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FOR SALE

1973 Jaguar E-Type S3 Roadster

£64,995

Excellent Condition | Restored Example | Manual Gearbox | 'Best in Show' Winner

  • Mileage~57,907 on clock
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine5.3-litre
  • LocationHinckley

£64,995

1973 Jaguar E-Type S3 Roadster

Premium Classified Sale

Introduction

Glyn Parry
Professional Consigner

A true British icon - the Series 3 was reengineered with the sought-after V12 engine whilst retaining the important manual gearbox option.

A legend in its lifetime, the Jaguar E-Type, when unveiled to the world in 1961 seemed too good to be true. Refined manners matched up to an impressive turn of speed, this stunning-looking package also contained a high level of contemporary technology. The E-type's credentials were further enhanced by its quality, affordability and comfort. With its desirability sealed, it became and remains a dream car for many.

The E-Type Series 3 was introduced in 1971, with a new 5.3 L Jaguar V12 engine, uprated brakes and standard power steering. The V12 was equipped with four Zenith carburettors, and produced more torque, and a 0–60mph time of less than seven seconds. The new longer wheelbase S3, offered significantly more room in all directions and was easily identifiable by the large cross-slatted front grille, flared wheel arches, wider tyres, four exhaust tips and a V12 badge to the rear.

This example has had over 2,500 hours of work completed as part of a full nut and bolt restoration project and also has been updated with: complete engine rebuild; new clutch kit; complete timing chain kit; new wheels; new seats; carpets; seat belt straps; new mohair hood; extensive body repairs and paintwork; fish tail exhaust; front grille; rear silencer box; new boot lid seal; steering rack; radio centre console; piston and liner kits; oil and water pump; ignition conversion and a gearbox strip and overhaul. The car has been shot blasted as well as chroming of all parts.

The car comes to market after ~3 years of UK ownership and was previously imported from America and converted from LHD to RHD - this matching numbers Jaguar presents beautifully to this day and is ready for many more miles ahead, the E-Type has only driven ~800 miles since completion.

This listing was written from information supplied by Glyn after meeting Michael the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

Exterior

The E-Type's elegant bodywork, striking colour, and timeless appeal from every angle make it a pleasure to admire from any distance.

Wheels and Tyres

The Jaguar is fitted with 15" multi-spoked wheel caps with a central Jaguar decal. The wheels look in excellent condition after being replaced in November 2021 at a cost of over ~£1,200, complimenting the exterior perfectly.

The E-Type is fitted with Maxxis MA-1 tyres to the front and rear with a beautifully contrasting white-wall rim. The tyres appear to have a good amount of tread left and date codes from 2021. The tread spec shows with 215/70 all round.

For a more detailed view of the Jaguar's exterior and a closer inspection of the wheels and tyres, please refer to the photos and videos.

Bodywork

Looking over the Jaguar during our visit, we noted that both doors, the bonnet, and the boot open and close smoothly and we didn't observe any major scratches or dings to the panelling.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The stand out Green Sand paint coat is even in finish across all the panels, overall showing in great condition having been restored in August 2022. The Jaguar has benefitted from over 2,500 hours worth of works carried out on it with a full metal strip back and repaint of the exterior colour. There were no signs of any major concerns with the coverage and the colour showed nicely in the light.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass on the E-Type looked in good condition, in line with the age; we didn't notice any cracks or discolouration on our visit. The window seals look in great condition also, matching the rest of the car.

The front and rear lights looked well-maintained and well presented. Badges and motifs are all present and look excellent in their presentation. A very minor note was the chrome on the base of the front grille was thinning slightly, although not a major concern. The roof presented in excellent condition having been replaced in October 2022. The operation of the roof showed no issues with raising or lowering on our visit.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review video. We take you across all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

Interior

Stepping into the interior of the E-Type is like entering a realm of automotive luxury and timeless design - a real time warp with its beautiful standard of presentation.

Seats and Carpets

The E-Type is kitted out with a moss green leather interior, overall the seats look in great condition having been reconditioned in February 2022. We noted a very minor mark on the driver side seat rear edge, where the roof edge met the seat edge when lowered. Overall, this was only a minor observation and didn't detract from the overall appearance.

The main woollen carpets of the interior showed in great condition, looking underneath the mats showed the car had no concerns. The rear shelf section presented really well having been re-upholstered previously. Over in the boot the carpet areas looked in a similar condition.

We cover the cabin area of the E-Type in further detail in our interior review video.

Dashboard

The dash and instrument cluster are clean and smart, with all the numbers appearing clear and legible. The odometer displayed ~57,907 miles at the time of our visit.

The dials, switches, and controls all appeared to be in excellent condition, with surfaces appearing free from fogging or scratching.

Our interior gallery section offers a closer look at the Jaguar dashboard.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The wooden steering wheel is in great condition and the central badge motif showed well, adding to the character of the car. The manual gear selector, with its Jaguar branded badge, also appears to be in good condition.

Additional images of the cabin area, including the steering wheel, are available in our Interior Gallery section - visit to see more details of what the Jaguar has to offer.

