Matching numbers, 4-spd, documented, 2 tops, California car, A/C, tools & books

Jaguar enthusiasts are discerning people, and with the meteoric rise in E-Type prices, it pays to do your homework. So let's just hit the highlights on this wonderful 1972 Jaguar XKE roadster, and then we'll go into more detail:

100% matching numbers 4-speed manual transmission Factory A/C Two tops, including accessory hardtop Only three owners from new California car until 2002 Service records dating back to new All the original books and manuals Factory tools and jack Recently serviced, including new fluids and fresh tires Awesome color combination (British Racing Green over Biscuit leather)

If you're still reading and not picking up the phone at this point, I'm going to assume that you don't want the car, because, quite frankly, this is as good as Series III E-Types get. Totally sorted, runs and drives beautifully, rust-free, and with a bulletproof pedigree. If you want more, well, you'll need a time machine to go back to 1972 and buy a new one (and I bet it wouldn't be this nice anyway).

At any rate, you can tell we're smitten with this lovely Jag. Glance through our inventory and you'll see several others, including a similarly-colored Series I OTS, and having driven them both, I can unequivocally state that I prefer this one. Maybe the disparities in price have something to do with the level of enthusiasm I can muster during the drive, but to this enthusiast, the Series III car feels like a real car, while the Series I car feels like a toy. You sit in this car and it feels substantial and durable, which is a great feeling when you're setting out on a long journey (which is, incidentally, what this car was designed to do). The view over the long hood is very much the same and to 80% of the public, they're the same car. In short, this car costs half as much, is probably faster, is more comfortable to drive, and delivers the same "WOW!" factor. It's just an awesome car.

The car was in California until the third owner purchased it in 2002. Just prior to his purchase, it was treated to a full repaint in the original British Racing Green, and it's exactly right: just a bit of olive and yellow in the finish, but lustrous and shiny as you'd expect from a Jaguar. That was 14 years ago, so there are obviously some signs of use and age, but they're quite minimal and the car still looks striking from any angle. Panel fit is excellent, which is a testament to the fact that it has never, ever been rusty so it's 100% factory-installed sheetmetal. The doors open and close easily and the giant bonnet, which often needs a lot of muscle to close on lesser cars, sits flush with the surrounding cowl and remains easy to secure. Out back, the trunk lid closes with a firm push, not a hard slam, and also fits about as well as you could expect from an E-Type that hasn't been restored down to the molecular level. It wears an accessory trunk rack, which probably makes it a bit more practical, and the rest of the chrome is in excellent condition. It's worth noting that the grille guard up front was removed and the mounting holes in the bumper guards were filled before those parts were re-chromed, and today they have a clean, all-of-a-piece look. And I have to say that the early Series III cars with their slender bumpers are more attractive than the later cars—I doubt anyone will argue that fact.

The tan leather interior, called Biscuit in Jaguar parlance, is also beautifully presented. The seat covers have been replaced at some point, but the rest appears to be excellent original equipment, including the neatly tailored carpets. It shows only the most minor signs of use and it's hard not to feel like a celebrity when you slide behind the thin-rimmed steering wheel. The big, round Smiths gauges are a traditional British sports car look and they're all fully functional, including the clock, which reliably ticks away. The car likes quite a bit of choke to start when it's cold, and this might be the interior (or even the whole car's) biggest demerit: the choke switch doesn't stay put. It works properly, but it pops out just enough to activate the red warning light next to it. It doesn't affect operation, but on a car this good, picking nits is all you're going to get. Oh, and the A/C needs a charge—the system works, the compressor energizes, but it's cool, not cold. Otherwise, get in and enjoy, which is what all the previous owners have done.

Overhead there's a recent black convertible top, as original, and it fits beautifully and seals up well thanks to new rubber weather-stripping throughout. It includes a matching black vinyl boot as well as a full tonneau cover for the passenger compartment, making for a surprisingly practical alternative to wrestling with the top when you want to park securely. And for the ultimate in cool weather comfort, there's an accessory fiberglass hardtop, which is a very rare find all by itself. It's in original condition, so the weather seals there are a little dry, but that's an easy thing to fix over the winter. The trunk is neatly outfitted with correct carpets and mats, and underneath you'll find what appears to be the original Dunlop spare tire and wire wheel assembly as well as a jack and knock-off tool.

It may be blasphemous, but once again, I'm going to say that I prefer the power and torque of the mighty 5.3 liter SOHC V12 over the earlier six-cylinder cars. Maybe it's a bit less elemental, but it's incredibly polished, spinning so smoothly as to be all but impossible to detect that there are several hundred pounds of iron spinning at 5000 RPM under the hood. The sounds, the sensations, and the torque—oh, the torque!—will make you a believer, too. Thanks to a recent service, this cat purrs like it should and makes the most scintillating exhaust sounds this side of a Ferrari V12. As I said, it's a little grumpy when it's cold, but once it's running and warmed up, it's faultless in operation. There are no humps or hesitations in the power curve, no stumbles, no flat spots, just effortless power that hurls the 2-seater forward like it weighs 500 pounds less than it does. Thanks to a recent service, which includes all new fluids, it's ready to drive and enjoy without a second thought. Yes, it looks complex under the hood, but this 1972 model carries far less emissions gear and other controls, so servicing is easier than its younger siblings and a talented hobbyist will find that keeping it in tune is not so difficult after all. It's just a joy to drive.

Much of that joy comes from the 4-speed manual gearbox, which really is the only way to enjoy your OTS. Ratios are well-spaced for the V12's power band, and it's easy enough to just leave it in 4th gear around town and let the torque do the work. Out back, it's got 3.07 gears so it's a superlative highway cruiser that never gets tired. Or, you know, you could run it to redline in every gear and enjoy the sonorous song of the exhaust, which has several new components. You'll also find that this is one quick cat, and it's a serious mistake to dismiss these later cars as posers, because this one has the power to hurt some very serious machinery. Of course, the suspension is just the right balance of competence and comfort, and the big Jag never puts a tire wrong, regardless of the pavement. Your significant other won't complain about ride quality, even on long trips, and you'll grin every time the road starts to twist, knowing the XKE is a fantastic dance partner. Disc brakes all around, including Jaguar's unique inboard rear discs, mean that there's plenty of stopping power to bail you out. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the floors are in excellent condition, with evidence of its California heritage visible throughout. A little grunge and dirt, but exactly zero cancer. This is a car you can own with confidence. Finally, it's fitted with chrome wire wheels, which really are the only choice on a BRG E-Type roadster, and they're wearing brand new 205/70/15 Dunlop radials which have less than 100 miles on them.

If you've made it this far, it might already be too late. Series III E-Types just don't get any better than this. Wonderful to drive, gorgeous to look at, and still a smart investment (Series I prices have peaked, but Series III cars are going up), this is the XKE you've been waiting for. Just don't wait too long, because cars this good just don't sit around. Call now!