1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster

Registration no. YNH 800M Chassis no. 1S1901

Footnotes

Testing the E-Type Series 3 in 1972, Road & Track magazine reckoned the new V12 power unit, "a sheer delight, by itself almost worth the price of admission... The idle is smooth and quiet with none of the mechanical busyness one normally experiences from the likes of a Ferrari or Lamborghini V12. And the smoothness lingers throughout the rev range."

This superior refinement would have counted for little had the Series 3 proved slower than its predecessors, but the new V12 engine was more than powerful enough to offset the weight gain over the preceding 4.2-litre XK six and ensure that performance was undiminished. Weighing only 80lb more than the cast-iron-block six that it replaced, the all-alloy, 5.3-litre, overhead-camshaft V12 produced 272bhp, an output good enough for a top speed well in excess of 140mph. Further good news was that the 0-100mph time of around 16 seconds made the V12 the fastest-accelerating E-Type ever.

Other mechanical changes beneath the Series 3's more aggressive looking exterior included ventilated front disc brakes, anti-dive front suspension, Lucas transistorised ignition, and Adwest power-assisted steering, while automatic transmission was one of the more popular options on what was now more of a luxury Grand Tourer than out-and-out sports car. Flared wheelarches, a deeper radiator air intake complete with grille, and a four-pipe exhaust system distinguished the Series III from its six-cylinder forbears, plus, of course, that all-important 'V12' boot badge. The interior though, remained traditional Jaguar. Built in two-seat roadster and 2+2 coupé versions, both of which used the long-wheelbase floor pan introduced on the Series 2 2+2, the Series 3 E-Type continued the Jaguar tradition of offering a level of performance and luxury unrivalled at the price.

The E-Type V12 Roadster offered here benefits from extensive re-commissioning works carried out by Brian Stevens Classic Cars Ltd over the period September 2016 to April 2017, with seemingly no aspect of the car left unexamined. Brian Stevens' detailed bill for £4,439 is on file together with others from The Jaguar Workshop (September and December 2013) and Maingot Engineering (May 2015) totalling some £11,000. It would appear that the carpets were renewed recently. Two expired MoTs were issued in 2014/2015 at 74,000 miles, while the current odometer reading is 74,168 miles. Accompanying documentation consists of the aforementioned maintenance records and a V5C Registration Certificate.