Lot details Registration No: TGC517L Chassis No: IS1401 Mot Expiry: Jan 2007
By 1971, Jaguar's jaw-dropping E-Type had been in production for a decade. Despite continual improvements, new emissions legislation in the all-important American market threatened to strangle the big cat's performance. Jaguar responded by giving its revered sports car new claws in the shape of a 5343cc V12 developed from the stillborn XJ13 Le Mans project car. The new engine was both effortlessly powerful and eerily smooth. "The turbine-like smoothness with which the engine provides a sustained shove in the back is almost uncanny, the more so when one accelerates hard in top gear without even a gearchange to interrupt one's headlong dash into the distance". (Autocar 5th July 1973) With some 272bhp and 304lbft of torque on tap, the Series III E-Type once again had 150mph in its sights. A revised wheelbase yielded better cabin space and together with wider tracks front and rear, new anti-dive front suspension geometry and fatter tyres gave improved road holding. Imbued with a more muscular stance thanks to its flared wheelarches, re-profiled wings and larger grill, it also benefited from vented disc brakes and a restyled interior. An important consideration given that the manual transmission cars were said to be capable of 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds and 0-100mph in 15.4 seconds. A magnificent swansong. This series 3 is an original right hand drive car with steel wheels and the much more desirable manual four speed gearbox. It first left the Coventry works in 1972 and has led a wonderful life since which is all recorded in the history file and includes some fourteen previous MOT certificates which helps to confirm the warranted mileage of 114,000miles from new. The open two seater is finished in white with the blue leather interior, which is original and has not been restored, and is in exceptional all-round condition with a current MOT certificate until next year. It still sports the original radio and has a stainless steel fish-shaped four outlet exhaust and we are informed that it does not overheat when driven and maintains good oil pressure.
PLEASE NOTE: The vendor has informed us that this vehicle has had five owners, the last one for 16 years.
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