A teardrop or two must have fallen at the Jaguar works when the curtain fell on the long-running E-Type in 1974. While it had undergone plenty of mechanical changes, and the Series 3 enjoyed the 2+2’s longer wheelbase and a moderate facelift, everyone could still recognize it as the slinky sports car that first dazzled crowds back in March of 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show. This pretty roadster (the only bodystyle offered in 1974, the 2+2 was dropped after 1973) is being offered on eBay in Hubbard, Ohio. It’s a Texas car that has also spent some time in California, and in the ten years it’s found itself in Ohio, it’s only covered 18 of its 79,470 miles. Presented as a good driver with plenty of recent maintenance, the E-Type’s high bid is currently $33,988 (with a $55,000 “Buy It Now” option).

The Series 3 E-Type has Jaguar’s all-aluminum 5.3-liter single-overhead-cam V12. While earlier examples of the V12 were rated at 244 net horsepower, the 1974 version’s lowered 7.8:1 compression certainly meant that it lost a step or two, and probably as a result, Jaguar doesn’t mention horsepower in its 1974 sales materials. It does tell us that the engine still breathed through four Zenith-Stromberg 175CD2SE carburetors and was fired by an electronic ignition system.

The seller says this about recent service:

The engine starts easily and is strong.  The car drives and handles well.  The master cyl. and brake booster are currently being replaced with new units.  The carburetors were recently serviced.

The interior is mostly original, and while it isn’t perfect, there are “no rips or tears”; additionally, the original soft top still fits well, but “the rear window is cloudy.” Although many E-Type buyers ordered the Borg-Warner automatic, the original owner of this one chose the more sporting four-speed manual, which transmitted power back to either a 3.31:1 or 3.54:1 rear axle ratio. The seller says that the car “drives and handles well” and has tires and chrome wire wheels with under 500 miles on them; however, they were replaced by a previous owner, which means that they most likely are more than ten years old. Therefore, you may want to put a new set of tires the list.

Being a southern car, the E-Type has none of the undercarriage scale and nastiness that plagued cars from more hostile climates. The car has been painted once, and the paint is described as “driver quality.” The black hardtop has a few scratches but is also in presentable shape, and it complements the yellow exterior well. (By the way, is that “Pale Primrose?” It almost looks too yellow.)

All-in-all, this looks like an excellent option for those who like the Series 3’s more substantial appearance and V12 power. While the bumper overriders do the appearance no favors, the bumpers are nowhere near as heavy-handed as they are on most 1974 models, and the car’s lack of rust and relatively low mileage make this a Jaguar you can enjoy with very little wrench turning. And it will still turn heads today, just as it did all those years ago.