John’s Weekly Prize Focus: 1966 Jaguar S-Type 3.4
A handsome 1960s Jaguar with the sporting character of the Mk 2 family and a little more room to enjoy it.
There are prizes you can admire, and then there are prizes you can immediately picture as part of your life. This 1966 Jaguar S-Type 3.4 falls firmly into the second group for me. It is one of the coolest classic Jaguars, and I would love to win it and put it on the driveway.
The S-Type shares a similar look with the celebrated Jaguar Mk 2, as well as much of its character and its familiar 3.4-litre straight-six engine. It is not simply a Mk 2 under another name, though. Jaguar gave the S-Type a longer, more distinctive body and independent rear suspension derived from the larger Mark X, creating a car intended to blend sporting pace with a more refined ride.
That combination is a big part of the appeal. You still get the unmistakable 1960s Jaguar shape, chrome, wood-lined cabin and the sense of occasion that comes with a classic saloon, but with a slightly more grown-up grand-touring feel. It is the sort of car that would make even an ordinary Sunday drive feel special.
At £7 a ticket this is not one of the cheapest competitions on the site, so it is worth deciding what feels comfortable before entering. But as a prize, the S-Type stands out from the usual modern performance cars. It has history, presence and genuine character — the kind of car you would keep turning around to look at after parking.
That is why it is my Editor’s Focus this week: not because it is the newest or fastest car listed, but because it is a classic I would genuinely be delighted to see waiting on my own driveway.
