1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster |

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1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£63,000

Mileage~49,940
TransmissionManual
Engine5.3L
LocationRoyston

SOLD

1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

A car that invites impressed stares and positive comments wherever it goes.

Quite simply a car that needs no introduction. As the archetypical British sports car, the Jaguar E-Type is amongst the worlds most admired pieces of automotive styling. The 1971 addition of the glorious 5.3-litre V12 engine gave the elegant lines a further appeal, by turning it into a grand tourer. By demonstrating that a V12 engine can be made reliable, the car also offers an exceptional aftermarket service and a vast network of specialists to complement the relatively modest costs of maintenance. Of course, the styling goes a long way, but anyone with an appreciation of its technology and natural ability will not need further convincing.

This 1973 Series 3 roadster finished in "Old English White" complemented by the near-perfect combo of its red leather interior has seen something of a charmed life, with plenty of evidence of its maintenance and upkeep. This example of a very original late model V12 E-Type with under 50,000 reported miles and just 4 former owners recorded, the last three of whom have been long-term owners, is hard to fault.

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

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Vehicle Delivery

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

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

Having only used the E-Type for occasional summer journeys, the car has rarely seen any rain, definitely a pampered life.

Terry confesses that he was swayed by the opportunity to buy the car off its third owner, a doctor friend of his, after they were forced to sell the car due to the installation of speed ramps in the area. Following the previous owner's meticulous attention to its running and presentation, Terry carried out the same dutiful script, with regular upkeep and MOTs despite the low miles covered per year.

He has had the car for some ~20 years, but the lack of use more recently, along with the potential to free up funds for other purposes, necessitates the car's sale. Terry will be more than happy to answer any question you might have in the comment section below.

Terry

Vehicle Owner

Terry saved £11,340* when they
sold their Jaguar with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The car's exceptional presentation supports its low recorded mileage and ownership history.

Wheels and Tyres

Fitted with the 15" pressed steel wheels and chrome hubcap combo, we love the look of these on the Series 3. They are in good condition, with no significant wear to note. The correct Dunlop SP tyres are all roughly 25 years old but look to have plenty of life left in them still.

Please take a look at the videos and photography for a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

Bodywork

The bodywork is in very good shape, with no issues of concern noted on our visit. All of the key areas, like the bulkhead, inner wings, tubular frame and sills are solid. External observation of the panel fit gives a very positive impression, with even panel gaps throughout the car with the only exception being the boot lid perhaps needing some adjustment.

There is the smallest suggestion of an under paint blemish noted on the nearside lower edge of the bonnet and some very minor signs of corrosion at the very lowest edges of the nearside inner front arch.

All of the doors are in very good shape, with the arches and floorplan also looking solid. The boot and drivers side door will need a little attention to help them stay open. The smallest of dents was spotted close to the rear-mounted aerial but this should be able to be remedied by a specialist without the need for new paint.

We have taken hi-resolution images and videos of the car for you to further assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves.

Paint

The "Old English White" paint finish presents excellent throughout. There are no notable blemishes, with very little evidence of road wear observed. The car retains an even balanced shine, with no flat spots or signs of unevenly matched paint.

The images taken are from different angles and reflections to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. Please take the time to fully assess the condition.

Glass and Trim

The big cat's exterior and detailing is very good, with no significant issues with the quality of the chrome plating. The trim is well placed with the odd sign of wear but certainly nothing to distract from the excellent presentation on this example.

The glass is in good condition, no cracks or age-related blemishes were evident. All lights and lenses are in tip-top condition, with door and glass rubbers in a healthy state.

Please view the images and videos of the glass and trim to see in detail.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

This head-turner's interior is delightfully original, but still presents extremely smartly for a near 50 year old car.

Seats and Carpets

The appealing interior is complemented by the red leather seats. They have been well preserved and therefore free of any significant damage with the expected level of wear for a car of this age and mileage.

The carpeting is complete and in good condition, there was a slightly damp patch noted on the driver's side carpet - the car appears not to leak, and spends all of its time in a garage so is unlikely to be a major issue. The rear section of the cabin has an intact storage box, and the boot fittings are dry.

Dashboard

The finishing of the facia is positive, with no significant issues regarding damage or wear. All of the controls are said to be functional, with the gauges proving to be operational during the test drive.

