Jaguar E-Type S3 V12 Roadster Manual

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Get a straight answer from a politician, receive a refund from the Inland Revenue, find a parking place in central London – there are some things in life that everyone should experience and driving a V12 engined Jaguar is one of them. Put that V12 in an E-Type and you have the motoring equivalent of Viagra.

Weighing just a few pounds more than the smaller XK 4.2 engine it replaced, the alloy blocked 5.3 V12 produced only slightly more power (272 instead of 265bhp) but vastly more torque (349 instead of 283lb/ft). This results in a quite different driving experience: gone is the XK snarl, replaced by quiet thunder and a sense of huge momentum in place of raw acceleration.

With a sub-7 seconds 0-60 time and taking only another 9 seconds to reach 100mph, the V12 was the fastest E-Type of all and could cruise at 140mph – if fuel consumption wasn’t an issue. Properly maintained, this unstressed giant also has an enviable reputation for reliability. Even today there are few finer ways to cross a continent, basking in the glow of the admiration that this fabulous car elicits from other road users.

As the Heritage Certificate confirms, this V12 E-Type Roadster was built in May 1972 and was supplied by Henlys of Chester to first owner BCE Rhyl Ltd in December of that year with the registration number KCJ 1 (not currently recognised on the DVLA system so perhaps retrievable by the new owner if desired). It then had two further owners before being acquired by the vendor in May 2007 with just 48,800 miles on the clock. During his 8-year ownership the car has covered a further 5,400 miles, the clock now showing some 54,200 miles which is believed to be genuine although there is insufficient history to warrant this for certain.

Finished in sparkling silver with a red leather interior and matching soft top, the car is in lovely condition throughout and comes with a large history file extending back to the late 1980s showing careful maintenance. In the current ownership the car has been treated to many new parts including: rear shock absorbers and coil springs; front shock absorbers; top and bottom front ball joints; exhaust manifolds and front pipes; water pump; clutch master cylinder; distributor body and fittings; radiator cooling fan and a new battery. A bespoke wind deflector has also been fitted along with a clip-on overtaking mirror and a battery cut-off switch.

Prior to this the car had been fitted with electronic ignition, the brake calipers reconditioned, the chassis steam cleaned and waxoiled, the alternator refurbished, the differential rebuilt, five new white band tyres fitted plus numerous other improvements. Said to drive beautifully with an MOT until April 2016, the car has been serviced annually by Jaguar specialist Grantham Bridge Motors of Droitwich.

In fine condition throughout, this 'matching numbers' E-Type is insured for £70,000 and comes with the aforementioned Heritage Certificate and history file, a factory workshop manual, original owner’s handbook, toolkit, hood cover and bespoke car cover. Given the relentless climb in E-Type values over the last few years, it looks like a no-brainer at the sensible guide price suggested today and is only reluctantly for sale due to an imminent house move and consequent loss of storage.