After spending more than a quarter of a century in a number of barns, a one-family owned 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster is ready to change hands and get a second chance in life.

Usually, barn-finds are in a depressing state, but that’s not the case with this beautiful E-Type that was uncovered in Warwickshire, England, as it was mostly kept in controlled environments.

It was purchased in August of 1973 by the current vendor’s grandfather who used it sparingly having covered around 7,700 miles until he gave it to his son in April of 1993.

The seller’s father then “properly immobilized” the car and stored it in a brick barn built in 1996 with heating before moving it in 1999 to another barn on his estate, this time a wooden one, with the E-Type stored inside a dehumidified air bubble car storage unit. The roadster stayed there until October of 2006 when it moved for the last time to a farm shed until it was “uncovered” last year following the death of the vendor’s father.

The current owner then made the decision to “recommision” the engine and get the car running in order to pass an MOT in early 2015, with all work done Tolman Motorsport of Warwickshire, and has now listed it for sale at Silverstone Auctions on May 23.

According to the listing, the E-Type roadster is in original condition:

“All the interior is completely original and nicely patinated, the hood is original and in reasonably good working order, even the spare wheel and tool kit are believed totally original. The paint has reacted over time to the moisture in places but seems to be original to the car. The original chrome has rotted in a few places, such as the rear bumper, and the exhaust is now finally blowing. However, it is a very original, rare and very special car which now offers a unique opportunity to own one of the lowest mileage V12 E-Types in the world with known single family ownership from new. It starts well, idles happily and the manual gearbox feels positive and accurate.”

Silverstone Auction estimates that the car will fetch between £75,000 to £90,000, equal to $112,000 to $134,000.

Photo Gallery