Lot 035: 1974 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster

By 1971, Jaguar's jaw-dropping E-Type had been in production for a decade. Despite continual improvements, new emissions legislation in the all-important American market threatened to strangle the big cat's performance. Jaguar responded by giving its revered sports car fresh claws in the shape of a 5343cc V12 developed from the stillborn XJ13 Le Mans project car. The new engine was both effortlessly powerful and eerily refined. "The turbine-like smoothness with which the engine provides a sustained shove in the back is almost uncanny, the more so when one accelerates hard in top gear without even a gearchange to interrupt one's headlong dash into the distance". (Autocar 5th July 1973) With some 272bhp and 304lbft of torque on tap, the Series III E-Type once again had 150mph in its sights. A revised wheelbase yielded better cabin space and together with wider tracks front and rear, new anti-dive front suspension geometry and fatter tyres gave improved road holding. Imbued with a more muscular stance thanks to its flared wheelarches, re-profiled wings and larger grille, it also benefited from vented disc brakes and a restyled interior. Finished in red with black leather upholstery, this particular example is described by the vendor as being in "very good overall" condition (while, he also believes it to have covered just 29,800 miles from new). An automatic model riding on wire wheels, the appropriately registered 'JAG 407' is understood to have been previously owned by the TV and radio personality, Noel Edmonds. Reportedly "last serviced in August 2007" at a cost of some �1,260 and "not used since", this nicely presented E-type is offered for sale with current MOT certificate valid until August 2008 and various other MOT certificates dating back to 1991.