1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster
Registration no. JVG 758M
Chassis no. 152121BW
Engine no. 7S12825SB

Testing the E-Type Series III back in 1972, Road & Track magazine reckoned the new V12 power unit, 'a sheer delight, by itself almost worth the price of admission. The V12 is a lovely piece of machinery, lovely to listen to and lovely to behold. The exhaust has that hurried sound characteristic of a multiple-cylinder engine where the many explosions per revolution make it sound as if it's running faster than an engine with fewer cylinders. The idle is smooth and quiet with none of the mechanical busyness one normally experiences from the likes of a Ferrari or Lamborghini V12. And the smoothness lingers throughout the rev range.'

This superior refinement would have counted for little had the Series III proved slower than its predecessors, but the new V12 engine was more than powerful enough to offset the weight gain over the preceding 4.2-litre XK six and ensure that performance was undiminished. Weighing only 80lb more than the cast-iron-block six that it replaced, the all-alloy, 5.3-litre, overhead-camshaft V12 produced 272bhp, an output good enough for a top speed well in excess of 140mph. Further good news was that the 0-100mph time of around 16 seconds made the V12 the fastest-accelerating E-Type ever.

Other mechanical changes beneath the Series III's more aggressive looking exterior included ventilated front disc brakes, anti-dive front suspension, Lucas transistorised ignition and Adwest power-assisted steering, while automatic transmission was one of the more popular options on what was now more of a luxury Grand Tourer than out-and-out sports car. Flared wheelarches, a deeper radiator air intake complete with grille, and a four-pipe exhaust system distinguished the Series III from its six-cylinder forbears, plus, of course, that all-important 'V12' boot badge. The interior though, remained traditional Jaguar. Built in two-seat roadster and '2+2' coupé versions, both of which used the long-wheelbase floor pan introduced on the Series II '2+2', the Series III E-Type continued the Jaguar tradition of offering a level of performance and luxury unrivalled at the price.

A UK-delivered example equipped with the automatic gearbox, this Series III E-Type roadster has the unusual distinction of being registered from new to a succession of lady drivers. Sold new to a Miss Y Avann, it passed to the second owner, Miss E Tweedy, in September 1993 and was purchased by the current (third) lady owner at auction in November 1996, at which time the recorded mileage stood at 23,100. First registered as 'YMA 278', the car carried 'GH 10' from 1998 to 2013 when the registration changed to 'JVG 758M'.

The lady owner wanted the steel wheels changed to wires, and in 2003 this was done by Watford Jaguars Ltd, who completely overhauled the car at the same time. These works were carried out at 24,116 miles, as evidenced by Watford Jaguars' invoice for £19,461 on file. For most of the time in the current ownership the E-Type has been kept covered in a heated garage, off the road and SORN'd. It has covered only some 2,000 miles since acquisition and only 1,000 or so since the 2003 overhaul. The current odometer reading is 25,100 miles.

In 2013, 'JVG 758M' was road taxed for six months following a major service and MoT, and again June 2015 for six months with the latest MoT expiring on 27th May 2016 (bills on file). Described by the vendor as in generally very good condition, the car is offered with the aforementioned documentation, V5C registration document, a quantity of expired MoT certificates, original owner's handbook, and other various records dating back almost to when it was new. A removable hardtop (in white) is included in the sale.