Rare and desirable Heather paint with Cerise interior
Recent £6500 mechanical recommissioning
Current owner since 1987
Very enjoyable to drive
The Background
The key to the Jaguar E-Type’s success was that it offered a clever fusion of motorsport technology and impeccable cruising prowess, at a markedly more palatable price point than its market rivals – all of this quintessential Coventry splendour was half the price of its Newport Pagnell sparring partners. And let’s not forget the E-Type’s trump card: those delectable looks. 61 years down the line, it still stands as one of mankind’s most impressive creations.
The E-Type’s genesis lay in the successful D-Type racer, with its monocoque chassis and disc brakes, and the D-Type based E1A and E2A prototypes informed the production E-Type. The model history in a nutshell runs like this: the Series 1,
Built from 1961-64, had a 3.8-litre straight-six and was available as a two-seater roadster or coupe; the 4.2-litre engine was offered from 1964-68, while the tricky Moss gearbox was replaced with a more amenable all-synchro unit. A 2+2 four-seater was offered from 1966, and 1968’s ‘Series 1.5’ soft-launched a few changes before the full-blown Series 2 came in for 1969 – higher bumpers, relocated headlights, splayed exhausts and a wider mouth are all S2 telltales. And finally there’s the version we have here – the Series 3, produced from 1971-74. This had a hedonistic 5.3-litre V12, along with revised suspension and braking, and represented a wonderful swansong for the ever-desirable classic.
As spec choices go, this is undeniably bold. The colour scheme you see here is that which came from the factory in 1973 – Heather paint with a Cerise leather interior. And it’s something that suits the nature of the Series 3 to a tee: this car is no shrinking violet, with its brawny V12 motor and muscular profile, and it deserves an aesthetic that suits its character.
It’s clearly a formula that endears and beguiles, as the current owner has had this car since 1987, and before that there were only two keepers. Evidently it’s a machine that enraptures its owners, and the magic of that factory pink has to have something to do with it. It’s also important to note that the chassis and engine numbers on the bulkhead match those on the V5.
The documentation here is a pleasing fusion of aged paperwork and up-to-the-minute servicing and parts info. We can see that the current owner acquired the car in July 1987 and has had the cherished registration number RUT 111 on it the whole time, artfully manipulated to read ‘Ruth’. (n.b. this registration number will be retained by the seller and does not come with the car.)
The old-style 1980s logbook is here, as well as the current-style one, and we also find a number of recent receipts to show work that’s been carried out in the last couple of years. In May 2021, for instance, we can see that the car was treated to a full service, new rear shocks and springs (and if you peer under the car, you can see that each side has twin Spax adjustables), new exhaust manifold, and all new gaskets throughout, at a cost of £3577. Then in August of 2021 a further £1888 was spent on an ignition conversion kit and a full overhaul and rebuild of the carburettors.
The interior looks absolutely glorious in its vivid shade of Cerise, and it’s all in lovely condition too. The seat trim is in good order, with some pleasingly gentle weathering and no damage or undue wear, and they tilt forward correctly to allow access to the storage hidey-hole behind. The carpets are complete and in good order, as are all of the correct trim pieces and details. The car has a Pioneer CD/radio head unit (we’d guess early-2000s) and NEC speakers (probably late-80s/early-90s), but is otherwise all factory spec. The gauges are all functional, and it’s pleasing to note the presence of a dash-mounted plaque from supplying dealer Jack Barclay.
Inside the boot it’s all dry and tidy, with a good-quality load cover as well as the correct red tonneau cover for the roof. Under the floor panels we find that the car is fitted with a new fuel tank, and also has the correct spare wheel and original jack.
The sweet Heather exterior is this E-Type’s calling card, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The paintwork is in very good condition throughout; indeed, aside from a small chip on the bonnet, we couldn’t find any notable blemishes. The owner is clearly a fan of chrome, as a few shiny embellishments have been added over the years including a central bonnet strip, a leaper hood ornament, and a US-spec bumper oval.
The light lenses and window glass are all in good order. The soft top raises and lowers freely, and the outside of the soft-top is in good condition, as is the window pane. The inside of the soft-top has perished (we’d assume that the car has generally been kept inside and used on dry days, so the roof hasn’t seen a lot of use), and due to its age the liner is disintegrating. From outside it looks fine when it’s raised so it’s OK as a get-you-home – although replacing a soft-top isn’t a complex or overly expensive endeavour. The car wears steel wheels with the correct centre caps, all shod in matching Dunlop SP Sport tyres with good tread.
The lusty 5.3-litre V12 is a real powerhouse of a unit, and it’s in fine fettle here. Having recently had its carburettors overhauled, fluids renewed and all gaskets replaced it’s running just as it should. The engine fires up easily, idles evenly with the trademark thrum, and pulls eagerly through the gears. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly as it should. The brakes are strong, and the suspension provides superlative comfort thanks to those new springs and dampers. There’s no to-do list here, this is a car to simply jump in and enjoy.
We could wax lyrical about the enduring appeal of the E-Type’s sylph-like shape, or the muscular powertrain, or the continent-swallowing grand tourer credentials… but let’s be honest, this car’s real hook is its outstanding colour scheme. When’s the last time you saw a Series 3 in Heather over Cerise, if ever? It’s a real head-turner, and looks absolutely stunning in the metal.
And this car isn’t just about the outstanding spec choices. With only three owners from new, and the current one having enjoyed the car for an impressive thirty-five years, this is a rare find indeed.
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1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 Convertible
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