Description
FOR SALE: 1974 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster — A Gentleman’s Legacy
This isn’t just a car. It’s a memory in motion. A love letter written in petrol and chrome.
What you’re looking at is a 1974 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster — a true icon of British motoring, yes — but also the centrepiece of a 45-year affair between man and machine.
He was Managing Director of Polar Motor Company Ltd., the main Ford dealership in Barnsley, when he first brought her home in February of 1980. The E-Type had seen one careful owner before him, but it was from that moment that a new chapter began — one of steadfast care, spirited drives, and lifelong admiration.
The official V5 log may mention four previous owners, but it doesn’t tell the whole truth. Three of those entries are, in fact, him. Once in his name, once in the name of the company due to a minor clerical error when taxing it, and then once again in his personal name. The reality is more intimate: this car has truly had only two custodians in its lifetime — one of whom cherished it for nearly half a century.
In 2000, determined to keep her heart strong and her beauty intact, he entrusted her to Derek Watson, the renowned Jaguar specialist in Great Longstone near Bakewell. There, she received a comprehensive engine overhaul and fresh door skins — a mechanical rejuvenation worthy of her pedigree.
Every MOT certificate since March 1979 is accounted for — including the one dated a year before his ownership began, when the car showed just 26, 408 miles. It’s a paper trail of trust, of attention, and of quiet pride.
She wears her red paint like a silk gown — bold, elegant, unforgettable and honest The wire-spoke wheels glint beneath her flowing bodywork. Inside, the cabin is all charm and purpose, with its black leather seats, wood-rimmed steering wheel, and manual gearshift promising a drive that’s alive with feeling.
And then there’s the engine — that legendary 5. 3-litre V12. Not just a powerhouse, but a voice. One that hums with dignity, that roars when called upon. A reminder that even grace can come with grit.
This is not a car that wants to be admired from afar. It’s a car to be driven, to be known — a car that rewards connection over possession. After 45 devoted years, it’s ready to find its next chapter — with someone who feels, not just drives.
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AUTOMOTIVE ROMANCE
Because some stories are written on the open road.