Mechanics

The V12 engine in the Jaguar has to be heard to be truly appreciated - stunning levels of power delivering ~266 BHP, a 0-60 MPH in ~6.4 seconds and a top speed of ~146 MPH.

Engine and Gearbox

Upon starting the car, we noticed no issues with the engine having been rebuilt in April 2022. Michael mentioned that both the engine and gearbox, operate very smoothly. As part of the restoration project, the gearbox and diff have been rebuilt in March 2022, adding further to the quality of the engine. The engine bay appeared very clean and well-presented during our visit too.

We took the car out on local roads with Michael to get a better feel for its performance. Throughout the drive, we shifted through the gears and saw how the car handles.

For a closer look underneath the Jaguar and an overview of the engine bay, please refer to the mechanical video as well.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs, or issues from the suspension when we were on the road, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. The suspension has also been upgraded as part of the restoration project.

The E-Type has been upgraded to include new brake callipers, pistons, pipework and discs.

The brakes felt great and were easily able to bring the Jaguar to a stop.

We cover the underside of the car in our 'Mechanical Gallery' section. Head over to our video section, where we've summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself. We take you around the mechanical elements of the car and give you an overview of what's on offer here.

The Drive

Equipped with the V12 engine, the vehicle sounds fantastic, making the car worth driving purely for the engine note alone. Combining this with the ease of the updated and highly desirable manual gearbox, this really does make for a wonderful driving experience.

The E-Type felt comfortable on our test drive, riding with no issues through our journey on the road. No shakes were observed or issues were heard on the road and there were seamless changes through the gears. Overall, a really smooth and enjoyable ride where we heard no unwanted noises or anything that caused us a concern.

Our 'On the Road' video gives an overview of the car on some local roads and how it performs whilst driving.

Electrics and Other

All switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and in good condition. Michael mentioned that he's had no issues with the electrical elements of the car and confirmed everything is working correctly.

We noted that the oil, battery, water, and fuel gauges all function properly, and the clock on the dashboard works accurately. A period-appropriate Motorola branded stereo with upgraded electronics, featuring options to connect your phone, has been installed in the cabin. The cigarette lighter port has been replaced with a USB charger port.

A small section of replacement leather was stored in the boot for any future repair needs, along with a spare wheel and tyre. The tonneau cover is also included in the final sale.

History and Paperwork

A detailed amount of invoices for the restoration come with this E-Type, having over 2,500 hours of work completed as part of the full nut and bolt project.

The E-Type project is in honour of the current owners late father as detailed on the memorative plaque located under the boot lid. The Jaguar is an import model originally from the US with only ~1 keeper registered in the UK and ~3 year current ownership.

The car has had a great deal of restorative work carried out over its years and has only driven ~800 miles since completion, works have included; updated speedometer in March 2023, centre console re-trim in January 2023, a new mohair hood was replaced in October 2022, new stereo speakers in September 2022 and extensive body repairs and paintwork finishing in August 2022 costing over ~£5,000.

Interior and boot sound proofing in June 2022, oil pressure sender unit in May 2022, complete engine rebuild, piston and liner kits, oil and water pump, complete timing chain kit and 3 piece clutch kit in April 2022 - the total cost of these works was ~£16,000.

Rear shock absorbers and a full strip and overhaul of the gearbox was carried out in March 2022, replacement seats covers, diaphragms, foams and carpets costing over ~£1,700 in February 2022, updated brake cylinders, discs, pistons and hoses in February and January 2022.

New distributer and ignition conversion kit at a cost of over ~£880 in December 2021. Replacement heater valve, heater matrix, air cooler outlet, oil cooler elbow, switch kit, gas bonnet struts, servo and clutch kit and new wire wheels in November 2021.

New air filter kit, replacement battery, clutch master cylinder, brake fluid reservoir, stainless steel door mirrors, halogen headlamps, radiator and cooling element and spark plugs in October 2021.

Fish tail and centre exhaust, front grille, front and rear overriders, rear silencer box, light shield and number plate light, reverse lights, new boot lid seal, steering rack, radio centre console and seat belt straps. The car was shot blasted and had part powder coating applied as well as chroming of all parts all completed in January 2021 at a cost of over ~£3,100.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
26.06.2024 MOT 57,906
06.04.2023 MOT 57,041
Key Details
  • ModelE-Type S3 Roadster
  • TransmissionManual
  • Manufacture Date03.12.1973
  • First UK Reg Date01.06.2019
  • CC5,300
  • Mileage~57,907 on clock
  • HistoryGood
  • ColourGreensand
  • Interior ColourGreen / Black
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #UE1S24241
  • Engine #7515365LA
  • RestoredYes
  • Engine RebuildYes
  • MOTYes - Exp 25.06.2025
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers1 Registered in UK
  • LHD or RHDRHD (Converted from LHD)
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~3 years
  • Key FeatureReconditioned Example
  • Vehicle RegistrationCTC 720M
  • Fuel TypePetrol
  • Body TypeRoadster
  • Auction ID1989

Insurance Quote


Average annual insurance premium for a like this is via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

*Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid .

Vehicle Location

Hinckley

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