1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Automatic

A decade after the Jaguar E-Type Series 1 arrived, the design progressively matured through 1971 with the introduction of the Series 3 developed to showcase the new smooth and torquey 5.3-litre engine, originally destined for Le Mans. Being slightly larger and altogether much softer in nature, the E-Type in Series 3 form had lost the wildness of its youth but gained the long-legged touring profile to which it was arguably better suited.

This lovely example dates from mid-1973 and is factory-finished in Pale Primrose with a black leather interior. It was ordered through Mann Egerton and optioned with automatic transmission, chrome wire wheels and a Webasto sliding sunroof. Its first owner is recorded as living in Southend on Sea but, in 1988, the Jaguar crossed the water to Guernsey where it was to be enjoyed by two further owners and, as is normal in Guernsey, covered very few miles.

Our vendor purchased the car from us (Silverstone Auctions at the time) in early November 2021 when we described the car as 'The essence of this car, however, is its originality. Apart from fresh paintwork (which had slightly lost its edge from many hours in the Guernsey sun) and some new brightwork less than 12 months ago, the car remains totally standard and is a significant ‘reference’ vehicle for Series 3 E-Types, retaining its PDI marks and notes, wiring tape and other original features. This is remarkable in a car that's 58-years old'.

All of this was demonstrably true, however, total originality and regular daily use do not always go hand in hand. Classic cars are generally happier when they are frequently pressed into service, and, in this case, the Jaguar had one or two niggles. Our vendor is particularly fastidious and immediately committed the E-Type to the well respected E-Type specialist, William Heynes of Bidford-on-Avon, to go through it from stem to stern, sorting out any issues, no matter how small. Over the next few weeks this was exactly what happened and there are a number of invoices in the car's history file relating to this work. They total £12,073.29 which includes £1,976.30 for new stainless wire wheels and £1,465 for five new Dunlop SP Sport Aquajets leaving a further £8,632 invested in minor works including every rubber hose, all filters, rear suspension bushes, door seals, gaskets, dampers and a carb rebuild and set-up. These invoices are clearly written, finely detailed and rather confidence-inspiring.

Despite the Jaguar now being 'on the button', our vendor's wife finds it too low to get into and the lengthy road trips, for which it was originally purchased, have now been shelved, so reluctantly this glorious Primrose V12 is now offered for sale. The current indicated mileage is 12,900 supported by the History File which contains MOT Certificates going back as far as 1976, as well as the 'buff' Guernsey logbook, its Jaguar Heritage Certificate and the aforementioned recent invoices from William Heynes. 

Still essentially original but now benefitting from being fully 'sorted', this delightful Series 3 may finally get to make those lengthy road trips for which it is so eminently suited.