Now price at $2250, possibly less than the sum of its parts. The listing shows the center control panel that fills the large rectangular hole evident in this shot. A typical column shifter controls the three-speed automatic transmission.

The “Daimler” callout suggests an engine from a Daimler Sovereign, a badge-engineered sister car to the Jaguar 420, however a Google Image Search confirms that some minority of 1967 Jaguar 420s sport the finned Daimler valve covers. Jaguar parts adorn the grille, wheels, and rear badging which differ on the Sovereign. This twin-carb version of the 4.2 L inline six cylinder engine produces 245 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque, slightly more and less (respectively) than a late ’80s 5.0 Mustang in a car that weighs about 3800 lb, about 400 lb more than the “5.0.” Some details from automobile-catalog.com. The Jaguar engine bay would have been painted body color, suggesting a buttercream hue may have originally graced this 420, a classy compliment to the deep red leather. Based on condition and today’s market, who sees more than a parts car?

Comments

  1. Avatar Al

    These cars were a pain.
    My Dad had a ’68 420G, and it needed a roadside tune-up every 400 miles. Needless to say, a trip to either coast, was lengthened by the time it took to tune it.
    For want of parts for this beast, just drive back roads north of Salt Lake City and you will find plenty of these as well as Mark 9’s and 10’s which are probably in better shape than this thing.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Ted rogers

      Owned one the 420 g had triple carb and was a pain to tune made up of pices from other jags and was always needing love

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    I’m with Al – unless these things are mint, or you are right across them

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  3. Avatar TVC15

    doh !!!!

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  4. HoA Howard A Member

    C’mon, one of you hooligan’s has got to make a “420” joke, although, you might be a little altered to take this on.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Bob_S

    Hi Al,
    This car is different from a 420G. This model is a 3.8s (small sedan) with new front end sheetmetal and a 4.2L engine instead of a 3.8L. Part of the structure is from the MK II that everybody loves but this has IRS where the MK II has a solid rear axle. There was a nice 420 on e-bay a couple of week ago and it didn’t break $7K or its reserve.

    The 420G was the MK X that is much bigger than this car.

    I would love to own a 420 with 4spd OD, A/C (yes it was an option) and wire wheels.

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  6. Avatar Mark S

    Reto mod it with domestic parts and turn it into something that can be driven reliably.

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  7. Avatar Troy S.

    I wonder what the gross horsepower rating would have been for the late 80’s 5.0 Mustang? Certainly more than the 225 net rating it had.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Brakeservo

    The Jag’s pretty worthless, ‘cept for a few parts but what’s that odd looking sports car behind it in the garage? Has sorta a Cobralike look to it . . . maybe an old Jensen or something??

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Ross W. Lovell

    Greetings All,

    If I remember correctly, this was a two year interim model between the S-Type and the XJ6.

    Jaguar did not do any NVH/noise, vibration and harshness testing on the chassis. It turned out the chassis resonated and amplified at some frequencies shared with the engine giving the impression that engine had bearing knock and resulted in service appointments under warranty.

    Jaguar’s fix……….Order special main bearings spec’d to be ovoid which allowed them to “uncouple” the offending frequency. Those are the bearings that fit the XK that everybody seems to have in stock but you don’t want to use, especially if you race.

    I prefer the 420G, a totally different car/chassis, early ones as the dash had not received the vinyl overlay that apparently was supposed to keep the wood dash from tearing up your face when it splits and splinters during an accident.

    The woodwork on these cars represent the last and best of the craftsman that produced it before radically changing the amount they used.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar JagManBill

    why does this have to be so close…..

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  11. Avatar grant

    The “Hole” in the dashboard, is actually the centre panel that flips down for fuse changes. Flip it up again, and the guages are once again in place…….2 little thumb screws secure it in place usually.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Ross W. Lovell

    Been a long time, does this “fuse panel” have more than the 2 fuses my MKII?

    Like 0

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