Daimler Sovereign 420

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To those in the know, the Daimler Sovereign/Jaguar 420 is perhaps the ultimate classic luxury saloon.

Bigger and more comfortable than the MkII, yet of more modest dimensions than the gargantuan MkX (and subsequent 420G), it had a superb ride/handling balance thanks to the independent rear suspension borrowed from the E-Type. The front end styling was like a scaled down MkX and the 4.2-litre engine was virtually to E-Type spec, producing 245bhp and 283lb/ft of torque. The magic 100mph was comfortably exceeded and further refinements included notably quick steering, dual circuit brakes, alternator electrics and a limited-slip differential.

Introduced into the already busy model line-up on offer from Browns Lane, the 420 'Compact' series was deemed necessary because of disappointing sales of the MkX due to its size and mutterings over the styling of the broadly similar S-Type. The consumer got a choice of Jaguar or Daimler versions, the car with the fluted grill getting a marginally plusher interior and an extra £120 on the invoice. It had been the intention to put Daimler's superb 4.5-litre V8 engine from the Majestic Major into the Sovereign, however this was rejected on the grounds that it would have outperformed the 4.2-litre Jaguar by some margin.

Selling for less than half the price of a Bristol 410 Saloon and one-third of the price of a contemporary T-Series Bentley, it was easily the equal of both these cars. Only in production from 1966 to 1968 before it was replaced by the all-conquering XJ6, just 10,236 Jaguar 420s and 5,824 Daimler Sovereigns were produced so it is also comparatively rare. All the more remarkable then, that they should be so humbly valued today.

This bright red automatic Sovereign was first registered in January 1969 and has been used by the vendor for summer car shows and Sunday jaunts since he purchased it in August 2014. The subject of a bare-metal respray in the late 1980s, the interior was treated to a complete retrim in leather by Aldridge Trimming in 1993 which cost £1,572 according to an invoice on file. This has now aged gracefully and has a very pleasing patina.

The vendor has recently treated the car to a comprehensive overhaul, including new road springs, brake servo, general brake overhaul and a good service. Four old MOTs on file from the 1990s show that just 1,500 miles have been added over the last 20 years. The current MOT expires in June 2016, the vendor advising us that it has a stainless steel exhaust and comes with an original owner’s manual.