Jaguar 420 enthusiasm

Sir,

I have recently acquired a 1968 Jaguar 420 (S-type) and wonder if any other four/ five-seater four-door saloon of similar vintage can compare with this superb machine for sheer performance, ride comfort and equipment at the price when new of around £2,300? Now, nine years later, I purchased it for less than a quarter of that, and from recent ads. in Motor Sport I think I have an investment-and what an enjoyable investment to drive!

Despite W.B.’s frequent dismissals of the long-stroke 4.2 engine’s merits in the late sixties, on account of its low rev-limit of 5,000 r.p.m., I would venture to suggest that his beloved BMW “sixes” could hardly match the terrific low-speed of 4.2-litre XK unit, which pulls smoothly front below 1,000 r.p.m. and with terrific vigour front 1,500 r.p.m. At high revs my engine feels smooth enough, and I am surprised D.S.J. did not take issue with him over the 4.2s performance at high revs.

Sorry to labour the point, which I know has been discussed before, but I would be very interested in other readers’ experiences with this type of Jaguar, excelled in value-for-money, surely, only by the Standard House product ! Usual disclaimers.

Hornchurch PAUL GARDNER