1971 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 2+2

Details

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a factory right hand drive 1971 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 2+2 manual.

The Heritage Certificate on file confirms this particular example was delivered new in Scotland through Scottish Motor Traction in Carlisle. The car was manufactured on 19th January 1971 and dispatched on 25^th March 1971. The car was delivered in ‘pale primrose yellow’ with a black interior. It was first registered in the UK with the registration VHH 585 J. The first owner is noted as Border Enterprises Ltd in Carlisle. Information on file indicates the car was purchased for Dr J. Mills. The Heritage Certificate also confirms this car left the factory with the desirable manual gearbox and it still retains its original ‘matching numbers’ V12 engine.

It is understood the car was shipped to Papua New Guinea immediately after delivery where it was registered in April 1971 with the registration number ABY 012. It is understood that Dr Mills used the car for approximately 20 years in Papua New Guinea before he decided to ship it to New Zealand.  The car cleared customs in New Zealand on the 9th April 1991.  Dr Mills intended to ‘restore’ the car, however, after receiving several quotes he decided to sell it “as-is”. The car passed through two subsequent owners in a relatively short time frame, before it was purchased by a Mr Jon Davies from Auckland, New Zealand. At that time the car was still in its original condition. Davies decided to go on the journey to restore this Jaguar E-Type to its former glory. At that time the car was repainted in its current colour of red. In 1999 Davies sold the freshly restored car to Mr Rodney Higgens from Sydney, Australia. Higgens imported the car into Australia in 2001. There is an import approval on file dated 19^th April 2001.

There are receipts on file from July 2002 indicating that in his ownership the engine was rebuild by Greame Lord Automotive Services in Wollongong. At that time the odometer read 41,230 miles.

The current owner acquired the car from Higgens in c2008. It joined an eclectic collection and was in fact one of the owner’s favourite cars. In the current ownership, the car was repainted approximately five years ago. The paintwork was ‘very good’, though there were a few bubbles here and there which on close inspection let the car down. The current owner is fastidious and decided to have the car repainted. The car has been upgraded with a modern 5-speed gearbox and Dunlop style knock-on race wheels have been fitted. The wheels look sensational and in combination with the flared wheel arches, which are standard on a Series 3 E-Type, give the car a more aggressive stance. The original gearbox, wire wheels and a few other spare parts will accompany the car.

Today this car presents exceptionally well. Generally, the paint is in excellent condition and it has a strong depth of colour with a deep gloss finish. Upon closer inspection you will notice a few stone chips and a few small cracks, most noticeable is the one near the wind screen on the left side of the car. The panel gaps are often problematic on E-Types, but on this car they are very good. The bonnet also closes and locks easily. All the chrome work on the car is in very good condition with only the slightest signs of wear. The same can be said for the lenses and all the glass.

The Dunlop style race wheels are in excellent condition with no evidence of any curb rash. The are shod with Hankook Kinergy Eco 205/70/15  tyres all around. All the tyres are date stamped 4419 (week 44, 2019) and are ‘as new’. In the boot there is a spare wheel (a wire wheel), a rare tool kit and a jack.

Inside the cabin, everything looks to be correct and quite possibly original. Overall, everything presents really well. The upholstery presents with some patina. There is some light wear, but importantly there are no rips or tears in the leather. The steering wheel also shows some wear, but it is not damaged. A good leather doctor could easily bring the seats and the steering wheel up to the next level. The seats are comfortable and the foam in the seats is soft but still supportive. Quite often the top of the dashboard in an E-Type is effected by the sun and presented in poor condition. The leather is often dry, torn and/or cracked. In this car the dashboard is still in excellent condition. All the instruments present well and appear to be in good working order. The carpets are neat and presentable.

Under the bonnet, everything presents really well and the engine bay is neat, clean and tidy. This engine has been upgraded with SU carburettors and as a result the original choke lever has been disconnected. Two new choke controls have been installed underneath the dashboard on the right side of the steering wheel. The SU carburettors do make it easier to start the car, especially when the engine is cold. This E-Type has an upgraded cooling system and two electric fans have been fitted which will help to keep the big V12 cool on a hot summer’s day. The original Stromberg carburettors and the original fan setup are still with the car, but their condition is unknown.

