Jaguar E-Type 1971 - Series 3 V12 Coupe

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, Online Auction - 15th January on Thursday the 15th of January, Online. , The E-Type was unveiled in Geneva in 1961 to great excitement. Already eagerly anticipated by the public and motoring press alike for its radical aerodynamic shape, championed by Malcolm Sayer, and its development rooted in the highly successful D-Types of the 1950s, the unveiling cemented the car’s iconic status almost immediately. Jaguar PR manager Bob Berry famously drove the launch car, 9600 HP, flat out from Coventry to Geneva, arriving just 20 minutes before its official reveal.The car was built to succeed the XK150 as Jaguar’s premier sports car. It retained the well proven and refined XK engine and running gear, combined with chassis developments derived from the C-Type and D-Type racing cars, to create a lighter monocoque design with improved handling. The result was a car with stunning design and grand touring performance to match, cementing its celebrity status early on, while being offered at a fraction of the cost of the Aston Martin and Ferrari models available at the time. Over 70,000 examples were built over a 13-year production run.The E-Type was produced from 1961 to 1974. The Series 1 was unveiled in 1961 with the 3.8-litre engine and Moss gearbox, until the 4.2-litre engine with Jaguar’s own fully synchromesh gearbox was launched in 1964. This powered the remaining Series 1 cars, along with the Series 2, which was introduced in 1968. In 1971, the Series 3 was launched, showcasing the legendary 5.3-litre V12 engine and offered with either automatic or manual transmission. All versions were available in Coupe or Roadster form, with a longer 2+2 Coupe body offered from 1965 onwards. The 2+2 was the only Coupe body style available for the Series 3.This particular car is a Series 3 with the V12 engine and manual gearbox. It was first registered in November 1971 and remained with one couple who registered it between themselves, originally to the wife, then to their company in 1983, and finally to the husband in 1989. He retained ownership until the current owner purchased the car in 2021, after it had been in storage for many years. Although running, the car required restoration, and the current owner undertook an extensive programme of work to return it to the excellent condition it presents in today.Invoices on file show the extent of the restoration carried out. Major works include, but are not limited to:Bare metal respray in its original Regency Red colour,Complete retrim in its original Biscuit colour,Rear axle unit stripped and rebuilt, with parts powder coated, Engine work including:Cylinder heads skimmed with new valves fitted for unleaded petrol,New aluminium flywheel,Complete clutch kit,High torque starter,,Gearbox stripped and rebuilt,Refurbished steering rack,New wheels and tyres all round,As the photographs show, the car now presents very well and has been used by the owner, including a trip to Goodwood. The paintwork and interior are in excellent condition, with a very clean engine bay and underside. The original brightwork has not been re-chromed and shows some bubbling, particularly on the bumpers, but still polishes to a respectable finish.Unfortunately, the earlier history file for the car was lost in a theft. However, the current owner has retained all invoices from his ownership and restoration, confirming the work carried out since 2021.Finished in an attractive colour combination and benefiting from a manual gearbox mated to the supple 5.3-litre V12, this car will be equally at home at shows or on long-distance journeys.Location: BedfordshireSeller: Private