Jaguar E-Type S3 V12 Coupe

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Launched in 1971, the Series 3 E-Type was a quite different animal to the cars that had gone before, being much more of a luxury Grand Tourer than an out-and-out sportscar.

Wider, heavier and much more roomy inside than previous models, it more than made up for its extra bulk with its fabulous new V12 engine. Weighing only 80lb more than the cast-iron-block 4.2-litre XK six, the new all-alloy 5.3-litre V12 produced 272bhp and 349lb/ft, endowing the car with a top speed in excess of 140mph. With a sub-7 seconds 0-60 time and 0-100mph in 16 seconds, the V12 was the fastest-accelerating E-Type ever, the power being delivered with turbine-like smoothness.

Beneath the muscular bodywork, ventilated front discs improved braking power and the front suspension gained anti-dive geometry. Lucas transistorised ignition and Adwest power-assisted steering were now standard as was an impressive quad exhaust that gave the car huge road presence as it rocketed past lesser machines. It remained in production until 1974 with 22,584 sold in total, just 7,990 of them Coupes and only 2,115 of these in right-hand drive.

First registered in March 1973 (and thus tax exempt under the new regulations), this particular Primrose Yellow Automatic Coupe was supplied new by Marshalls of Lincoln to first owner Mr J Mansbridge of the same town. The car comes with a sizeable history file and some 20 old MOTs back to 1980 to warrant that the 49,000 miles on the clock is the genuine distance covered from new.

In 1989 the car was fully restored to what was claimed to be ‘concours condition’ with many bills and photographs on file charting the process. Other bills show regular upkeep in the 25 years since, during which time the car has only covered some 5,000 miles. The current owner acquired the car four years ago and has used it only sparingly throughout this time, treating it to a full brake overhaul with new front calipers etc. in December 2012 when the carbs were also tuned.

Supplied with all its original handbooks with tax until the end of August and MOT until mid-September, the car is said to drive well and certainly bowled along nicely when we were treated to a short test drive on the occasion of our visit with good oil pressure and temperature and notably strong brakes.