1971 Jaguar E-TYPE V12 FHC

The vendor is a keen car collector and bought this vehicle in December 2017. “I was looking for an E-Type of this specification and it took pretty much over a year to find it,” he says. “I wanted a manual, right-hand-drive, low mileage car that had also had a low number of owners; and it had to be black.”

This example had exactly the right provenance and level of originality that he required, so he quickly snapped it up. “For me, they’re the most desirable qualities of a V12 and this car ticked all my boxes. Visually it looks okay, and starting it can be a bit fiddly but once running it’s very strong.”

He says that if someone wanted to bring it up to concours condition, “there’s definitely work to do, however everything is there.” For him, the fact that it’s not absolutely perfect meant that he was able to use it as is. “I’m now selling as I’m in the process of converting another of my cars to electric, and the E-Type needs to go to fund it.”

Unfortunately the car’s history file was misplaced and the vendor was not able to locate it despite his best efforts, so while the odometer currently shows 45,924 miles that can’t be fully verified – although a bit of MOT detective work shows that the mileage was noted as 45,685 back in 2008. The supplied V5 document on the other hand does confirm that the E-Type has only had four owners from new.

After buying the car the seller carried out a number of improvement works, which totalled £7576.83 In June 2018, the fuelling system was cleaned and fine-tuned (at a cost of £432) to cure a non-starting issue; this included replacing the fuel filter, cleaning the carburettors’ float chambers, resetting the float heights and needle seats, as well as tuning the carburettors.

At the same time the cooling system had numerous components replaced and new battery and kill switches were fitted, as well as a fresh exhaust tailpipe (£877.68). He also had a considerable amount of bodywork carried out, mainly on the car’s rear end, which will be detailed below.  

The vendor is right, from a distance the E-Type looks really well; the semi-whitewall tyres and black paint finish lend it a menacing presence, while the wire wheels combine with the remaining bright work to provide a pleasant contrast.

Up close, if we’re honest the paint is a bit tatty and does have a bit of micro-blistering here and there – most notably on the rear hatch door and rear wings. There’s also a bit of deeper corrosion on the lower edge of the nearside door; other areas are much more lightly affected (as can be viewed in the comprehensive photo Gallery, below) and all four wheel arches appear to be nice and solid.

All the necessary bright work is in place and the majority looks perfectly serviceable. The front grill has some light dents, and its structural vertical bars (along with the rear hatch ventilation grill) probably require replacement. If the next owner embarks on a concours restoration then they’d most likely want to have it all refreshed. However if they decided to drive the car as is, then, along with the above, a deep polish and the replacement of the odd rusty securing screw would suffice.

The wire wheel spokes are also a touch rusty here and there; with regards the rubber, given that it’s not completed much mileage in the last 12 years, we’d recommend a new set of boots.

The rear lower section of the car remains in very good condition, as this is where the seller had significant works completed in 2018. At a cost of £4,750 northwest London-based specialist Autostilo fabricated new upper quarter areas and carried out welding to the lower valance. This was combined with some corrective work on the bonnet, before both (alongside the front wings and lower front section) were painted.

As befits an interior that’s knocking on the door of 50 years old, it’s a touch worn, but it is bloomin’ authentic in here. Yes, the leather seats are cracked and the driver’s seat bolster is showing its age; yes, the rear luggage area material is ripped in places (as is the gearlever gaiter and dashboard); yes, the fittings are a bit chipped and fading in places; but we love it.

Here at The Market we have plenty of opportunity to admire cars that are if not perfect, then very close to it. However, we do adore an aged survivor that wears its years with pride. Again, you could simply give the leather a feed and as Curtis Mayfield suggested the very same year that this car was built “keep on, keeping on…”

Up top, the Webasto-style sunroof opens, closes and secures easily; most importantly there’s no evidence of any staining from water ingress on, or in and around it, on the headlining. Lifting the carpets reveals solid metal with a bit of surface rust in places, while it’s a similar state of affairs in the boot with the storage panel and spare wheel both removed.   

The engine bay looks to be in a decent state, if a little bit grubby towards the base of the ‘V’. Again the vendor is spot on his assessment that it’s “a bit fiddly” to start when cold, but we think that’s most likely down to a lack of recent use. We suspect there may be an issue with fuel returning to the tank. Once it’s found its idle it actually drives lovely; it’s nice and solid on the road, the manual gearbox shifts well and the engine pulls nicely.

The underside isn’t the prettiest, so there’s plenty of beautification to be done. There’s a fair bit of black underseal and having a poke around again it seems to be generally solid, but there are one or two areas (specifically on the lower nearside sill) that could possibly do with stripping back, checking and then having any necessary remedial work carried out. 

The exhaust system is okay with no evidence of any blowing, but a few of the rubber securing rings are cracked and could do with replacing. 

We have become aware of some coolant being left underneath the car, but don't know if this is in fact a leak or where it has been overfilled.

As stated above the original history file was unfortunately lost, so the supplied information only includes the V5 document and the invoices for the works carried out since 2018.

The biggest indicator of this E-Type’s provenance is its condition. As with any purchase we recommend getting down to our Abingdon headquarters where you can have a good look around it at your leisure.

There’s no doubt that this Series 3 E-Type provides the basis for a very sound car, so there are therefore two choices: buy it, and embark on a full concours restoration to better than new condition; or buy it as a fixer upper, carry out any immediately necessary work and enjoy it on the open road.

Whatever the choice, it’s being sold in a “No-Reserve” auction and we think it’ll go for a very keen price – most likely somewhere between £30,000 and £35,000. If the next owner possesses the ability to carry out some of the works themselves, then that could just be a bit of a bargain. In fact thinking about it, that’ll apply even if they don’t.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.