1973 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES III ROADSTER Registration Number:...

Hammer

£62,000

1973 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES III ROADSTER

Registration Number: CMS 781
Chassis Number: 1S1868
Recorded Mileage: 34,726 miles 

- One family owner, under 35,000 miles from new
- Desirable manual gearbox
- Complete with rare factory hard top

Whilst the concept of the Jaguar E Type was without doubt one of the finest pieces of automotive design ever to be put into general production, one of the problems with its continued development was the inevitable weight gain. Throughout the 1960s ever more stringent safety legislation emanated from the USA and, as this market was a major breadwinner for Jaguar, it was perhaps unavoidable that the purity of the original design would be compromised to compete within it. Emissions legislation had forced the adoption of twin Stromberg carburettors on trans-Atlantic bound cars resulting in a reduction in power to 177bhp instead of the quoted 265bhp for European examples breathing through triple Webers.

However, the balance was to be redressed with the introduction of the Series 3 model powered by Jaguar’s new 5.3-litre, overhead camshaft V12 developing 272bhp. This resulted in a top speed  in excess of 140mph with 0-100mph taking just 16 seconds, the fastest ever acceleration figures for the model. Revisions to the running gear included anti-dive geometry on the front suspension and ventilated disc brakes. Power steering was standard and flared wheel arches were incorporated to allow fitment of wider rubber to maintain grip. A deeper radiator aperture with chrome grille completed the restyle. With manual or automatic transmission options the Series 3 ensured the immortal E Type would survive into the new decade of the 1970s.

The very original example you see here is not only a rare surviving RHD Series 3 E-Type Roadster (fitted with the more desirable manual gearbox) but also one with an interesting history. The one and only family took delivery of this later Series III Roadster just in time for the summer of 1973, ordered from new in a very period 1970s colour scheme of Fern Grey with a tan leather interior. 

The E-Type was used regularly until 2008, at which it was carefully dry-stored until being recently recommissioned by Jaguar specialists Twyford Moors of Hampshire. The recommissioning works included a service, the clutch bled and adjusted, draining and flushing of the fuel and cooling systems, a new fuel pump, carburetors rebuilt, also attention to the brakes and exhaust system. The Jaguar has been well preserved yet showing a lovely patina often lacking on newly restored examples. 

Still registered on its cherished plate CMS 781, and with an MoT to July 2023, it is really welcoming to see such a nice genuine example of what is rapidly becoming one of the more popular of the E-Type variants, and in our case a car with such an interesting history.

The E-Type is complete with original book pack and wallet, older logbook and current V5C, older MoT certificates, also bills for previous maintenance and repairs over the years.