1971 Jaguar E-Type 3.0L Petrol · FHH 126K

The 1971 Jaguar E-Type presents a stable and improving mechanical picture based on its most recent MOT entries. The October 2025 test at 51,062 miles passed cleanly with zero defects, a significant turnaround from the 2022 failure. This suggests a recent phase of sympathetic restoration or attentive remediation. The 2024 test at 51,061 miles also passed, though the tester flagged a hydraulic leak that was not deemed excessive. The trajectory from a multi-defect failure in May 2022 to consecutive clean passes indicates the current custodian has addressed the car's historical faults, though the underlying nature of those earlier issues warrants careful physical inspection. The mileage profile tells a story of very light use punctuated by periods of apparent dormancy. Between the March 2017 pass at 50,705 miles and the May 2022 failure at 50,962 miles, the car covered roughly 257 miles across five years, implying it stood unused for extended stretches. From May 2022 to October 2025, the odometer moved just 101 miles across three and a half years. At approximately 928 miles per year over 55 years, this is exceptionally low annualised mileage. Such sporadic use raises concerns about aged rubber components, stale fuel systems, and corrosion from standing rather than wear from driving. The May 2022 failure is the most technically revealing entry in the record. The tester found a nearside front suspension component mounting repaired with underseal and body filler within 12 inches of the torsion bar mounting point, with visible metal corrosion noted inside under the carpet. On a monocoque-structured E-Type, corrosion near suspension mounting points is a serious structural concern rather than a cosmetic one. The tester also flagged non-functioning position lamps, a failed wiper blade, and a defective windscreen washer, all of which are minor electrical and consumable items but collectively suggest the car had been neglected prior to its recent attention. A prospective buyer should prioritise a thorough underside inspection focusing on the front suspension mountings, sill structural integrity, and any evidence of filler or underseal concealing corrosion. The 2017 failure noted corrosion on the nearside front sill within 30cm of a structural component, and the 2022 failure flagged corrosion visible under carpet, so rust in the sills, floor pans, and around suspension pickup points must be verified with a hammer and probe rather than visual inspection alone. The binding rear brake noted in the 2017 failure and the hydraulic leak flagged in 2024 suggest the braking and hydraulic systems deserve close scrutiny, including caliper operation, flexible hose condition, and the integrity of all hard lines. Given the car's low mileage and long stationary periods, perishable items such as tyres, bushes, brake seals, and coolant hoses should be treated as time-expired regardless of their apparent condition.