1973 Jaguar E Type V12

This particular Series 3 fixed-head coupé is a late 1973-registered car, finished in a distinguished colour combination of a Sable exterior over a Biscuit leather interior.

A wonderfully honest and unrestored example, the car has been in long-term ownership prior to being offered for sale, with the family having chosen not to restore the car. Unfortunately, beyond the long-term ownership and unrestored state, little is known about the car’s personal history.

Collectors and bidders will also be interested to note the car is entirely numbers-matching, as confirmed by the identification plate and Jaguar heritage certificate present with the vehicle.

Externally, the gorgeous lines of the E Type are nice and straight, with no sign of any notable impacts, dents or other damage to worry about. The paintwork wears a well-earned, light natural patina, though it still polished up well for the photographs and looks to be free of any major blemishes beyond the usual wear-and-tear expected on a car of this vintage.

The chrome window strips, badging and other detailing retains an impressive shine and mirror-like finish for the most part, with all the pieces being present and correct as far as we can tell. There is some minor pitting and dulling, though this is commensurate with the age of the vehicle and only serves to form part of the ‘story’ of this E Type, rather than detracting from its appearance.

The iconic wire wheels with ‘knock-off’ spinners are in good condition, though - like the rest of the car - a fastidious owner may wish to refurbish them to bring them back to their best, although they are certainly presentable as they sit.

Notably, the ‘rag top’ sunroof is in apparently excellent condition, with no rips, tears or damage to the material and no reported issues opening or closing, making this V12-powered ‘big cat’ an excellent candidate for a classic summer cruiser.

Inside, the cabin presents well for its age and unrestored condition, with the tan leather seats wearing a charming patina and displaying the usual creasing associated with cars of this age.

As far as we can see, there are only a few minor scuffs and nicks to the seat covers, whilst the carpet, door cards and centre console remain in good shape with no notable problems.

The switchgear on the dashboard is beginning to show its age in places, along with other high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel, gear shifter and door pulls wearing a hard-earned patina.

Up above, the headliner is free from rips or tears, though there does appear to be evidence of sagging towards the rear load hatch, though a good trim shop or confident home mechanic should be able to address this without too much trouble.

The load bay itself is in presentable shape with only a few noticeable marks on the floor, though there doesn’t appear to be anything beyond surface damage here.

As far as we could tell, all the systems, dials and switchgear are working as intended.

Open up the front-hinged clamshell bonnet, and the 5.3-litre V12 engine is revealed in all its glory.

As with the rest of the car, the engine is in an unrestored state, so there is plenty of scope for fettling, detailing and fastidious cleaning should the next owner wish to take this E Type to the next level.

That said, there are no noted oil leaks, and no signs of any fluid pooling or major misting, which is good news indeed. There is some surface rust and ‘bloom’ dotted around the engine, ancillaries and the engine bay, though this is all detailed in the extensive photo gallery below.

Out on the road, the car drives as you’d expect from an unrestored E Type. Whilst sometimes the car will happily purr along with a glorious twelve-cylinder soundtrack, there is an intermittent hesitation and misfire, which we’d suggest is either electrical or fuelling related from our experience. Due to the car having being stood a while we would strongly recommend a proper recommissioning before taking on the road. The video below demonstrates the misfire, occasionally the car will rev higher or lower than shown.

Included with the car is a veritable treasure trove of history, stretching back numerous years across the cars ownership.

Whilst there is far too much to list individually, the folder contains the all-important Jaguar Heritage certificate which confirms the numbers-matching nature of the car, along with numerous old MOT certificates, the V5 showing seven former keepers, and numerous big-ticket invoices.

Of those invoices, there are several that will be of particular interest to potential bidders, including the following:

An invoice for a new clutch slave and master cylinder in 2018, along with new halogen headlight units at a cost of £651.97.

Extensive maintenance and servicing work in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, with a plethora of big-ticket invoices to support.

A new exhaust manifold, carburettor gaskets and water sensor housing in 2018 at a cost of £977.47.

There are also two sets of keys with the vehicle, tool roll, spare wheel and other miscellaneous tools to help with day-to-day maintenance.

Original, unrestored and numbers-matching - three phrases that should light a fire underneath any Jaguar E Type enthusiast, and all three phrases apply to this gorgeous Sable-coloured Series 3 coupé.

A prime candidate either for a full restoration, sympathetic restoration to retain the genuine patina, or as a potential collectors item, this V12-powered GT appears to require only minor mechanical fettling before being ready for use once again.

An ideal project for any E Type enthusiast or collector, we estimate this Series 3 FHC to reach in the region of £33,000 to £38,000 when the virtual hammer falls.

Only one question remains: How far will you take it?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; our offices are open Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.