Jaguar 420 and Daimler Sovereign (1966–69) - Daimler

Daimler

Whereas the Daimler 2 1⁄₂-litre V8 released in 1962 differed from the Jaguar Mark 2 in having a genuine Daimler engine, only the Sovereign's badging and aspects of interior trim differentiated it from the 420.

The market perception of the two marques Daimler and Jaguar, which the material differences between them sought to foster, was that the Daimler represented luxury motoring for the discerning and more mature gentleman whereas the Jaguar was a sporting saloon aimed at a somewhat younger clientele. In the Daimler model range, the Sovereign filled a gap between the 2 1⁄₂-litre V8 and the larger and more conservatively styled 4 1⁄₂-litre Majestic Major. Prices in the UK of the basic 420 and Sovereign, as quoted in the Motor magazine of October 1966 were:

Manual o/d – Jaguar £1615 Daimler £1724
Automatic – Jaguar £1678 Daimler £1787

In return for the ~6.5% difference in price, the Daimler purchaser obtained only a few substantive advantages but would have considered the cachet of the Daimler badge to be well worth the extra money; indeed the Daimler name attracted buyers who disliked the Jaguar's racier image. By the same token, rather than being unable to afford the difference for a Daimler, those who chose the Jaguar are unlikely to have regarded the Daimler as something they would wish to own anyway.

In total, the Daimler differed from the Jaguar in having:

• a plastic insert on the rear number plate housing bearing the Daimler name. On the 420 the cast number plate housing bore the Jaguar name and on the Sovereign this remained beneath the plastic 'Daimler' insert
• wheel trim centres, horn button, oil filler cap and seat belt clasps carrying the stylised D rather than the title Jaguar, a Jaguar’s head or no badging at all
• ribbed camshaft covers bearing the inscription ‘Daimler’ rather than ‘Jaguar’, (although earlier versions shared the same polished alloy covers)
• all of the 420 extras as standard, including a heated rear window, overdrive on manual transmission cars and power assisted steering
• a flying D mascot at the forward edge of the bonnet in place of the 'leaping cat' Jaguar mascot above the radiator grille
• a fluted radiator grille with stylised D badge in place of the smooth crowned and Jaguar-badged grille
• arguably more carefully selected and matched walnut veneer trim
• higher grade Vaumol ventilated leather seat centre sections
• better quality covers for the sun visors