No cracks were observed on top of the dashboard, with a few minor marks observed on the padding and centre console. The switches and dials are in good condition, with an aftermarket cassette/stereo player and rear-mounted speakers fitted during the early '90s.

Please view the images to see the dashboard in more detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel has a pleasant original wear that corresponds to the car's age, with the gear gaiter showing a little more wear.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Regular spending on this Big Cat has helped retain its smooth V12 characteristics, a joy to listen to.

Engine and Gearbox

The lusty and unstressed V12 is refined once warmed up and it's very evident that the combination of maintenance and low mileage contributes to its positive state of tune.

The car starts up with no issues, the cold start did not suggest anything untoward with its fuel or electric delivery - impressive for a car that has seen very limited use in recent months. The gearbox is slick, with no reported issues with the clutch. Watch the video to see it in action.

Suspension and Brakes

As expected for a car that has seen the attention and maintenance of a former Jaguar mechanic, there were no issues with the running gear, the brakes were even when applied and there were no suggestions of neglected dampers or bushes, while the car was on the move.

The Drive

The direct thrill of being the lucky passenger of the E-Type left no room for let-down, and it's easy to get carried away by the sheer emotion and experience of the drive. The car was docile around village speeds and opened up sweetly on the countryside roads.

The car handles far better than a V12 powered machine has the right to, with its surprisingly nimble steering and cosseted refinement as we ranged up through the gears. There were no signs of complaints from the engine, with the oil pressure and engine temperature all staying well within the expected levels.

Electrics and Other

The hood has not seen much use, as the owner didn't have a reason to use it. However, it raised and lowered well with no obstructions. It is in decent condition, with no rips, with just a little wear noted on the off-side rear quarter. The rear plastic window is good, with minor signs of age but clear and without cracks or fading. The car also comes with its tonneau cover. The inside of the hood is in good condition, with signs of age but damp free.

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History and Paperwork

This E-Type has been truly pampered over its lifetime resulting in a beautiful example ready for its next set of adventures, and further pampering of course!

The impressive folder full of paperwork reveals much about the car's lifestyle and each owners care of duty; coming out of ~20 year ownership, just 4 former keepers and recorded mileage of under 50,000 make this RHD home market car with manual gearbox a very enticing proposition.

The paperwork starts from 1976 with a sales invoice when the car was acquired by its 3rd owner, a well-heeled custodian who retained the car until 1991. It then appears, that it received a substantial amount of cosmetic work under the ownership of its next owner, a London based Doctor. He retained a considerable amount of invoices amounting to thousands of pounds which include most of the cars MOT certificates, servicing and maintenance including an alternator rebuild, power steering rack, radiator, stainless steel system, timing chain, bodywork and tyres.

Work under the current owner's guidance includes seat refurbishment, regular servicing and engine maintenance by a former Jaguar employee, a new twin fin-tail exhaust, paintwork, new external trim, clutch slave cylinder and a very recently fitted battery along with all of its MOTs since the owner took the car on in 2002.

Terry will be happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments below.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also 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
19-02-2021	MOT	49,876
14-02-2020	MOT	49,786
15-02-2019	MOT	49,731
21-02-2018	MOT	49,593
17-02-2017	MOT	49,389
16-02-2016	MOT	49,309
01-07-2015	Service	49,921
02-03-2015	MOT	49,240
13-06-2013	MOT	49,147
19-07-2011	MOT	48,869
21-06-2010	MOT	48,733
22-06-2009	MOT	48,437
24-06-2008	MOT	48,224
19-03-2007	MOT	47,949
15-06-2006	Service
05-05-2006	MOT	47,574
16-09-2004	Service	47,285
16-09-2004	MOT	47,285
30-06-2003	MOT	46,627
21-06-2002	MOT	45,729
25-07-2001	Service	44,497
19-07-2001	MOT	44,498
14-07-2000	MOT	43,684
25-08-1999	MOT	42,806
18-08-1998	MOT	41,910
22-09-1997	Service
01-09-1997	MOT	40,769
18-09-1996	MOT	39,520
15-09-1995	MOT	37,604
13-12-1994	MOT	36,831
31-05-1994	Service	35,134
11-12-1993	MOT	34,884
11-12-1992	MOT	33,679
17-01-1992	Service
13-12-1991	MOT	32,099
13-01-1979	Service
13-04-1977	Service	26,803