1973 Jaguar E-Type 2+2 (Series 3) |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1973 Jaguar E-Type 2+2 (Series 3)

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Mileage~6,559 on clock
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine5.3L
LocationFarnham, Surrey

AUCTION CLOSED

1973 Jaguar E-Type 2+2 (Series 3)

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

The Jaguar E-Type is still arguably the most iconic classic car money can buy.

The iconic E-Type had been in production for 10 years by the time the refreshed Series 3 models arrived. But the car had become heavier, due to additional equipment and not helped by US emissions control, the original straight-six had lost a little of its fizz. The obvious solution was to add the newly introduced 5.3 L V12 engine to the latest incarnation of the E-Type. The overhead-camshaft V12 produced ~272BHP, which along with uprated brakes, cooling and power-assisted steering comfortably allowed the car to reach twice the legal speed limit but also created a very different driving experience. Always considered a brisk and agile sporting car, the E-Type racing heritage is still very much evident in the Series 3 version. The central steel monocoque, tubular front subframe and independent rear suspension with in-board brakes are straight from the Le Mans D-Types. Housed in the long wheelbase 2+2 coupe, it offers a heady combination of the silky-smooth V12 engine, a luxurious comfortable ride, and relaxed manners; placing the Series 3 E-Type as the perfect long-distance Grand Touring car.

Registered in 1973, this stunningly presented 2+2 fixed-head coupe is now finished in "Gunmetal Grey" with a highly original black leather interior. It has seen a considerable amount of spending over the last 20 years, with invoices that tally up to over £30,000. The works include a repaint, the engine and running gear have been overhauled and the car is fitted with a handful of useful mechanical upgrades. Sold with an MOT to September 2024, it comes with an impressive file of invoices, 2 keys and a Jaguar heritage certificate confirming its provenance. The dateless plate will not be sold with the car and an age appropriate plate; FWW 719M will be attached to the car.

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

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I was lucky enough to own one when in my twenties and loved it, I wanted to experience that again.

Nigel came across this well-restored example in 2022 and thanks to his experience with classic Jags, went about fixing a few of the cosmetic and handling issues. Attracted to the colour and the V12 purr, the power steering and E10 fuel conversion were some nice touches convincing him to buy this car to join his XK150. He told us it is easy to drive, holds the road well, and corners safely with smooth acceleration and offers efficient braking.

After spending a considerable sum to get the car near-prefect over those two years, sadly Nigel has decided that he has to now sell it, he tells us, "I'm only selling the car is because I have a torn cartilage in my right knee which makes getting in and out difficult and painful, therefore I hardly ever use it. My XK150 is much easier to get in and out. I had hoped my knee would get better but it hasn’t and sadly wont".

Nigel will be on hand to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Nigel

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The stunning Gunmetal Grey paint highlights the bodies near perfect condition.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15” period correct wheels are in excellent shape. The chrome on the hub-caps looks great and really suit the exterior to this E-Type.

The Pirelli P4000 tyres are over 10 years old, with one tyre being fitted in 2016, all have good even tread as pictured.

Bodywork

The car's exterior is smartly presented with no observations of damage or corrosion. The panel flow is positive with decent shut lines. The doors open and close without issues, although the passenger door cannot be opened from the outside without a key. A new bonnet was fitted in 2014 and the rear hatch was subject to a complete restoration, fitted with a dummy intake in August 2023. The door seals are in good condition too as pictured.

The underside of the body is solid, with no observations of damage. The floor pan, boot floor, and engine bay are in decent order and the inner wheel wells and sills all appear in good shape. The rear subframe with new mounts was subject to a restoration around 10 years ago. We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The car had a respray in 2014, changing from the original "Primrose Yellow" to a much popular choice of "Gunmetal Grey". It has excellent coverage, with a deep lustre and even colour match. There are a few tiny micro-blisters spotted on the top of the rear wings but not enough to distract. The car is generally free of road wear damage, with the occasional small mark and some signs of its original colour noted in the front top section of the passenger door wells. There is no evidence of outdoor elements on the car.

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, lights and lenses are in good order as pictured. The chrome trim is in excellent shape and well-mounted. The rear bumper rubber seals show signs of age that you often see.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Much of the original interior has been retained and simply adds to the charm of the car.

Seats and Carpets

The seats retain their original covers, with mild creasing and wear but no significant damage. On the flip side to this, the foam for the seats has been recently replaced and as a result, are pleasantly supportive.

The carpets are neatly presented, with no signs of dampness across the car. View the image gallery to see the detail.

Dashboard

The cabin is believed to be original, and despite showing mild signs of age in places it presents positively in light of the age of the car. The dashboard is free of damage or cracks. The dials, controls and switches display well, with mild signs of age and all are said to be functional.

The headlining was replaced in late 2022 and is perfect condition. The door cards are tidy and well-mounted. The luggage area is cleanly presented with minimal signs of use.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Rather pleasingly the original steering wheel has also been retained. While it shows age-related wear, its originality suits the cabin perfectly.

The automatic gear lever has a similar patina, certainly nothing to detract from the positive presentation of this British classic.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Much of the focus of the spending has been directed to the engine and running gear - it really drives superbly.

Engine and Gearbox

The benefits of an aftermarket electronic fuel pump pay dividends to the car's cold start procedure, firing up with the first turn of the key without hesitation. No dashboard warning lights were flagged, as the condensation from the exhaust soon cleared and the engine idled smoothly with no hiccups or undulations.

The engine is very cleanly presented and has seen a considerable amount of work in the last two years, with attention to hoses, seals and pipes on top of a carburettor retune and top end overhaul. In 2021 the car received a rebuilt head, fuel system and carburettor to enable the use of E10 fuel.

