1973 Jaguar E-Type V12: A Detailed Review of an Iconic Sports Car

The Iconic Jaguar E-Type

• 💡 The 1973 Jaguar E-Type is a late-production example of an iconic and beautiful car, originally debuting in the early 1960s.
• 🚀 It replaced the XK120 and XK150, inheriting their reputation for being beautiful and high-performance sports cars of their respective eras.
• 🏆 Enzo Ferrari reportedly called the E-Type the most beautiful car he had ever seen, a testament to its enduring design.

Evolution to the V12 Series 3

• ⚙️ Early E-Types featured a straight-six engine, but the Series 3, introduced in 1971, exclusively used a V12 engine, replacing the six-cylinder entirely.
• 📏 This V12 generation also adopted the long-wheelbase body style, previously only available on the 2+2 models, affecting the car's proportions.
• 🤔 While the V12 offered more torque and a 'cooler' factor, the longer wheelbase is often considered to have slightly diminished the original E-Type's pure design aesthetic.

Unique Quirks and Features

• 🔧 The entire front clip of the car, including fenders and bumper, folds forward to reveal the V12 engine, a complex and dramatic design.
• 🇺🇸 US models featured large, rubber bumper additions to comply with regulations, which impacted how the hood opened compared to European versions.
• 🔑 The coupe's tailgate is opened via a hidden latch inside the car on the passenger side, a quirky and impractical design for accessing the surprisingly spacious cargo area.
• 🧩 The spare tire is stored asymmetrically under a removable panel in the cargo area.
• 🏷️ Badging on the rear, including a stylized V12 emblem, proudly signifies the car's powerful engine.

Interior Charm and Practicalities

• 🕰️ The interior boasts a charming, old-school feel with a thin-rimmed steering wheel and an upright dashboard filled with gauges and controls, reminiscent of aviation.
• 🅿️ A unique quirk is the kinked parking brake lever, designed to mimic the curve of the center console.
• 🌡️ Climate controls are notably inconsistent in labeling, materials, and size across different units, reflecting the era's design approach.
• 🗄️ Dual glove boxes, one lockable and one not, offer storage options.
• 🪞 The driver's side mirror is adjusted via a small, protruding stick on the door panel, a seemingly more complex solution than adjusting the mirror directly.
• 🚦 A directional turn signal display on the gauge cluster was a surprisingly advanced feature for its time.

Driving Experience and Legacy

• 🚗 This V12 E-Type features an automatic transmission, which suits its grand touring character, though manual transmissions were available on earlier models.
• 🤏 The rear seats are extremely small and offer virtually no legroom, a compromise for the 2+2 configuration.
• 💨 Despite not being exceptionally fast by modern standards, the V12 offers good mid-range torque and a smooth, enjoyable driving experience.
• 🌟 The E-Type's legacy is cemented as an automotive icon, representing a high point for Jaguar, though its successor, the XJS, struggled to match its appeal and quality reputation.
• 💯 The 1973 V12 E-Type received a DougScore of 44 out of 100, scoring well in styling and cool factor but lower in comfort and equipment due to its vintage design.