1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster
Registration no. FWW 577L
Chassis no. 1S1772BW

Testing the E-Type Series III back in 1972, Road & Track magazine reckoned the new V12 power unit, 'a sheer delight, by itself almost worth the price of admission. The V12 is a lovely piece of machinery, lovely to listen to and lovely to behold. The exhaust has that hurried sound characteristic of a multiple-cylinder engine where the many explosions per revolution make it sound as if it's running faster than an engine with fewer cylinders. The idle is smooth and quiet with none of the mechanical busyness one normally experiences from the likes of a Ferrari or Lamborghini V12. And the smoothness lingers throughout the rev range.'

This superior refinement would have counted for little had the Series III proved slower than its predecessors, but the new V12 engine was more than powerful enough to offset the weight gain over the preceding 4.2-litre XK six and ensure that performance was undiminished. Weighing only 80lb more than the cast-iron-block six that it replaced, the all-alloy, 5.3-litre, overhead-camshaft V12 produced 272bhp, an output good enough for a top speed well in excess of 140mph. Further good news was that the 0-100mph time of around 16 seconds made the V12 the fastest-accelerating E-Type ever.

Other mechanical changes beneath the Series III's more aggressive looking exterior included ventilated front disc brakes, anti-dive front suspension, Lucas transistorised ignition and Adwest power-assisted steering, while automatic transmission was one of the more popular options on what was now more of a luxury Grand Tourer than out-and-out sports car. Flared wheelarches, a deeper radiator air intake complete with grille, and a four-pipe exhaust system distinguished the Series III from its six-cylinder forbears, plus, of course, that all-important 'V12' boot badge. The interior though, remained traditional Jaguar.

Built in two-seat roadster and '2+2' coupé versions, both of which used the long-wheelbase floor pan introduced on the Series II '2+2', the Series III E-Type continued the Jaguar tradition of offering a level of performance and luxury unrivalled at the price.

First registered in 1973, 'FWW 577L' has traceable ownership history from new and has remained in the UK throughout its life with only four owners in total. From 1986 to 2005 the Jaguar formed part of a major private collection in the Northwest of England; owned by the vendor since 2012, it has been kept in mint condition, covering minimal mileage annually. Finished in red with black leather interior, 'FWW 577L' is said to be in good to condition throughout and is offered with a large file of sundry bills, an old-style logbook, and current MoT.