1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster

A decade after the first Jaguar E-Type arrived late in 1961, the design progressively matured through 1971 with a smooth and torquey V12 engine replacing the straight six that had effectively reached the end of its development life. Designed to showcase the new 5.3-litre engine, the Series III (3) cars also featured a larger bonnet bulge, larger wheel openings, a slightly wider track, a revised grille, and updated bumpers. The convertible now rode on a longer 105-inch wheelbase and as a result, the doors and sills were longer, and the length and depth of the floor pan increased. A large horizontal scoop was added to the underside of the bonnet to assist in cooling. The interior was entirely new in the V12, with more comfortable seating and stylish new door panels. The centre console was now vacuum-formed with a simulated leather finish and a smaller, dished and leather-rimmed steering wheel was fitted. Slightly larger, and altogether much softer in nature, the E-type in Series III form had lost the wildness of its youth but gained the long-legged touring profile to which it was arguably better suited.

The E-Type V12 (as it was officially known) on offer here, is a 1972, original UK right-hand drive, matching numbers convertible and has a Jaguar Heritage certificate confirming its birthright. It's fitted with a manual gearbox and has covered just less than 45,000 miles from new, corroborated by MOTs from the 80s and 90s, and from 2000 on by the DVLA.

It's very seldom that a hardened consignor first sees a vendor's car and is almost lost for words, but such is the beauty of this lovely E-Type, that was the case here. The Primrose coachwork is immaculate and the, notoriously difficult to perfect, shut lines are neat and tight. The sparkling Chrome Wire Wheels are enhanced by narrow-stripe White Wall tyres and the unmolested Black Leather interior is just as it should be, with the only nod to modernity a discreetly fitted "Retro sound system, with integrated MP3 connection and hands-free phone”. The boot interior is superb and the engine bay is detailed almost to show standards.

Professionally restored in 2007/8 by Jaguar expert, Peter Jarvis in Kent, the car was purchased by our vendor's predecessor who was looking for the best E-Type he could find in order to proudly chauffeur his Daughter to her wedding. Although he planned to sell it after the event, that didn't happen, and he gradually became more and more involved in bringing the car to as near perfection as he could achieve, spending a total of £25,500 over the next five years. There are invoices in the history file detailing this expenditure accompanied by a similar pile for the Peter Jarvis restoration.

When it was offered for sale just over three years ago our vendor fell in love with it and has kept it in a heated garage only bringing it out on sunny summer days and for its annual trip to the MOT station.

The lever file also contains further details of the car's earlier life including service details and bills from the eighties and, remarkably, a carefully researched list of all 13 bona fide owners (the V5 says 14). Thirteen owners would normally ring alarm bells, however, in this case, it's totally academic as five minutes with this car will confirm that its history for the last few years is all that matters.

We are fortunate in having half a dozen E-Types in this sale, in every iteration and to suit most budgets, and we urge you to spend some time looking closely at this delightful primrose Jaguar.