1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3

‘XEH 713M’ is an original UK-specification, matching numbers, automatic Jaguar E Type S3.

The previous seller bought the Dark Blue over Biscuit V12 from his neighbour with the intention of using it for long-distance touring on the continent, which he did clocking up around 40,000 miles travelling all over Europe.  The vendor has had it for a yewar, made some improvments, mainly to the interior, but only driven a few miles in it.

Its mechanical servicing and maintenance since 2011 was entrusted to Winspeed Motorsport of Guildford.

Please don’t think that the E Type’s a scruffy old thing because it’s been used properly because nothing could be further from the truth.

Second only to black in the ruthlessness with which it highlights flaws and problems, the Dark Blue* paintwork on this one serves only to underline how good the panels are.

But then they’ve been looked after properly, and repaired when needed, including having the lower sections of the doors repaired in 2016. Repaired, you note, not replaced with ill-fitting pattern parts; originality is important to the owners, and, where feasible, who've favoured conservation over restoration.

The bonnet’s been repainted too, but the previous long-term owner was at pains to point out that it’s never needed any structural repairs in the 33 years he owned it. 

And that structural integrity shows as it still sports good shutlines and excellent panel alignment. Overall, the E Type gives off all the right vibes, something the good chromework contributes to.

It’s also rare to see steel wheels on an E Type too; we love ‘em, but then not for nothing did the hashtag #steeliesforthewin, or even just #SFTW, make itself felt on a certain social media platform before it all went so horribly wrong…

These, by way of contrast, are still healthy and thriving with a chrome finish to them that’s only lightly marred by a few scratches, some tarnishing, and light surface rust. 

The sticker in the windscreen and the rear numberplate both proclaim membership of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club, which is never a bad thing. 

All of which means there really isn’t much for the new owner to do. The paintwork on the roof looks a bit flat compared to the rest, so you might like to get that machine-polished. 

Otherwise, there’s just a perished rubber boot seal, and a chip on the leading edge of the roof to the offside of the aerial to deal with.

* Isn’t it refreshing to see a manufacturer call dark blue simply ‘Dark Blue’? None of this Hippopotamus Whisper nonsense you see nowadays, but then when, like Jaguar Land Rover, you charge up to £70,000 for a bespoke colour, people probably want to feel they’re getting their money’s worth… 

The Biscuit leather interior is still the original, and has been cleaned, moisturised and refreshed by the seller. 

The headrests have been plumped-up too, keeping the patina. 

In March 2022 there was new carpets and mats, and the front footwells beneath appear to be solid.

All the rest is good too including the headlining, door cards, dashboard, and the rear 2+2 seats.

The lack of a clutch pedal frees up a surprising amount of room in the footwell, so the presence of an automatic gearbox is a real boon if you’ve got bigger than average feet. The seller is 6’ 1” in height, and finds that this, along with the extra space the 2+2 shape offers, makes it a very comfortable touring car.

The three-spoke steering wheel has been fitted with a leather cover, and a compass fastened to a block of wood enables the passenger to get their bearings when ambling through foreign lands.

The boot contains a full-size spare wheel, the tool kit and jack, a few spares, a baseball cap, and an indoor car cover. 

Flaws are few. The headlining could be cleaner.

This E Type profits from a cooling system update, plus a newer battery and alternator. The dampers have been routinely replaced over the years too, and it exhales through a stainless-steel exhaust system.

The faith in Winspeed Motorsport, who’ve looked after this beloved E Type since 2011, certainly seems to have been justified, as the V12 engine fires into life, shows good oil pressure even at idle, and revs smoothly with no apparent vibrations. 

Cosmetically, the engine and underbonnet area are quite presentable. 

The underside has had its underseal touched up here and there and looks to be strong and tidy.

You could profitably touch up a few more places with a good quality underseal.

This E Type appears to have led something of a busy life in its first 13 years, racking up 47,000 miles in that time. Things settled down a bit then, well they did until the previous owner bought it and added another 40,000…

Most of this was touring around Europe, but it had a bit of off-piste fun too.  At the time he was quoted: “Most of the F1 circuits in Europe have been ‘tested’ and a couple of manufacturer banked test tracks have been enjoyed; 110mph around the top of a seemingly vertical bank was novel, but the E Type was unperturbed and stable.”

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the car’s maintenance regimen is confirmed via invoices and bills since October 1992.

These include many from Winspeed Motorsport of Guildford, “the only engineers who really understand the V12.” 

The Jaguar’s ‘matching numbers’ status is confirmed via a Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate, and the history file also contains the original Passport to Service, a lubrication chart, a wiring diagram, period photos of the car, and a bunch of expired tax discs from 1980 onwards.

Now exempt from an MoT, we would still encourage the new owner to have it done at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

Only for sale because he’s spending more time in Australia nowadays (& hasn't been able to use it).

Not concours, of course, but then you won’t be paying concours money either; we suspect the dust will settle somewhere between £32,000 and £37,000.

Which wouldn’t be a lot to pay for a car you could wind your way across Europe in – and if you like your classics slightly less patinated than this, it wouldn’t take much more to bring the cabin up to a very good standard.

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