1974 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadst1974 er

The Series III was the final incarnation of the iconic Jaguar E-Type. Launched in 1971, it was fitted with a silky smooth 5.3-litre, V12 engine and was offered as a 2+2 Coupé or an open-top Roadster. Boasting a longer wheelbase, larger and better brakes, and power steering, all as standard, it was a great swansong for one of the 20th Century's greatest cars. Success in the American market was dependent, to a great extent, on the car being fitted with an automatic gearbox, and by far the vast majority were so equipped, making Series III V12s fitted with a manual gearbox very rare.

According to the accompanying Jaguar Heritage Certificate, this manual roadster was dispatched to Henlys of London on the 14th February, resplendent in the very Seventies colour of Azure Blue with a complementing dark blue leather interior. The hood was listed as black and the car appears to still be fitted with the original PVC item, in remarkably good condition, apart from a seven-inch tear at the base.

Bought by our vendor"s late father on the 13th October 1980, the car"s third registered keeper at the time, the car was parked in a, mercifully dry, garage where it has remained for the last 36 years still displaying a somewhat faded 1979 Road Fund Licence in the windscreen. It's not known why the car was laid up for all this time, but it was, and happily the decision was made to bring it out and find someone who might return it to its former glory. Its long incarceration has been less unkind than you might expect, and the car presents quite well given the history. The interior is in remarkably good condition, and the panels seem pretty straight to this consignor.

The odometer is currently indicating some 44,116 miles and this may well be accurate given the minimal wear on the interior, pedal rubbers etc.

Series III E-Types have recently started to become sought after and a rare Manual V12 will always command a premium over its Automatic siblings. This “Rip Van Winkle” of the E-Type world is a true survivor and in common with the fairy tale character deserves to be restored to good health and go on to live a long and happy life.