Ever have one of those times when you wish it had been you that found the barn find? This is one of them for me! This once-lovely 1967 Jaguar 420 (incorrectly advertised as a 400) is one of 10,236 produced at Brown’s Lane for the 1967 and 1968 model years. It’s obviously being sold by a “flipper” in Los Angeles, California through an ad here on craigslist. While the asking price is an extremely optimistic $9,900 obo, I suspect it could be had for considerably less.
All the pictures in the ad are obviously taken the day of purchase, but it’s still clear that even without the dust washed off, the Jaguar has a very solid body, and is quite pretty in what I hope is an original green color. The 420 was created from the unloved S-Type, which had the frontal styling of the shorter Mark II merged with rear styling very similar to the larger Mark X. With the 420, Jaguar was able to mimic the frontal styling of the Mark X while also giving the company a chance to re-introduce the Mark X as the 420G. Oh, by the way, they also continued to sell the S-Type and an updated version of the Mark II alongside them. Confused? So were Jaguar’s customers. Don’t forget, the similar badge-engineered Daimler models were sold at the same time too!
Not much to learn here, but it is telling that the Jaguar rides on what were at the time high-quality Michelin tires (tyres?) and it still has its original wheel covers and trim rings. I don’t see the usual rust bubbles around the fender lip, either.
Unfortunately, the seller has chosen not to share much of the interior with us, and trust me when I tell you that’s where a lot of money can be spent restoring these cars. There is one important thing shown in this picture, though, as I believe that the rotary switch on the lower left is for the optional air conditioning. I’m sure it will take a lot to get that functional again as well, but at least parts of it could be reused, even if a conversion to R134 is required. The voltmeter is obviously incorrect, and the wood will have to be completely refinished, although I don’t see much damage to the fragile veneer.
They aren’t terribly ergonomic nor intuitive, but I find the row of toggle switches on older Jags absolutely delightful! One trick about these 420s — that clock in the center has its own battery! I hope one of you rescues this car and secures it for a bargain price!
It’s also listed on eBay. Like you said, very optimistic pricing.
Steve R
Very optimistic price, Shouldn’t be more than $3500. I would assume that the seats are trashed, an interior kit runs around $10K. The door panels are ripped and the wood needs to be refinished. Then there is the color, it doesn’t’ look good on the car in person.
It’s lack of rust is likely due to electrical gremlins that cut short its drving life. Sorry, couldn’t resist hitting the softball.
It is a beautiful car that has potential at a much lower price.
I disagree the 1968 420G was nicer in style, but it was crappy for tuning (every 400 miles) and usually tuned at the side of the road on long-hauls.
A co-worker of my Dad’s had one of these,except it was
drop dead gorgeous in black.One night they went downtown
to have dinner,& a drunk driver rear ended it & totaled it.
One glorious week on the road, 3 in the garage waiting for parts. Note that Chrysler copied the rear door window design in its early ’90’s top of the line 4 door, just as GM copied the BMW Bavaria for its rear door design for the Cavalier – Cimarron cars. Assuming the rust below is not an issue, this car could be fun for Sunday drives, but not for a commute if you had to be there on time. Said as the former owner of a ’60 Jag XK-150S who had a Chevy 4 door for my obligations.
I am a former Jag owner, spanning from 1938 SS100 to an E Type but any drive in any Jaguar is an adventure because if the car actually gets you to your destination, there is no guarantee it will get you back! I always said, Jaguars are good for driving no further than you dare walk back from!
Fugly. Like lipstick on a pig.
Good potential for the right person. A very nice, restored 1967 Jaguar 340 is available locally. Manual transmission and a/c – I like it because its so unusual.
Ahh, toggle switches. You could also get a nifty set on the ’67-68 Cougars, replaced by rockers, on the ’69’s.
Replaced because of Federal law, because, before seat belt use was common, and airbags were unheard of, a sudden stop would put a kid’s head into the protruding knobs, switches, and other things like that. I took a toddler to the hospital once, who had the clear impression of a knob in his forehead from a ’56 Mercury, no car seat, no seat belt, don’t know how he came out but it clearly fractured his skull.