Beschreibung
The subject of a complete and fully documented bare-shell rebuild around 30 years ago by Paul Kynaston, a well-known Jaguar Specialist, this stunning S Type has covered just 18, 690 miles since in the hands of just 2 fastidious long-term owners. Presented in fabulous British Racing Green with Light Grey hide, the Jaguar comes with extensive history and whilst an older restoration, has mellowed beautifully, still worthy of a place on any show-field. A rare car, even in it`s day, this is truly a superb opportunity to acquire a properly restored S Type for a sensible price.
Seen by Jaguar as a redevelopment of the already existing Mk. II, the S Type was launched in September 1963 and offered discerning buyers a technically more sophisticated and luxurious car within a mid-sized package; only the Mark X could compete on similar terms but not everyone sought a car of such full-size proportions. However, styling from the Mark X was adopted, notably the extended rear bodywork, providing the Jaguar with a cavernous boot although the overall appearance was met with mixed reviews, many feeling the S Type was a mismatch of horizontal lines and curves. Underneath the unitary bodyshell, a key element of the car was Jaguar`s quite revolutionary independent rear suspension set-up, again taken from the Mark X. Effectively a double wishbone set-up, it used the driveshaft as an upper wishbone, carrying the drive, braking, suspension and damping units in a single fabricated steel crossbridge. Under the bonnet, the car came with a choice of XK-sourced 3. 8 or 3. 4 6-cylinder units as seen in the Mk. II developing 220 and 210BHP respectively and the choice of 4-speed manual gearbox with later Overdrive or 3-speed automatic. Interiors were all about space and luxury with strong styling nods to the Mark X including a scaled-down burled Walnut veneer dashboard extending to the centre section and a pull-out map tray beneath. Road tests at the time were favourable with reviewers praising the handling and high-speed cornering of the S Type over the Mk. II offering a fair superior ride too for rear-seat passengers. The IRS was clearly a defining feature with a contemporary magazine commenting that the suspension set-up made it “a convenient family car, a businessman`s express, a sports coupe and a grand tourer” all in one. Over a 5-year production run, the S Type was recognised for its strengths and picked up a loyal following with just under 25, 000 units sold albeit just 909 of these were sold in 1968, the final year of production.
Our car dates from May 1968 and as such, it is one of the very last built. Registered in Leeds, we know very little of its early history before being acquired by it`s second owner, a hotelier in Easington Colliery, in September 1981. He retained the Jaguar just 18 months before selling to a gentleman residing in an old rectory in the picturesque Northumbrian village of Simonburn near Hexham. The car was evidently loved and enjoyed albeit by the late 1980`s was in need of some refurbishment. The story that subsequently unfolds is quite remarkable. In September 1990, a well-regarded West End Chartered Surveyor contacted Jaguar Specialist Paul Kynaston of Exeter with a specific requirement - he sought an S Type that could be used daily capable of some 15, 000 miles per annum. Kynaston wrote back to confirm that he was in the process of acquiring such a car, a 1968 3. 4 Automatic with 49, 736 miles recorded, albeit it needed full restoration. This indeed was the car currently in Simonburn. A deal was agreed at a price of £7500 for the Jaguar and a budget confirmed of a further £12, 500 plus VAT for renovation works. This included a full strip to a bare shell with repaint in British Racing Green, complete retrim in matching hide and carpets, rebuild of both engine and Borg Warn transmission, complete replacement of suspension and braking systems, the fitting of electronic ignition and power steering, refurbishment of the original road wheels with all new tyres, complete rewire with change to negative earth, all new window rubbers, new chrome and the fitting of new seat belts and a quality stereo system. Interim invoices for ongoing work soon followed and unsurprisingly things started to spiral. The rebuild of the engine evidently required more work and it was deemed uneconomic to rebuild the transmission with an all-new one being sourced. Letters on file from April 1992 further suggest that the buyer was requiring further upgrades to braking systems whilst Kynaston, sounding somewhat frustrated, kept reiterating that the original budget was really just an estimate and ideally a further £5000 was needed to complete to project to the owner`s satisfaction. A compromise was ultimately reached at £3000 pushing the entire budget to £23, 000 plus VAT on parts and labour. In July 1993, with a fresh MoT, the car was finally ready and was collected to be driven back to the owner`s country house in Oxfordshire. Service history for the next 6 years reflects regular use but perhaps not the 15, 000 miles per annum envisaged! Notable maintenance included the replacement of track rod ends, the adding of an expansion tank to aid cooling and the replacement of a worn camshaft sprocket. In January 1999, after just 16, 000 miles, the Jaguar was sold to its 5th and current registered keeper, a gentleman in Pershore, Worcestershire. It has remained there to this day being garaged permanently and used sparingly covering less than 3, 000 in 24 years and much of this, looking at MoT Certificates, was recorded in the first 10 years of ownership. Indeed, from 2015 to 2021, the Jaguar barely turned a wheel with light recommissioning being required and subsequently undertaken by Worcester Classic Cars in August 2021. Notable work included the replacement of both fuel pump and starter motor (hi-torque model) and overhaul of the power steering system with new seals and fluid. With some reluctance, the car has now had to be sold.
Today the car presents as seen in the photographs. Despite the restoration work being completed some 30 years ago, the bodywork is still exceptional as is the paintwork which has retained a deep lustre and polishes up beautifully. Chrome and trim are equally very good with just light pitting evident. The interior tells the same story with fabulous mid-green hide seating and matching green carpets and complementary door-cards. Other than a light flaking of varnish to the dash-top, the burled Walnut dash and door-cappings still present extremely well as does a virtually unmarked West of England cloth headlining. It is genuinely one of the nicest cabins I have sat in for years. Turn the key and the high-torque starter enables the rebuilt 6-cylinder engine to fire immediately into life, sounding both smooth and purposeful with instant throttle response. Select Drive and the Jaguar pulls away smartly with eager acceleration and smooth changes from the Borg Warner automatic `box. I have just completed a 30-mile run in the car driving both in town traffic and open countryside across South Dorset. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. It is smooth, comfortable and refined with superb handling for its size and could easily be used and enjoyed regularly, even daily if the petrol budget allowed! And it feels special. Some classics just ooze class and this is one.
The car comes with a comprehensive list of ownership and old Registration Documents, a complete file of letters and receipts from 1990-1993 between Paul Kynaston and the owner documenting the restoration, further maintenance history from 1993-1999, old MoT Certificates from 1993-2014, old tax discs, an original Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbook, recent invoices for light recommissioning and a current V5C.
A fabulous example of a classic British sporting saloon with great history and super provenance.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
