Let’s All Appreciate How Great the Series III Jaguar E-Type Really Is
Series III Jaguar E-Type was the end of an era, with a V12 engine, manual transmission and still unending curb appeal.
The Series III Jaguar E-Type, or XKE for some reason, is the least appreciated variant of the legendary E-Type moniker. Of course, there are some valid reasons for that. The stretched wheelbase ever so slightly messes with the otherwise perfect proportions. Then, of course, the later models were subject to awful rubber bumpers that plagued many pretty European sports cars of the era. Along with these rudimentary safety tweaks were the…tough to love…tail lights, but hey, that’s all small potatoes, as this Series III we found on BringATrailer showcases.
Earlier chrome bumpers replace the ugly rubber ones (a common upgrade) on this example, fixing arguably the biggest hiccup of the Series III. From there, we are left able to appreciate the fact that Jaguar sold a still very pretty sports car with a massive V12 engine, rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission. Can we get a hallelujah from the chorus? Praise be.
Hm…Still, shame about those tail lights. Oh well, pop the stunning clamshell hood and revel in the 5.3-liter, naturally-aspirated V12 engine mounted behind the front wheels of this E-Type. Sure, some of the vacuum lines look a bit scary, but love is rarely pain-free. That V12 engine is famously derived from Jaguar’s Le Mans effort, offering racing pedigree for your British sports car. Producing 272 horsepower and a whopping 300 lb-ft of torque, that potent mill can scoot an XKE from 0-60 in just over 6.5-seconds. That’s quick even by today’s standards. This must have been borderline shocking back in 1974. And check out those quad tail pipes jutting out from the rear of the car, a trait many modern sports car have since cribbed.
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Oh, and lest we forget, this example has the row-your-own 4-speed manual transmission. This is all the better to zing that big V12 to the 6,500 RPM redline.
This particular example is extra tantalizing, for several key reasons. First, it has been through a minor restoration and refresh, including a respray of the Old English White exterior. The royal blue ragtop and interior offers a classic combo. Additionally, that lovely interior features the optional air conditioning, for an even more pleasurable motoring experience. Though, to be fair, the seller states the period correct unit does require seasonal recharges. A mere trifle that cannot dampen our love for a well-sorted Series III.
And well-sorted it is, as this one comes with a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate and a clean title, as well as a stack of recent service receipts. With just 32,000 original miles on the odometer, this one’s ready to motor for a long time to come.
The sale price? Irrelevant (The reserve was not met at $68,000). It could be $1,000,000 and it would still be worth it (probably). After all, few other sports cars can claim to offer a V12 engine with racing provenance, a manual transmission and E-Type curb appeal.
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