1968 Jaguar 340

Originally supplied on 23 April 1968 to Henlys London, this 340 was shipped in Dark Blue over Red Ambla. It’s since been repainted in Old English White and now sports a black interior. The car’s original configuration – as confirmed by an accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate – shows it was always a four-speed manual-overdrive equipped car. With the demise of the 3.8-litre MkII manual 340s, like this one, became the driver’s choice.

There are a number of big bills in this Jag’s history for everything from brake and chassis upgrades to at least one engine rebuild. In fact, there are nearly 60 invoices from 2015 to the present, which makes up all the documentation to accompany this rare Jaguar saloon. 

In addition to the extensive remedial and upgrade work, there appears to have been some subtle enhancements in this car’s creature comforts. The most obvious addition is the sensitive, retro-styled stereo. This modern unit is capable of playing media via USB, SD card and Bluetooth, though it looks as authentic as any period Becker or Radiomobile. 

This 340 makes a fine first impression, with its glass and metal work gleaming. It’s seemingly near blemish free from whatever angle you choose to inspect. There’s great chrome and glass up front, with deeper bumpers than standard showing an excellent level of shine. The paintwork in the frontal area is largely free of the usual stone chips and damage, but we did spot a small crack in the paint emerging from behind the grille (top nearside). 

The back of this 340 is just as impressive, with the rear end clean and clear of any unsightly marks. There are a few very fine scratches on the bumper, but really this should be classed as patina more than anything, especially considering this Jaguar’s 56 years old. All the outer panels look nice and straight with good even gaps found throughout. The wire wheels also look great, including the matching spare and a good set of matching Pirelli Cintura tyres. If you get really close and decide to nit-pick, you might notice a small chip in the paint on the offside rear door.

The cabin of this Jaguar is certainly no disappointment, with the same level of quality finish and neat appearance as the exterior. The headlining looks particularly good, with the accompanying carpets also highly presentable. Lifting said pile, it’s also reassuring to see how good the floor looks underneath.

The woodwork presents well, but is starting to show a little patina in a few places, none of which we’d consider unsightly. The door cards carry the same mix of light marks (passenger front in particular) but certainly do not break the tidy aesthetic. Similarly, the steering wheel centre shows a little mild wear, but it’s actually nice to find that not everything in here has been over-restored. If the few areas mentioned above do bother you, it’s easy enough to change them, with classic Jaguar parts supply second to none.

We found a complete tool kit inside the spare wheel in the boot, an area which also looks neat and tidy. The floor under the carpet in the boot in particular looks really straight. Clearly, this car has seen some substantial renovation work in the not-too-distant past, but we’re lacking the paperwork to really track that down. Though we’ll go into more detail on recent expenditure shortly.

The XK engine is always a beautiful sight to behold, not to mention its soundtrack. There’s plenty to admire under this Jag’s long, sound-proof-less bonnet, with several fresh parts making themselves apparent. There are fresh coolant hoses and accompanying jubilee clamps, for example, as well as relatively fresh ignition parts that seem to still be doing their jobs.

There’s what looks like a fairly fresh coating of well applied black paint covering the metalwork of the engine bay and also protecting the upper suspension components. The iconic finned engine cam covers and oil filler cap look very tidy indeed. As with the interior of this 340, things don’t appear to have been taken to concours clean levels under the bonnet, and it’s all the better for it. A little surface corrosion can be found on the odd bracket, with some paint peeling off a few components, touched up here and there. 

The impression that this 340 is made for driving rather than polishing (not that it doesn’t clearly scrub up well too) is reinforced by several upgraded mechanical bits within sight of a peek underneath. We’re not sure what gears it’s housing but the differential housing has been painted red and looks smart and dry. The exhaust has been swapped for a stainless-steel alternative and the fuel tank looks new. Brake callipers and discs up front appear to have also been upgraded – backed up by a big bill in the history folder – fed their fluid via braided steel lines.

This Jaguar’s already impressive score card only gets better when you start delving into the paperwork. Though we couldn’t find many invoices over a decade old, those we do have paint a vivid picture of plenty of parts and work carried out on this 340. There is an original Jaguar service manual, that JDHT certificate and invoices for consistent work going back to at least 2015. The following are a few of the highlights we picked out from an exhaustive pile of bills…

Some heavy duty Coomb road springs were purchased (and presumably fitted) in September 2022 for £319.20. A reconditioned cylinder head, including a vapour blast of the timing cover, was bought in October 2022 for £444. A Revotec cooling system kit was added in August 2023 at a cost of £286.74. Both a reconditioned servo unit from Martin Robey and a performance vented front brake kit from Fosseway Performance were added in 2023 at a cost of £537.60 and £757.20 respectively. 

Big bills for engine block work, including a rebore, new piston assembly, regrind and new shells, plus a flywheel reface, from South Wales Piston Services Limited can be traced to September 2022 at a cost of £1462.80. A new rear wire wheel came once again from Martin Robey in December 2022 at a cost of £110.08. Some narrow wheel spats and an ignition set (plugs, leads, distributor cap) also came from the aforementioned specialist at a cost of £699.96 in January 2023. We could go on and on like this, but we think you get the idea…

With more than £5k spent on parts and services in recent years, it’s safe to say that this Jaguar has wanted for very little (if anything) lately. Where there’s a lack of older history, this is always reassuring to see. When it’s combined with the driver’s upgrades and the general condition of this 340, we think it makes for one very appealing classic indeed. One that you will be able appreciate just as much from behind the wheel as on the show field.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £20,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.