2020-04-28 12:33:37 | Harry Stevens writes:

Lot 95 at the Berlinetta on line auction of Classic Cars on 27th October 2019. Sold for £50,925. Abbreviated catalogue description below.
www.berlinetta-auctions.co.uk/weekly/car-detail/lot-95-1973-jaguar-e-type-series ...

* An original UK Right Hand Drive example
* Matching numbers
* Rare and desirable manual gearbox
* Recent extensive restoration
* In current ownership for twenty five years
* Would benefit from some final finishing

This Series 3 left the factory as a right hand drive open top sports with manual transmission as confirmed by the chassis number. The logbook on file shows it was registered to Gratax Textiles of Bradford on 1st August 1973 as NWR700M finished in Heather. In July 1977 it was acquired by Mr Burton of Sutton on Trent and an MoT certificate shows it had covered 37,000 miles by 1979. In September 1981 it changed hands again moving to Northampton.

Bills on file show there was remedial work to the body and paint in 1987 and it is likely that the colour changed from heather to white at that time. In 1993 XK Engineering undertook a two year restoration costing over £17,500 and the car was repainted its current grey. The owner split his time between the UK and Italy and the car was used regularly in both countries. Since the early 2000's it has stayed in Italy though remaining UK registered.

In 2009 the engine was rebuilt and in 2014 the suspension was rebuilt and new wheels, tyres, brake discs and callipers fitted at a cost of 8,500 euros. In 2017 some slight corrosion was noted and the appropriate remedial work was undertaken with a full repaint. The car was retrimmed in mid blue leather with dark blue piping and fitted with a new mohair roof. The engine was treated to a full service and all works were completed by September 2018.