1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3

Finished in its original colour of Azure Blue with a matching blue hide interior and sitting on a set of wire wheels, this Series 3 E Type was first registered by University Motors of Kingston-on-Thames back in 1973 and comes with a comprehensive history that stretches all the way back to 1975.

The 5.3-litre V12 engine purrs or growls depending on your mood, and the Webasto sunroof allows you to enjoy even the briefest hint of sunshine. An automatic gearbox enables you to concentrate on the sights and sounds around you while still delivering epic performance, even with four people aboard.

Kept in dehumidified storage since the seller bought it in 2020, ABW 429M’s professional curation included being maintained on a battery conditioner and having regular heat cycles put through it when it wasn’t being used.

Which it has been, although only sparingly and only for events such as Goodwood and jaunts through the New Forest. The seller drove it to us too, which is always a good sign, and even our in-house expert, a man not known for using two words when one will do, reports that it starts, runs, and drives “very well”.

The subject of what appears to have been a rolling restoration, after having been resprayed in its original colour of Azure Blue in 1991, subsequent work includes having the bonnet aligned and repainted in 2010, having the bumpers rechromed in 2013, replacing the rear lamps in 2014, and fitting new door seals in 2015 – and the combination of that striking blue along with good brightwork makes for an arresting combination, doesn’t it?

Not least because everything is in such a good condition with no ripples along the flanks, no dents or dinks across the panels, and very good shutlines and overall alignment. No significant stonechips to the front either, and the only real issue we can find is that the windscreen is starting to delaminate.

A nice touch is the RAC badge on the radiator grille, which features a leaping Jaguar, as well as the stainless-steel wire wheels, which were fitted in 2014. This was an involved job that included new splined hubs and bearings, leading to a bill, for parts alone, of more than £2,000.

Tyres are 205/70R15 Pirelli P4000 Super Touring on all four corners, and all have good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The Webasto sunroof, a fitment it left the factory with, slides fore and aft smoothly, seals well, and is completely free of rips, tears, and other damage.

No wonder then that Humidity Solutions Ltd, the folk who provided the dehumidifier that has preserved it so well, displayed it on their stand at Sion Park for the London Classic car show 2021.

Or that it’s been regularly displayed at the Browns Lane monthly classic car meets.

Or that the owner has used it to attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival on a number of occasions.

Day trips to country pubs and to visit relatives too, during which “it has always been very reliable.”

Apart from the windscreen, the only flaw we can see is the exhaust tailpipes aren’t quite level, which is the very definition of a #firstworldproblem, surely?

The blue hide interior is gently patinated but no more; with the economy of originality never better demonstrated, we can’t see the need to change much; sure, you’re going to need to keep the leather cleaned and fed, but what little rumpling there is to the driver’s seat is minimal and it doesn’t affect its comfort one iota.

The creasing on the front seats is barely worth mentioning either, while the smaller +2 rear seats are in an even better condition with firm cushions and no noteworthy wear, much less any actual damage. Four seatbelts are fitted, with static ones in the rear and inertia reel belts in the front.

The wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel is as lovely to hold as it is behold, while the temptation to flick your way along the row of rocker switches as a juvenile pre-start check is almost irresistible; the E Type might still be able to run with the pack, but this is a sportscar that doesn’t feel the need to take itself too seriously.

The chrome controls and handles are in good order too, as are the headlining and carpets, with the latter having been protected by some natty Jaguar-branded rubber mats.

The instruments, iconic white-on-black from Smiths (the clock is by Kienzle), all read as they should.

In fact, the cabin is so good that even the trim on the sills and the top of the dashboard is pretty much unblemished.

There’s plenty of headroom too thanks to the US-inspired refresh that saw it gain a little more internal space.

In the unlikely event that you tire of the V12 soundtrack, you’ll be pleased to see that the sound system was upgraded in 2023 with the installation of a Retrosound San Diego DAB radio with a matching digital aerial. A speaker has also been fitted in either door card, with another lying either side of the rear-seat passengers.

The boot is, if anything, in an even better state of preservation than the rest of the interior with no obvious wear just smooth and undamaged flooring courtesy of the protective chrome rails that are fitted along its length.

A full-size spare wire wheel lies underneath, and lifting everything out uncovers good, solid metal.

Flaws are few: A repair has been made to the outside edge of the driver’s seat, and both it and the armrest have some colour loss, but we can’t imagine many folk worrying about either.

In fact, the only problem you might feel the need to sort out is the missing tailgate latch cover and, perhaps, remove the remnants of an old Alpine stereo system that remain in the armrest.

Recent work includes having the ignition system refreshed in 2022, the front stub axles and bearings replaced in 2021, the rear brake discs and pads, front suspension bushes, and all six dampers replaced in 2020, and the fuel system gone through in 2019.

Our Man reports that it “starts and drives very well” – and you can check the former for yourselves in the video.

It idles very smoothly indeed; balance a farthing on it and it’ll still be there, even at full chat. The V12 also builds good oil pressure and while the voltmeter takes a moment to gather its thoughts, it gets there in the end.

As for the way it revs, we’d advise turning the volume right up in order to properly enjoy the sound the quadruple tailpipes make.

The engine bay is very tidy, and while you could ask your valeter to give it a wash, if you were to defer that for a while in favour of actually driving it, few would blame you.

The underside of the bonnet and the front wheelarches have been protected by a neat coat of underseal, and this protection extends to the floorpans. This too is generally in a good condition, although it has cracked here and there, so it might be prudent to get it touched-up where necessary.

The protection on the underside of the boot and the front valence has been painted Azure Blue, and this is in a good condition.

The Jaguar doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it has two sets of keys.

Its history file includes an Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbook, a lubrication chart and a wiring diagram, a spreadsheet detailing its history back to 1973, invoices going back to 1975, a good number of MoT certificates from 1979 onwards, and even an expired tax disc.

The E Type is an icon for a very good reason; few classic sportscars offer a better support network and none are better looking.

They’ve been a good investment over the years too, with the most desirable having breached six-figures many years ago – and make no mistake, this one as desirable as a Series 3 comes.

With a very good history file that suggests decades of fastidious maintenance, our estimate of between £35,000 and £45,000 looks like extraordinarily good value given its condition and history…

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.