1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 2+2 Coupe

• Built on 16/12/1970 and delivered to San Mateo, California 31/01/1971
• Returned to the UK in 2009 and was first registered here on 21/10/2009
• Subject to a body-off restoration, right-hand drive conversion and mechanical rebuild by a marque specialist prior to our vendor's purchase around seven years ago. The specialist provided a complete photographic record of the work
• Refinished in its original British Racing Green with a black interior, however, since his purchase the interior has been completely retrimmed in light tan to a very high standard and looks fabulous
• Major upgrades include Fuel Injection (replacing the carburettors), a Getrag 5-speed gearbox and a stainless-steel exhaust
• Current indicated mileage is 52,830. Good history from the last 20 years but little prior

A decade after the original Jaguar E-type arrived, the design progressively matured through 1971 with the introduction of the Series 3. Designed to showcase the new smooth and torquey 5.3-litre engine, originally developed for Le Mans, the Series 3 cars were available as a 'Roadster' (convertible) or a '2+2' Coupe. The Series 3 is easily identifiable by its large cross-slatted front grille, flared wheel arches, wider tyres, a larger bonnet bulge, updated bumpers, four exhaust tips, and a badge on the rear that proclaims it to be a V12. It also featured uprated brakes, power steering as standard and a large horizontal scoop added to the underside of the bonnet to assist with cooling. The interior was entirely new in the V12, with more comfortable seating, stylish new door panels and a smaller, dished and leather-rimmed steering wheel. Being slightly larger and altogether much softer in nature, the E-type in Series 3 form had lost the wildness of its youth but gained the long-legged touring profile, to which it was arguably better suited.

This lovely Series 3 Coupé began life on the 16th December in left-hand drive and was shipped to Burlingame British Cars Inc.,65 California Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010 and onwards to its first owner, Howard Engelsher of 22 N. San Mateo Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401. The car returned from the US in 2009 and was registered as DDG 962J on 21/10/2009.

Shortly afterwards it was subject to a body-off restoration, right-hand drive conversion and mechanical rebuild by a marque specialist who provided a complete photographic record of the work. The Jaguar was refinished in its original BRG and, at that point, had a Black interior. We understand that its original engine had been replaced by another of the correct type. It has been converted to fuel injection replacing the problematic Strombergs and the gearbox has been changed to a Getrag 5-speed unit, a common upgrade offering greater flexibility and economy.

Our vendor purchased the car around seven years ago and commissioned a full interior retrim in Light Tan leather and the result is very impressive. The headlining was replaced at the same time. The combination of dark green paintwork, immaculate tan interior and gleaming chrome wire wheels really suits the Coupe's distinctive profile.

The current indicated mileage is 52,830 but, naturally, this is not warranted as, although our vendor has lots of recent history, there is very little from its days in the US. However, that's fairly academic as the E-type has been fully rebuilt, retrimmed and regularly serviced and maintained. With the benefit of fuel injection and the 5-speed gearbox, this sporting +2 is both useful and eminently usable and appears very sensibly guided.