The automatic gearbox operates with no reported problems, it engages smoothly with no slipping, unwanted noises or smells. Watch the video to see and hear it in action.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension has been one of the key focuses of Nigel's work since he had the car, obtaining a full set of new uprated Koni adjustable shocks he tells us they have significantly improved the firmness of the drive, new polyurethane bushes up front and all-around anti-roll bars. This subtle suspension adjustment means the car drives beautifully, with no negative noises or unwanted feedback from the wheels.

Prior to Nigel's ownership, the car has been fitted with new rear discs, callipers and a radius arm at the same time as the rear subframe restoration. The car brakes evenly and smoothly, with no fade, judder or pulling to the side. The brakes were also serviced when Nigel first got the car in September 2022.

The Drive

The legendary V12 engine is very much part of the appeal of these cars, the sheer smoothness and complete lack of vibration, as well as that intoxicating sound, is genuine music to any petrolhead.

Thanks to the unstressed nature of the engine, as well as the handful of useful upgrades carried on to the engine, Nigel has told us it returns respectable fuel consumption when cruising and he has not had any issues in terms of the car's engine oil pressure and describes the cooling systems as more than satisfactory. The car accelerates smoothly, with no smoke at all from the exhausts.

The poor road surface didn’t affect the car's handling at all, it felt tight and precise and cornered confidently with no knocks from the power-assisted steering. As we reached slightly higher speeds we didn't catch any mechanical rattles. The engine temperature stayed static with no evidence of the twin fans kicking in despite the warm day and regular engine stops and starts.

Electrics and Other

The sound system is the only provision of modernity in the cabin, courtesy of a JVC FM/Tape player. There is also a fire extinguisher fitted and a removable USB port fitted to the cigar lighter. The car saw a new steel heater matrix fitted in late 2022.

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History and Paperwork

Subject to mechanical, engine and body renovations in the last 20 years, this UK RHD E-Type is in the best of health.

Supplied by Henlys of Euston Road, London NW1 in September 1973, the car originally started its life with a "Primrose Yellow" paint. There is an impressive provenance behind the car with much of the paperwork coming from a Newbury family who purchased the car in 1987 and owned it for the subsequent 35 years. The earliest artefacts for the car include its original service book, wallet and maintenance chart, along with MOTs going back to 1981 and maintenance invoices back to 1985. The car was renovated and overhauled with a documented 2007 engine rebuild at the cost of £6.7k and a repaint in 2014 to "Gunmetal Grey" said to cost £12k. £11k was spent in 2021 for mechanical renovations, including the engine to run E10 fuel, following the renovation and rebuild of the carburettors, new distributor, Magnicor leads, high torque upgraded starter motor, a new water pump and new radiator hoses. Additional work was carried out on the rebuild of the rear subframe and a complete brake overhaul.

The car was placed for sale in 2022, where the current owner purchased and spent a further £14k, which includes engine maintenance parts, new headlining, seat foams, new tailgate, heater matrix, electronic fuel pump and a complete suspension overhaul covering four new Koni shock absorbers, bushes, anti-roll bars and springs. The top end was overhauled in 2023, a new water pump and hoses, new power steering belt and hoses too. The car also had a service in 2023 with new spark plugs fitted.

The car is MOT and Road Tax exempt, but has an MOT to September 2024 for peace of mind. It also has two keys and a Jaguar heritage certificate. The dateless plate will not be sold with the car, it has been removed and an age related number of FWW 719M assigned.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned an 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, 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 of 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 bids, 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
13-09-2023	MOT	5,678
21-07-2022	MOT	5,096
24-08-2021	Engine ovehaul
08-08-2018	MOT	4,874
21-06-2017	MOT	4,545
08-07-2016	MOT	4,357
08-07-2016	Service	4,357
10-07-2015	MOT	4,139
01-06-2015	Service	3,965
11-07-2014	MOT	3,564
10-08-2012	MOT	3,358
27-04-2011	MOT	3,140
07-04-2010	MOT	3,127
27-04-2009	MOT	3,127
18-06-2007	Engine Recondition
02-08-2007	MOT	1,945
06-09-2003	MOT	1,927
27-07-2000	MOT	1,866
29-06-1996	MOT	1,262
13-04-1995	MOT	202
17-08-1988	MOT	96,608
04-04-1987	MOT	95,715
03-04-1986	MOT	93,838
25-07-1984	MOT	86,779
28-08-1982	MOT	84,057
13-10-1981	MOT	83,543
11-10-1973	Service	1,110

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Key Details

ModelE-Type 2+2 (Series 3)
TransmissionAutomatic
Reg. Date10-09-1973
CC5,343
Mileage6,559 on clock
HistorySince 1985
ColourGunmetal Grey
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #1S 51868 BW
Engine #7S 11959 SA
RestoredYes - body in 2014
Engine RebuildYes in 2007
MOT12-09-2024
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All clear
Former Keepers7
Tyre BrandPirelli P4000
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~2 years
Key FeatureStunning presentation and condition
Auction ID2047

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Vehicle Location

Farnham, Surrey

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

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Seller : NigelK

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2 Comments

Lloyd

4 months ago

You say the car will have original reg number FWW 719m
On the original Jaguar passport the reg is TFL 674M?

Kulraj Salh

Admin

Lloyd

4 months ago

Hi Lloyd, this was written incorrectly, the car has had the private registration removed, and an age related number has been assigned to the car. The listing wording has been updated accordingly. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

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Vehicle Location

Farnham, Surrey

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