On Friday, March 6, a digital hammer will drop. Our 32k-mile 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 coupe, listed here on Bring a Trailer, will be going to a new home.
It’s with mixed feelings that I will watch the clock count down to the final second. While I’ve owned several six-cylinder Series I and II E-types, I never imagined I would spend five years and 10,000 miles behind the wheel of a 12-cylinder Series III.
It is a very fine GT car, capable of cruising at 100 mph with the A/C going full blast. With big meats on each corner, it has a tenacious grip over all types of surfaces. The sound of the V12 as it fires through all four pipes is intoxicating. It is a pleasure to drive at any speed and perfect for all-day touring.
Also, unique to the 1971, the rear seatback slid forward and back nearly a foot. That creates a spacious compartment, into which I could easily fit my mobility scooter. This practicality meant the car was a reliable and faithful companion, completing numerous SCM 1000 and Northwest Passage tours.
Surprisingly, this Primrose and Cinnamon Jaguar has turned out to be far more than just another sports car. Of the 200 or more collector cars that I have owned, I would say that in many ways, the Jaguar was one of the mostly completely satisfying cars I have ever lived with. Simply put, it does everything you ask it to do, and more.
While I will miss the car, I’ve done nearly everything with it that I wanted to, and now it’s time for it to be a part of someone else’s life. I expect this V12 Jag will continue to deliver excitement and adventures for its new owner for many years to come.
Read my previous blog posts here.
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