1973 Jaguar E-Type Series lll V12 Roadster (manual)

Superb, 5.3-litre V12 Roadster with a manual gearbox Despatched to New York in March 1973 finished in BRG over Black Carefully restored by experienced Derbyshire Jaguar specialists 'Watjag' Converted to right-hand drive during the restoration Believed to be matching-numbers. Jaguar Heritage Certificate A decade after the original Jaguar E-Type arrived, the design progressively matured through 1971 with the introduction of the Series III. Designed to showcase the new smooth and torquey 5.3-litre engine, originally developed for Le Mans, the Series III cars were available as a 'Roadster' (convertible) or a '2+2' CoupÚ. The Series III is easily identifiable by its large cross-slatted front grille, flared wheel arches, wider tyres, a larger bonnet bulge, updated bumpers, four exhaust tips, and a badge on the rear that proclaims it to be a V12. It also featured uprated brakes, power steering as standard and a large horizontal scoop added to the underside of the bonnet to assist with cooling. The interior was entirely new in the V12, with more comfortable seating, stylish new door panels and a smaller, dished and leather-rimmed steering wheel. Being 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. Approximately 7,990 Series III Roadsters were sold worldwide before production ceased in 1975. The car presented here is a 1973 Jaguar E-Type Slll V12 Roadster with the desirable manual gearbox. The car is believed to be a matching numbers example and has recently been fully restored in the UK by long-term Jaguar specialists David Watson Jaguar Restorations, 'Watjag' in Derbyshire. It is now in absolutely splendid condition, looking fabulous in its original factory colour combination of British Racing Green paintwork with Black leather, and is said to drive very well. According to its accompanying Heritage Certificate, the car was delivered new via British Leyland in New York and remained in the US until our vendor oversaw its importation and renewal in the UK. The car has come from a significant private collection of British cars stored in Florida, collated by a US enthusiast who is a good contact of our vendor. We understand that prior to its restoration, the car was very solid and complete, and the strength and performance of the engine suggest that the indicated mileage of circa 30,000 miles may well be correct (but is not warranted). During the restoration, the Jaguar was converted to right-hand drive and fitted with a number of subtle upgrades such as electronic ignition. A huge amount of work has gone into preparing this Series III and the details of the restoration are too extensive to list here but a full list will accompany the car. The quality of the work carried out is evident from the photographs, this is a very impressive motor car. For many years, the Series III lagged behind its elder siblings in terms of desirability but no more. Buyers are recognising that there is a lot to recommend the big V12, especially in Roadster form with a manual gearbox, and finding a decent example at a sensible price is getting harder. This is a great opportunity to acquire a well-restored car that is ready to drive and enjoy.