Values are going up, if rather steadily, and the cars are surprisingly usable

Cars don’t come more evocative than Jaguar’s E-type, but steady rises in values over the past couple of years have taken the cars out of reach for many. However, while everyone clamours for the earlier six-cylinder models because of their greater design purity, the Series 3, or V12, is overlooked by many – despite being more usable thanks to its longer, wider bodyshell and superior engineering.

If you’ve hankered after an E-type for ages and you’re on a budget, the V12 is the car to go for. Don’t be put off by the higher running costs: fuel consumption isn’t an issue unless you plan to cover a significant mileage each year – yet maintenance costs can be high.

Low-mileage V12s abound, but check the history because clocked cars aren’t rare. Similarly, restored examples are sometimes claimed to be original, but with so many truly cherished models out there, many run on a money-no-object basis, finding something worth buying really isn’t difficult.