Our 'new' 1965 3.8S

[oldirish33]

Greetings, we have just purchased a 1965 S (P1B76325BW) to join our small collection of Jaguars. Having owned Mk2's previously, I am familiar with Jaguar saloons from the 60's, but this is the first 3.8S I have owned. We purchased the car from friends in Victoria, BC Canada, who had purchased the car eight years ago and did a restoration of all the mechanicals in the car, but the exterior and interior are largely original. Until now, the car has spent it's entire life in Canada and turned over 57,000 original miles on its new home in Oregon. With engine, transmission, brakes, etc. like new, driving it is like being in a time capsule. We completed a 450 mile trip home and the car was at home on freeways as two-lanes. The exterior has some scars and dings from its 53 years, but we like the patina. Its only original once!

I am trying to determine the color. The JDHT certificate just says "dark blue". I think its too light to be indigo in my opinion, but i cant find any other blue in 1965 that would fit. I am thinking maybe Cotswold blue, but I believe its not a 1965 color. Any ideas? The car was previously registered on the registry, we will be updating the information soon.

Jerry

[Jose]

looks fabulous. The interior is in great condition. Original beauty rings too! (most steel wheel S types lose them). I bet you like the ride better than your MK2? They do ride softer having that Independent Rear Suspension. Well at least for older folks like me who like a softer ride. It has the same door Mirror that mine used to have. I installled XJ-6 power mirrors.

I think I remember you, we traded a Jaguar friction model car from Japan years ago? You sent me a Beatles 16-wheeler which I still have. I'm The Beatles fanatic.

When I purchased mine, I drove it 2,900 miles from San Francisco CA. to Nashville TN. A 3½ days adventure!
Talk about reliable! It did not break down, the only mishap was a flat tire in Texas where I realized there was no THOR hammer for the wire wheel spinners. Fortunately two very courteous young Texans stopped, curious about the car, and they happened to have a sledgehammer since they were installing cattle fence posts.

A little tap with the sledgehammer and the spinner was loosened, I was ready to go in half hour. They even referred me to an old Firestone in the next exit who still sold Tubes and could remount wire wheels. They would not accept a tip.
I stopped at the 1950's Firestone building and the people there fixed the tire & tube and they would not charge me for the repair, they were inlove with the car. They also refused tips. It was like "Thank YOU for letting us work in your car". Wonderful people you meet.

And everytime I stopped at a Rest Stop for a bathroom break, I would come back to find a group of people looking at it. In one instance I joined the group and started asking them "are you the owner?" And they would say "I WISH" . haha! This woman was so inlove with the car after I asked her if she was the owner, that when I got the keys out and opened the driver's door and told her she could sit in it she went: "OHHH YOU I SHOULD STRANGLE YOU".

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[oldirish33]

Yes, I remember, still have that tin plate Mk2. Nice to get in touch again. Your car is a real beauty! I have always loved the maroon Jaguar used. My first Mk2 was painted opalescent maroon.

I am likely going to put wires on our car eventually. I am trying to decide if I will show it in JCNA preservation class. Yes, it has a great ride and handles great! It was converted to rack and pinion during its restoration. My only wish is that it had a manual box with overdrive.

Thanks and stay in touch!

Jerry

[Jose]

Jerry,
instead of converting to manual transmission which would be costly and never-ending, exceeding the value of the car, why not do a ZF-Getrag Automatic with sport settings conversion? Also costly and also exceeds the value of the car, but it is a 4-speed used by Jaguar which these cars badly need. The ZF transmission lets you shift manually, (the sport setting), but no clutch to wear out.

G. Whitehouse in the UK does the conversions and sells the kit.

check it out: http://www.gwautos.com/

[oldirish33]

While I wish it was a manual, I don't have any desire to convert this car to a manual box. I did that with a Mk2, so know what is involved from both time and cost. No, this car will stay original, save for a set of wires.

[Jose]

a manual overdrive will appear one day, they always do. I like mine automatic, pressing the gasoline and brake pedals is enough exercise for me.

[oldirish33]

Yes, but living in the country with some nice twisty roads about, it would be nice to have a manual.

I believe I've figured out that the color is Cotswold Blue.

[Jose]

has the color been changed? Look in places where an exterior respray would not have been done. The inside bulkhead, behind the rear seat, behind the fuel pumps.
1965 model year is when Jaguar sold and built the most S type, though many 1965 were built in 1964, like mine. Those 1965 MY built in 1964 and assigned to the West Coast distributor, had an aluminium tag attached to the firewall which reads "J / 64". It is screwed in place above the factory Serial Numbers plate with 2 aluminium screws. I understand the body number is found behind the rear bumper but I have never looked for it.

Most MK2 fans don't like the rear wheel openings of the S type. But if you compare with other Jags, it is the same opening curvature as the E type, MK-X, 420, 420G, and the Series 1, 2, 3, XJ bodies.

[oldirish33]

Yes, it is indeed the original paint. All components, including tanks were out during refurbishment. This car according to JDHT certificate, was built in early October 1964 and dispatched to Jaguar Cars Canada in mid-October 1964. I am assuming based on other Jaguar production, the model year change occured in October of each year, making this car an early 1965 example. It was sold in Victoria, British Columbia to its first owner in early January 1965. I wish it had come through the USA originally, it would have saved me duty when bringing it into the country from Canada.

I don't mind the rear end on the 3.8S at all. We currently have a 1976 XJC and the rear end definitely has styling simularties to the 3.8S. I'm not sure why some feel compelled to compare the 3.8S with the Mk2. They were different cars, filled different market niches and the difference between dated design and contemporary in its time.

[Jose]

yes, the S type's similarities with the MK-2 are just cosmetic, the S is the MK-3. (actually that was the code name for it during development, MK3-UTAH they called it). But you know there are MK2 diehards.

the S has the IRS, twin fuel tanks, twin fuel pumps, twin exhaust system, roomier interior, more dash wood, prettier bumpers, ( and a rear bumper style that remained until 1992 ), a simpler heater system too.

also has bigger auxiliary light buckets (4½" in the MK2, 5½" in the S type).

and the headlights "eyelids" styling that also remained until 1992.

the weird thing is that no Daimler version of the S type was built, as with the MK2.