The 420 was the end of the road for Jaguar’s “compact” sedan line that started in 1956 with the 2.4, commonly called the Mark 1. One year later, the 3.4 L version appeared, and set the wold on fire. Here was a high performance sedan of a type and caliber never seen before, given its price point. Then in 1959 came the Mark 2, with a revised glassier greenhouse and the 3.8 L version of the XK six, with even more oomph. And in 1964, the 3.8 S arrived, with a longer rear deck and the XK-E’s IRS.
The final evolution was this, the 420. It’s essentially the same as the S from the cowl back, but the front end was now in the style of the Mark X/420G, and of course it also previewed the front end of the XJ6, which was to come along within a year.
R&T felt that this 420 was the most aesthetically successful of this line of compact jag sedans, and I quite agree. It’s a gem
R&T points out that the XK engine is by now old, heavy and expensive to build, and states that a replacement engine is overdue. Well, that would be quite a while yet…
The suspension is up-to-date, anyway, and the structure rigid, the two ingredients for a successful combination of ride and handling. And the Girling disc brakes yielded very good results.
With an eye to its American customer’s, the 420 cooling system was revised and now operated under 13 psi of pressure!
What’s it like to drive? ” quiet, smooth , nimble—an unmitigated pleasure to drive…a cultured automobile”. Even when bombing across the desert at 100mph. And the joy continues when the pavement gets rough, or disappears all together.
Performance is good, but in this age of cheap American cars with strong V8s, that was not its standout quality (0-60 in 11.0 seconds). But it did hit 119 mph and the brakes were up to the task.
Not surprisingly, the controls and such were not up to modern standards in all respects, but the leather seats and wood dash went a long way to make up for that. A Jaguar, through and through.
Very under-rated compared to the Mk.2. There’s one of these, or maybe an S type, in a back garden locally, slowly falling apart. I will try to get a picture, but the front end isn’t visible from the road.
Hmm, new hedge growth made the shot harder than anticipated. It’s not looking too healthy.
Wait they did.Another 19 years untill the launch of the XJ40. One of the all time great engines ,that lovely straight six hat has been replaced by derv and Electric .
At least, Road & Track didn’t tested a white Jaguar so I guess it didn’t have the same fate as the white Jaguar used in various British tv series done by ITC studios (The Saint, The Baron, The Champions, Department S, Jason King, the Adventurer) and re-used later for a SNL skit named “Toonces the driving cat”. 😉
Here’s a link to a CC from a few years back of a Car and Driver comparison of a 1967 420 with a Mercury Cougar, along with the contributor’s (“GN”) recollections of his parents’ similar Cougar. Leave it to good ‘ole C&D to compare an old Jaguar sedan with the (then) brand-new, Mustang-based Cougar.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/vintage-comparison-test-1967-jaguar-420-versus-1967-cougar-xr-7-which-fabulous-feline-would-be-belle-of-the-ball/
Ah, 0-16, in 11.0 seconds, now that’s a very “slow cat”, an aged pounce, but more likely a typo, Paul.
Not a typo. Car and Driver got it to go a bit faster, 10.2 seconds.
This was not really “slow” for the times. Just not fast either.
Paul, you seem to have typed 0-16, Not 0-60, so I believe it is a typo?
Aha! Yes it was. I wasn’t looking, two times.
I thought he was referring to the performance stats in the original article.
If forward weight bias was that much of a concern, the cheapest solution would’ve been to lop two cylinders off the XK 3.8 to make a 2.5L four, and design the XJ6 (XJ4?) around that to compound weight savings, at the sacrifice of smoothness.
That being said, the era of such big fours was in the future in 1968 – this was an expedient that really didn’t catch on until after the 1970s and never really did outside Detroit where engines in that size bracket went into cheap cars that could get away with being a bit agricultural.
I appreciate classic Jaguars and I love driving my 1972 xj6
Mark
It seems bizarre that this did NOT replace either the Mk2 or the S-Type. (The article states the Mk1 also remained available in the UK…which would be odder still if true). I imagine the volumes were low and there was little in the way of automation involved in their production, but it still seems quite odd to have so many different models covering what must have been a pretty small market.
The Jag was an English car, much closer to an European car than a US car. As it’s gearing reflected. Granted effectively a 5 speed, 4+OD, but peak power in top is at 140. Not a small engine at 4.2, but not nearly a 6 or 7 liter either, with the torque to match. Shorten the gears a bit, say a 4.1 diff rather than the 3.77, theoretical top speed (max engine HP) would still be 128MPH, but I bet acceleration numbers would be better. Compare it to domestic big block V8s of the era and it’s HP is close to 2 barrel big blocks, albeit with less torque. But with much longer legs, some of them were rev limited at just over 100MPH. In other words, acceleration times make sense.
On the other hand, showing how long ago the 60s were, they had oil consumption at over 800 miles a quart and seemed to feel it was ok. wow. Distinctly lower case wow. Talk about damning with faint praise…
A curious little blob compared to the magnificent 420 Grand.
Both 420 & 420 Gs are certainly “blobs”….from SOME angles.
I lusted after the 420 G for my entire life, but finally settled on the more nimble/quicker 4sp. od 420 compact. Both are shockingly sexxxy as hell in my opinion.
Is that your 420 G?
Thanks for reminding me how wonderful these Jags really are. I have owned my 420 for 12 years now, has been parked since three or four years because other cars, other things. This is a good wake up call to use it more!
I remember reading this very road test when it was first published. I was all of 13 and immediately wanted one. Both my parents were due for new cars and I suggested they buy one of these and a then new four door Thunderbird. They bought a four door Nova and an equally dull Dodge Coronet. Here I thought with a Jag and a T-Bird we could be one of those stylish families one sees in magazine ads, but my parents saw things differently.
I looked for a decent 420 about 1978 when I had my own money, but never found one worth bring home……..
One of my favorite party patter tales is about the time my parents borrowed my gorgeous, eye catching BRG/caramel leather interior Jaguar sedan to attend a June wedding in New Orleans.
Almost to the church, the skies opened up and an intense downpour suddenly appeared. Mom & Dad made the fatal mistake of trying to roll up all four POE (Port Of Entry) added power windows, close the sunroof and crank up the POE added air conditioning…all at the same time.
Later on, I was told that there was a sudden aroma of ozone in the air, a blue-white flash of light appeared from the under-dash area….and EVERY DAYUM fuse the car had blew. The sunroof was stuck 1/3 closed, all the windows down and no interior ventilation.
Soggy & sweaty, Mom & Dad returned home 10 minutes later. The Jag’s keys were tossed (hurled?) in my direction with one of the dirtiest, murderous looks ever given to me…by both of them.
After that experience, Mom refused to even move the Jag out of the way when I parked behind her. She would shake me awake and politely growl at me “Please move that god-forsaken car out of my way!”
(Paul, please note that I refrained from making my usual joke about the Big L and royalty darkness.)