1974 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster

With looks that even Enzo Ferrari envied, the 1961 Jaguar E-Type was not merely sensational to look at, but also shatteringly quick. Almost as astonishing was its value for money at less than half the price of the exotics it competed with and, quite arguably, bettered. Yet for all that, as the original 6-cylinder E-type evolved through the swinging ‘60s, its performance was to some extent neutered by U.S. federal regulations.

That was put right in 1971 with the launch of the Series III featuring Jaguar’s race-derived all-aluminum 5.3L V-12, which bettered the acceleration of all preceding models and restored its 140 MPH-plus performance. The V-12 Series III, based on the longer wheelbase of the Series II 2+2 coupe, was also without doubt the most refined and sophisticated of the breed. Air-conditioning and power steering were standard, the all-around disc brakes were now ventilated at the front, and suspension was revised to improve road manners. The cabin was roomier and better equipped, and though Jaguar still referred to its open model as a roadster, it was effectively a cabriolet with a proper folding top that improved weather protection and was better sound-proofed. When stowed, it fitted neatly under a boot cover. An automatic transmission was an option, but the 4-speed manual transmission, as on this 1971 example, was the preference of those who wanted to make the most of the E-Type’s performance.

As a consequence, it’s extremely rare to find a Series III with an odometer reading as low as the 7,723 miles recorded on this roadster from the very last year of full production. It’s equipped with a matching-numbers 5.3L V-12 engine, and receipts and photos document a ground-up restoration, during which the body was stripped back to bare metal. Presented in a black livery with red interior, it looks particularly purposeful on factory-optional wire wheels in place of the standard steel-disc affairs. Now, just as in its production life, the Series III E-Type remains an enticing price-performance proposition, especially considering it was less than a third the cost of the contemporary Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, a consideration that is perhaps even more pertinent today.