These days, there’s almost no such thing as a truly independent automaker anymore, so it’s hard to remember how resourceful small automakers once had to be. Case in point: the Jaguar S-Type. With its bread-and-butter Mark II sedan, descended from the 1956 2.4-Litre, aging but still popular in the early ’60s, Jaguar adapted the independent rear suspension from its flagship Mark X and lengthened the Mark II’s tail for a bigger trunk and a familial resemblance to the bigger sedan to quickly create an updated mid-range model. The resulting S-Type wasn’t exactly a qualified success in the looks department, but it was a needed, and relatively inexpensive, stopgap until the XJ completed its lengthy and costly gestation later in the decade. If you’re feeling resourceful, you can resurrect a bit of this slice of Jaguar history for yourself, as this Hayward, California seller is offering a two-for-one 1967 Jaguar 3.8S project car package on craigslist for $6,000. Let’s see what we can throw together, shall we?
These two long-dormant cats are presented with a minimum of written information, but there’s plenty to be gleaned from the pictures. The blue car seen here boasts an automatic transmission, but no engine. Both cars have black license plates to prove their long-time California citizenship; the yellow car is more complete, boasting an engine, a more intact interior, and even a sliding steel sunroof. I can’t find anything to confirm or deny whether a sunroof was a factory option on these cars, so as always, a buyer would be advised to carefully inspect the installation for compromises to the car’s rust resistance. Certainly the paint around the roof-hole has been compromised…gloves are advised as well!
Beyond the piles of parts—which are themselves a bit encouraging—there’s some promise in the interior of the yellow car. The little bit of floor we can see looks solid, and the wood veneer on the dash almost looks like it’s been recently refinished, with no visible cracking and a healthy luster. That could explain, too, why it looks like it hasn’t been put back together yet. The inside of the blue car is a scarier sight, but it, too, has a few spares stored inside.
The yellow car gets my vote for restoration, with the blue as a parts donor as needed, although an inspection of the undersides of both cars could necessitate a change in course. Still, there’s a lot of promise here. Ironically, when the S-Type badge was revived in 1999, it graced perhaps the most corporatized product Jaguar ever built, riding as it did on a platform shared with Ford and Lincoln; I hope someone revives one of these S-Types as a monument to Jaguar’s history of scrappy independence.
I want an S-Type badly, having been brought up with an ice-blue example. However, I’d rather see one car in better shape than either of these. It doesn’t help to have two of everything if neither part is in good enough shape that you want to reuse it…ask me how I know.
If you are looking for an S Type contact me, all mechanically sound. Interior needs replacing, dried out, rubber and leather.
I replaced all the suspension bushings, gas tanks, clutch. $10k but was 15 years ago when I last drove it. Has been sitting since, body is good, everything is there other than missing airconditioning pump and the jaguar off the bonnet.
Cars in Canada.
I’d rather get a 420 instead. much better front end looks, 4.2-liter engine, similar prices.
Palandi,
There are 420’s and 420G’s which are totally different vehicles.
The 420G was the MKX with updates.
The 420 was the model preceding the XJ6. Those had a NVH issue, noise vibration and harshness.
That model was rushed to get something new in the showrooms and because of that never had proper NVH testing by Bob Berry.
The problem………the chassis resonated at some of the same frequencies as the engine which manifested itself as amplifying the engine’s mechanical clatter.
Customers brought their cars back for servicing thinking they had a bearing knock, they did not. This drove the service departments crazy and the factory didn’t like their reputation in question.
The fix was to minimize the engine’s noise from the chassis by having the engine’s bearing ground ovoid. The bearings were “relieved” at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions which “uncoupled” the sound that was amplified by the chassis.
The 420 was a two year interim model.
NVH testing was never skipped again.
These are thoroughly restorable, and deserve to see the road again. The challenge is that the economics of restoring such sedans is, well, a challenge. I rescued a lovely, original, 4.2 liter XJ6 Series 1 a few years ago, and paid what I considered an obscenely low price. But there just wasn’t anyone else wanting to take the car on. I actually could have bought my car for $500 less, but I felt bad for the seller whose Mom was the original owner, so after explaining why the car was worth less, I tendered my higher offer.
Everyone has their preferences, mine is the XJ6 or 420, but an S-Type in either 3.4 or 3.8 guise is still a great car. But in this case, Im more interested in whether that MG Midget in the background might be for sale!
Greetings All,
The metal sunroof makes it pretty rare, Webastos were usually the option unless you had one of the MKVII/VIII/IX’s.
The 3.8 S Type Manual, 4Synchro, OD, PAS, wires is a better & more valuable car than the 420. The siamesed bore 420 engine is more problematic. The 420 is just an S Type with the shark’s maw nose. The poor cousin. Like the Aston DB6 the S Type is gaining popularity.
Hi do you still have the s type jaguar for sale.? If so please email me. Thank you.