The Jaguar E-Type has justly earned its position in the annals of all-time greats in the performance car universe, all slinky curvaceousness and sublime proportions. In Series III guise this astoundingly pretty form was backed up by a radically revised mechanical package, with uprated suspension and braking and, crucially, the addition of the now-legendary 5.3-litre V12 engine.
 
The car we have here was first supplied by Henlys of London in early 1974 (as confirmed by the Heritage certificate), and was originally specced with an automatic transmission, as so many were; however, in 2016 it was treated to a professional conversion to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Indeed, the history file reveals that a lot of time, expenditure and passion has gone into creating and maintaining the shimmering vision of Great British engineering that you see before you: in the early 1990s it received a full bare-metal restoration, its owner at that time being a professional coachbuilder.

In the 1990s it lived in the South of France for a time before returning to the UK; more recently, it’s been restored and repainted again in 2016/17, with plenty of mechanical perfectionism taking place over the last couple of years or so (with many substantial invoices to demonstrate). Today it presents as a beautifully finished example that’s a real pleasure to drive.

This car has a highly pleasant interior, with the seat leather in tidy condition with no marks, holes or tears and just a gentle patination. The seats both tilt forward correctly to allow the roof to be raised and lowered.

The carpets and doorcards are in good order, as is the dash (which looks to be the unrestored original item, with a little crazing to the central section and some minor wear to the instrument bezels). The cabin is all original save for the aftermarket JVC CD/radio head unit and, of course, the manual shifter in place of the factory auto.
 
The windows wind up and down correctly, and the wood-rim steering wheel is solid and tasteful. It’s all tidy and dry inside the boot, with the correct spare wire wheel stowed beneath the floor.

The looks of this E-Type are beguiling indeed, the vivid red paintwork complemented by the pretty chrome trim and wire wheels. All eyes were on us as we test-drove the open-top Jag through London, and it’s not just a car that looks pretty from afar either – all of the details are delightful and bear close scrutiny. The paintwork has a deep lustre to it, and the correct trim and badging is all in place. The level of care that’s gone into the restoration and maintenance is evident throughout.

 The window glass is all good, as are the light lenses. The car wears a set of gleaming wire wheels, shod with matching Pirelli tyres.
 The soft-top is of good quality and in tidy condition; it’s easy to raise and lower, and latches correctly.

The running gear of the Series III is its party piece. The V12 is a sonorous and muscular thing, and here we find it running like a dream; it fires easily on the first turn of the key, idles evenly, pulls strongly through the revs, and the gearbox is smooth and slick. The owner reports that it’s a pleasure to drive, and the latter-day conversion to a 5-speed Getrag manual transmission has hugely increased the sense of driver engagement.

The suspension and brakes feel as robust and effective as they ought, with everything appearing just as it should be; the E-Type fulfils its grand tourer credentials with flair and panache.

This V12 Jag has a number of supremely attractive qualities. There’s the way that it runs and drives, with just the effortless demeanour you’d hope for.

There’s the cosseting and tasteful nature of the interior, transporting you back to the 1970s with its myriad period charms. There’s the beautiful profile, surely one of the prettiest car designs ever penned. But the most attractive element is that it’s had so much time and money spent on ensuring that it’s as enjoyable to drive as it is to look at, not least with the desirable addition of the 5-speed ’box.

This is an eminently usable example of a timeless formula. Not just a car, but an icon and a lifestyle.

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