We have had this car on our hoist and we can confirm it looks equally as good underneath. Everything is clean and tidy.

The E-Type Series 3 was introduced in 1971, with a Jaguar’s new 5.3 litre V12 engine, uprated brakes and standard power steering. It was a more refined and comfortable car than its predecessors. When you slide in behind the wheel of this car you really appreciate what the Series 3 E-Type is all about. It is very comfortable, the driving position is good and yet the steering wheel, instruments and controls retain that sports cars feel.

Even from cold, this car starts easily at pretty much the first turn of the key. When cold you will require full choke, but the engine almost instantly settles into a smooth idle. You can back the choke off immediately after starting the car and just feather the throttle as the engine warms up. The big V12 certainly purrs at idle though it definitely has an edge when you blip the throttle.

Out on the road this Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 is an absolute delight to drive. The engine feels smooth and it pulls strongly through the rev range. What is immediately noticeable is the short shift of the modern 5-speed gearbox. The gearbox feels a little stiff when cold, but once warm it is easy to use. In fact, it is really, really good! The gearchanges are smooth both up and down the box.

This car feels very solid and it just squats on the road. The suspension easily absorbs any bumps and the car just goes about its business in a very sophisticated manner. An E-Type Series 3 is a very different car compared to the Series 1 and Series 2 models with the straight six engine. The Series 3 is a real boulevard cruiser and the V12 engine is happy to cruise along at low revs. But, make no mistake there is plenty of power on tap and the car can go hard when you need to. The brakes pull the car up effectively, though the feel of the pedal is not quite right. Perhaps the master cylinder or brake booster need to be overhauled. This can be discussed in more detail, with any prospective purchaser.

This car really is a lovely example of Jaguar’s Series 3 V12 E-Type and it is ready for its next owner to use and enjoy. The colour scheme is perfect and we do love the look of the Dunlop style knock-on race wheels.

Accompanying the car is its original gearbox, a set of wire wheels, the original Stromberg carburettors, and the original fan setup, a spare wheel (a wire wheel), a tool kit and a jack.  There is also an excellent history file, Heritage Certificate as well as an operating, maintenance and service handbook, a parts catalogue and a repair and operations manual.

Today the odometer reads 52,831 miles.

Highlights:

• Factory RHD example, with ‘matching numbers’
• Desirable modern 5-speed manual gearbox.
• Beautifully presented car that is just a delight to drive.
• Ready to use and enjoy.

Background

The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley. In 1934 Lyons formed SS Cars Limited to effectively take over the operation from Walmsley. The SS brand was quite successful, though their cars had a reputation for having ‘more show than go’. The Jaguar name first appeared as a model name on an SS 2½ Litre Sports Saloon introduced in 1936. For political reasons, Lyons changed the name of his company to Jaguar Cars in 1945.

The SS100 built between 1936 and 1941 is today regarded as one of the great pre-war sports cars, however, it was the launch of the legendary Jaguar XK120 at the London Motor Show in 1948 that really put Jaguar on the map. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The XK120 morphed into the XK140 and ultimately the XK150 and in total, just over 30,000 cars were built over 15 years of production.

In 1961, at the Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar introduced the E-Type, which like the XK120 all those years ago, took the motoring world by storm. The body styling was simply gorgeous and technologically the E-Type was an engineering masterpiece and it set new standards in all areas.

Whilst automotive styling is somewhat subjective, the E-Type is often ranked atop lists of ‘the most beautiful cars’ and in fact it has been described by Enzo Ferrari as ‘the most beautiful car ever made’. And it’s not just about the looks as the E-Type is often at the top of other lists such as ‘the best sports car ever built’ or ‘the most significant cars’. It is truly a motoring icon.

As a testament to the success of the E-Type, production evolved through three series from 1961 until 1974 during which time circa 70,000 cars were built.