The Jaguar 3.8S was introduced in 1963 as a car sold alongside the very successful Jaguar Mk2 as a lightly upgraded car in the same market segment. Incorporating front end styling closely resembling that of the Mk2 and the back end reminiscent of the Jaguar Mk10, it improved on the Mk2 by incorporating independent rear suspension, in common with the E-Type, twin gas tanks, a larger trunk, and minor upgrades to finishes and trim, utilizing the 3.4 and 3.8 liter variants of the Jaguar XK engine. Most of the other underpinnings remained more or less identical to the Mk2 and the cars were available with both a manual and automatic gearbox. Although the car drove well, the styling wasn’t as well received, with clashes in styling cues between the front and back, especially where the rear wheel arches were a different shape and lower than the front, while the rear door, in common with the Mk2, still had the cutout for a higher arch. Although heavier, in actual driving the improved suspension allowed the S-Type to be comparable in performance in real world conditions and the car proved popular as a police car, being capable of keeping up with many of the faster cars available at the time. In 1966, the Jaguar 420 was introduced and sold concurrently with both the Mk2 and S-Type, It kept much the same back end while redesigning the front in a more linear style more fitting to the overall styling of the car. Eventually, however, in 1969 all three models were replaced by the all new Jaguar XJ6. One of the very first cars I bought to restore was a Jaguar 3.8S. Although that project was never completed due to the extensive body damage and rust uncovered after digging further into the car, several parts of that car ended up getting restored and ended up in this one which was purchased as a clean, almost completely rust free project with an intact drivetrain, but stripped of all trim and paint awaiting refinishing. I chose to refinish the car in its original gunmetal grey colour, but opted to restore the interior in the optional red rather than refitting the original black interior to the car. Already fitted with an automatic transmission the car did run and drive but the original Borg Warner DG250 gearbox was beginning to fail and there was no parts availability for it. I had contemplated converting the car to a manual gearbox as I had one from the first 3.8S I purchased, but that would have required modifying the tunnel and redoing some of the interior, so instead I decided to keep it an automatic, fitting a GM 700R4 4 speed gearbox instead. This car is a pleasurable car to drive especially in a largely restored state. The engine is still as I acquired it and starts and runs well. The car is a comfortable cruiser, capable of highway speeds and carrying 4 passengers with ease.