The Jaguar 420G was an update on the Jaguar Mk 10, the company's top-of-the-range saloon model, which had been introduced in mid-October 1961 (the same year as the famous E-Type). In replacing the earlier Mark VII, VIII and VIX models, the Mark 10 was a cutting-edge design and introduced new features for a big Jaguar saloon – most notably a unitary bodyshell (used earlier for the 1955 Mk 1 saloon) and independent rear suspension.

When launched, the large Mk 10 was the widest British-made car on sale, but offered excellent handling and comfort in its spacious, luxurious interior. It had considerable performance for a big saloon too – particularly when the initial 3.8 litre engine offered was enlarged to 4.2 litres.

The Jaguar 420G which followed was first announced at the London Motor Show in October 1966 and was essentially the same as the Mk 10, but with some small changes to the interior and exterior. It continued to use the 4.2 litre, straight six XK engine and ran in production for 5 years until withdrawn in 1970, when around 6,500 had been sold.

This car was first registered in November 1968 and delivered to a new owner in Birmingham, finished in a special order two-tone grey paint scheme. Little is known of its history until 1996, when the second owner, having purchased the car at auction, took it off the road and commissioned bodywork repairs and a bare metal re-paint, together with an engine and gearbox rebuild by a Jaguar specialist, over a period of some 4 years, before returning the car to the road in 2000.

The Jaguar was the subject of a feature article in Classics Monthly magazine in 2007. The current owner acquired the car in 2011 and since then, it has had limited use but been maintained and cared for as required. The recorded mileage is believed accurate, being supported by various certificates and invoices held in the car’s history file.