No Joke: 1965 Jaguar 3.8S 2-for-1

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It’s an old, old joke in the car world: You can’t just own one Jaguar—you’ll need a second for when the first is in the shop! Roll your eyes if you must, but if you believe there’s a kernel of truth to the joke, this seller’s got you covered with a two-for-one package of 1965 3.8S sedans. It’s just $14,000 for the pair, both of which are (allegedly) running. Find them here on craigslist out of Sebastopol, California.

I kid with my “allegedly” jibe; the 3.8-liter version of the legendary Jaguar XK engine is an impressive specimen, good for 220 bhp and 240 lb.-ft. of torque when new, and with quicker steering and a more sophisticated suspension design than the Mark II that the S-type replaced, I bet these two could be great fun to drive. One is an automatic and the other a manual, too, so you never have to make up your mind which you’d rather drive!

Running, however, not driving, is the operative word here. The cars are said to be coming out of 30 years of storage, so while their engines may yet be stout, I would give any rubber or other degradable components a very careful and thorough inspection. The quality of the photos isn’t great, but both cars seem to be pretty straight, with a modest shine left in their paint jobs, but some reconditioning may be required if these cats are to be anything more than drivers.

Still, with a cabin this opulent, I’d be tempted to hop behind the wheel pretty often. This is the only interior shot provided between the two cars; it’s in need of carpet, but otherwise lovely. I wonder what the cabin of the other car is like?

There are almost certainly quite a few needs between these two cars, but I’m not convinced that stripper Kia Rio money for two classy, complete, running Jags isn’t a pretty good deal. One thing is sticking in my craw, though: if the whole you-need-a-second-Jaguar-for-when-the-first-one-is-broken thing is just a joke, why is this the second time I’ve come across a two-for-one deal on these S-Types?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Balstic

    I had a 1962 Jag Mark II while in the military in Germany. Paid $500 in 1970 and had to re-assemble the dash. White with red leather. Not perfect but for a 17 year old it was great for an autobahn trip to Munich. Loved it ,didn’t have a spare.

    Like 5
  2. Sam61

    I would have a vanity plate that says “Kray Bros”. Very stately sedans.

    Like 2
  3. Ben T. Spanner

    The 3.8S was somewhat of an oddball, with styling bridging the 3.8 sedan’s to the 420G. They never had the interest or monetary value of the earlier sedans.
    A gym buddy wants me to buy his 3.8S. It was restored and converted to a Ford V8, and converted back. The interior was reupholstered in vinyl. He has spent much money having a mechanic chase a fuel leak; which should not be that hard.
    He named a price of $5,000 but admitted that was a dream.

    Like 0
    • SMS

      I prefer the 3.8S over the Mark I or II. The back end doesn’t look quite as good but it seems to have a bit more room inside and drives better.

      Might be interested in your gym buddy’s car. I have sworn off leather seats. Never had the heart to reupholster a Jag in cloth. Now if it already is vinyl I might do it.

      Had a Volvo 220 that took me way too long to find a fuel leak. Sometimes it should be easier than it is.

      Like 0
  4. Tom Patton

    Correction: The “S” did not replace the Mark II – they were built side by side. The S created a mid-sized Jag sedan (saloon) between the Mk II and the 420.

    Like 0
  5. Tom Patton

    Correction: The “S” did not replace the Mark II – they were built side by side. The S was a “mid-sized” Jag sedan (saloon) between the Mk II and the 420.

    Like 0
  6. Jim

    I owned a 3.8S back in the late 70s and early 80s and loved the car. Very straight forward mechanically and comfortable/sporty to drive. A white car with red interior and very nice wood throughout. Wire wheels and folding tables in rear. Automatic that did leak but not badly enough to pull transmission. Parts readily available. Ended up trading up for a Series lll
    XKE Convertible with low miles, and keep it for 25 years. I suggest buying them both for 10K, making one really good one, keep the drive line out of the parts car & dump it. The market is few buyers for this model, so don’t look to flip it! B

    Like 2
  7. Jon Martin

    In the 70s I had a 61, white with black interior, wire wheels with the Rudge knock-off, Borg Warner (I think) automatic. Got sick and tired of no brakes and sold it for $300 which is all I paid for it. Saw it a week later rolled on its side. It had Michelins on it but it was still squirrel-ly in the rain…. never bought Michelins again after that. Beautiful car, wish I had never sold it.

    Like 0
  8. Wrong Way

    Joke or no joke these are awesome! These happen to be in my bucket list of wants! I have two lists, one is for possible, the other is wants! These are in my wants! So I know that I will never have one, but it’s nice to dream! :-)

    Like 0
  9. Bobinott

    If these cars are not rusty, there is a real opportunity here. I owned a ’67 Mark 2 (not a “S”) for 8 years in the 1980s and found it to be quite reliable, and not difficult to work on. Quality was comparatively high on Jags in the 60s (before BLM absorbed them). It is true that the S does not attract the buyers who step up large for a regular Mark 2, but that makes this deal look good, if your goal is just to own a fine car and enjoy it.

    Like 0

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