Four of the best luxury buys for under £30k
Timeless style, technology and luxury can be yours for surprisingly little with these late 1960s contemporaries, but buy carefully – these bruisers can pack a sting
You need only look at the values of the two-door contemporaries of the luxury foursome featured here to see that, more often than not, the best value for your money is to be found on four-door saloons. If you prefer luxury to sporting prowess however, that’s all the better, as these four – all contemporaries in the late 1960s – combine style, innovative technology and luxurious appointment unlike much else you can find on a similar budget.
The Citroën and Bentley both major on comfort above all else, and both share the same suspension system of course, with the Bentley providing a more stately, old-luxury flavour (and a whopping V8), compared to the Citroën’s decisively avantgarde nature. The Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar are both a bit more old school, in the former case for reliability’s sake (though pneumatic suspension graces the rarer W109s) and in the latter for both cost and sporting prowess.
All four major on one characteristic therefore, but all provide luxury and style that was unseen before they arrived and hasn’t been replicated in quite the same way since. Here’s how to buy the best.
TRY THE TRANSMISSION
Overdrive was optional for manual 420s, but most cars came with it; problems are usually down to clogged filters or dodgy electrical connections. Also check for clutch slip, as fitting a new one means removing the engine; a three-piece replacement kit is £200 or so. These gearboxes were a big improvement over the Moss units fitted to the S-type, but they are rare in decent used condition. However, most 420s have a Borg Warner Type 35 automatic which is durable, fairly smooth and rarely needs rebuilding.
HOW’S THE RUNNING GEAR?
Braking problems are usually due to corroded pistons and cylinders, so be wary of cars left standing. Everything is available and upgrades are straightforward, but parts costs are high.
The 420 never received power steering as standard, although it was a popular option at the time – and something that’s necessary given the weight of that big straight-six in the nose. It is reasonably reliable, but problems aren’t unheard of, so look out for classic signs of wear such as a groaning pump and leaks.
SEE HOW IT RUNS
Make sure the engine doesn’t sound hollow or rattly and that the oil is clean. With a cast-iron block and alloy cylinder head, antifreeze levels must be maintained to stave off internal corrosion. A healthy engine will show 40psi at 2500rpm, although senders and gauges aren’t always accurate.
Lots of smoke on the overrun or when the throttle is blipped suggests worn valve guides. A light metallic tapping on tickover could be tappet buckets lifting. Specialists charge over £1500 to fix things, but issues such as corroded water ports inflate the bill. Oil weeps are normal, but if it’s a torrent the rear crankshaft oil seal has probably failed.
CHECK IT FOR STRENGTH
Scrutinize the two longitudinal chassis legs which meet a crossmember beneath the nose, adding essential strength. Expect problems where the chassis legs join the crossmember and the adjacent ‘crow’s feet’, which tie the front wings to the crossmember. Corrosion is common in the jacking point below the A-post, so look for distortion of the metal and poor-quality plating. This area is often bodged, as it’s complicated. Inspect the base of each front wing, looking for cracked paint, and signs of uneven panel gaps.