This 1972 Jaguar E-Type is the later Series III model in the fixed-head coupe configuration, with 2+2 seating. Although not the most desirable set-up, it’s still a four-speed manual car with a V12, and the seller claims it’s lead a fairly uneventful life in the hands of two doctors. The paint and engine are also likewise claimed to be original, and the car is said to run well with no major defects noted. The seller says that the Jaguar is for sale as a result of a collection wind-down that is clearly based on a business that buys and sells classic cars – check out the other listings they have up for grabs.You’ll find the E-Type here on eBay with a $34,000 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Russel G. for the find. 

The E-Type is a car that evokes strong reactions, mostly of the positive variety due to its sensuous design. The body has always been dead sexy no matter the generation, but purists will always claim the Series 1 is the car to buy. I don’t disagree, but that shouldn’t negate considering later models, especially when equipped with the manual transmission. I personally think a Series III is a relative collector car bargain, as 90 percent of the general public won’t know the difference, and you still get to park one of the prettiest cars ever made in your garage for far less than a Series 1 would set you back. I can understand why the 2+2 design isn’t favored, but I wouldn’t let it stop me from owning a car like this.

Now, the performance did begin to suffer as time wore on, just as it did for almost every muscle and sports car going into the middle and late 70s. This is just a fact of life, and no one manufacturer was more guilty than another of neutering some truly great performance brands. As far the list of ways that the U.S. made gorgeous European cars into ugly ducklings, the requirement for 5 m.p.h. safety bumpers was perhaps the most grievous offense, but thankfully, this 1972 E-Type predates when Jaguar was forced to slap ugly black overriders on the otherwise beautiful chrome bumpers front and rear. The seller discloses no issues with the drivetrain, just noting that it “…runs, drives, and stops great.”

The interior looks pleasingly worn, with no signs of outright destruction. The manual transmission is the way to buy one of these, even if it’s considered a grand tourer where it’s acceptable to see an automatic in the console. The dashboard and its swichgear all appear as the factory intended, and although I can’t tell if that’s the original radio, it’s at least an in-period replacement. While the switches lost some of the pizzazz that they had in the original Series 1 (along with the covered headlights – oh, how I love those), the E-Type was still a delightful mixture of sports car and jet fighter when you sat down inside. The asking price seems fair if the originality claims and running condition can be verified, but making a best offer is obviously the way to play this one to cover some of the potential risk.