1973 Jaguar E Type S3 2+2 Auto

In the seller’s care since 1992, ‘XEH 713M’ is an original UK-specification, matching numbers, automatic Jaguar E Type S3.

The seller bought the Dark Blue over Biscuit V12 from his neighbour with the intention of using it for long-distance touring on the continent, which he did clocking up around 40,000 miles travelling all over Europe.

As you’d expect given its role, he’s kept it in tip-top condition entrusting its mechanical servicing and maintenance since 2011 to Winspeed Motorsport of Guildford.

The body and interior are equally impressive, so if you’re looking for a car you can actually use and yet is still good enough to display with pride at your local classic car show, you might be in luck.  

Please don’t think that the E Type’s a scruffy old thing because it’s been used properly because nothing could be further from the truth.

Second only to black in the ruthlessness with which it highlights flaws and problems, the Dark Blue* paintwork on this one serves only to underline just how good the panels are.

But then they’ve been looked after properly, and repaired when needed, including having the lower sections of the doors repaired in 2016. Repaired, you note, not replaced with ill-fitting pattern parts; originality is important to the owner, and, where feasible, he favours conservation over restoration.

The bonnet’s been repainted too, but the seller is at pains to point out that it’s never needed any structural repairs in the 33 years he’s owned it. 

And that structural integrity shows as it still sports good shutlines and excellent panel alignment. Overall, the E Type gives off all the right vibes, something the good chromework contributes to.

The rare steel sunroof currently doesn't work, the right rear edge seems to sit a bit low to us.

It’s also rare to see steel wheels on an E Type too; we love ‘em, but then not for nothing did the hashtag #steeliesforthewin, or even just #SFTW, make itself felt on a certain social media platform before it all went so horribly wrong…

These, by way of contrast, are still healthy and thriving with a chrome finish to them that’s only lightly marred by a few scratches, some tarnishing, and light surface rust. 

They are also fitted with a matching set of 205/70R15 Pirelli P4000 tyres. These all have very good tread left on them, but there is some cracking to the sidewall of the offside front.

Nevertheless, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

The sticker in the windscreen and the rear numberplate both proclaim membership of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club, which is never a bad thing. 

All of which means there really isn’t much for the new owner to do. The paintwork on the roof looks a bit flat compared to the rest, so you might like to get that machine-polished. 

Otherwise, there’s just a perished rubber boot seal, and a chip on the leading edge of the roof to the offside of the aerial to deal with.

* Isn’t it refreshing to see a manufacturer call dark blue simply ‘Dark Blue’? None of this Hippopotamus Whisper nonsense you see nowadays, but then when, like Jaguar Land Rover, you charge up to £70,000 for a bespoke colour, people probably want to feel they’re getting their money’s worth… 

The Biscuit leather interior is still the original, and while the front seats are lightly creased and the cushions have gone a bit flat, there are no tears, rips, or other damage to their facings. 

The headrests are a little rumpled too, and we think opinion is going to be split on the need for retrimming; romantics will be happy to leave it alone and enjoy the patina, while the show crowd will probably vote with their wallets. 

If you’re among the latter, then you’ll be pleased to see that a start was made in March 2022 with new carpets and mats, and the front footwells beneath appear to be solid.

All the rest is good too including the headlining, door cards, dashboard, and the rear 2+2 seats, albeit all would benefit from being cleaned.

The lack of a clutch pedal frees up a surprising amount of room in the footwell, so the presence of an automatic gearbox is a real boon if you’ve got bigger than average feet. The seller is 6’ 1” in height, and finds that this, along with the extra space the 2+2 shape offers, makes it a very comfortable touring car.

The three-spoke steering wheel has been fitted with a leather cover, and a compass fastened to a block of wood enables the passenger to get their bearings when ambling through foreign lands.

The boot contains a full-size spare wheel, the tool kit and jack, a few spares, a baseball cap, and an indoor car cover. 

Flaws are few. The leather trim throughout the cabin is marked in places; please see our comments regarding the front seats as to whether this is likely to be an issue or a benefit. 

Speaking of benefits, the E Type profits from a recent cooling system update, plus a new battery and alternator. The dampers have been routinely replaced over the years too, and it exhales through a stainless-steel exhaust system.

The seller’s faith in Winspeed Motorsport, who’ve looked after his beloved E Type since 2011, certainly seems to have been justified as the V12 engine fires into life with barely a murmur, shows excellent oil pressure even at idle, and revs very smoothly with no apparent vibrations. 

He’s always used Valvoline VR70 20/50 racing oil – no cheap Halfords own brand for him – and he’s got some unused cans of it in his garage that he’s happy to let the new owner have.

Cosmetically, the engine and underbonnet area are very presentable. 

The underside has had its underseal touched up here and there and looks to be strong and tidy. The car’s last MoT was in 2018, but there is no mention od rust or structural corrosion up to that point.

You could profitably touch up a few more places with a good quality underseal though, and maybe the replace the duct-taped hose we spotted in the front wheelarch. 

The seller tells us that the E Type led something of a busy life in its first 13 years, racking up 47,000 miles in that time. Things settled down a bit then, well they did until he bought it and added another 40,000…

Most of this was touring around Europe, but he’s had a bit of off-piste fun too: “Most of the F1 circuits in Europe have been ‘tested’ and a couple of manufacturer banked test tracks have been enjoyed; 110mph around the top of a seemingly vertical bank was novel, but the E Type was unperturbed and stable.”

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the car’s maintenance regimen is confirmed via every single invoice and bill since the seller bought it in October 1992.

These include many from Winspeed Motorsport of Guildford, who he feels are “the only engineers who really understand the V12.” 

It’s worth taking a few minutes to browse through them to appreciate the money-no-object approach he’s taken.

The Jaguar’s ‘matching numbers’ status is confirmed via a Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate, and the history file also contains the original Passport to Service, a lubrication chart, a wiring diagram, period photos of the car, and a bunch of expired tax discs from 1980 onwards.

It also has a full set of MoT certificates up to 2019, the year the owner stopped having it tested.

Now exempt, we would still encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

Only for sale because he’s downsizing his collection, this glorious E Type has the chops to back up its stunning looks.

Not concours, of course, but then you won’t be paying concours money either; we suspect the dust will settle somewhere between £32,000 and £37,000.

Which wouldn’t be a lot to pay for a car you could wind your way across Europe in – and if you like your classics slightly less patinated than this, it wouldn’t take much more to bring the cabin up to a very good standard.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.