This Series III XKE benefits from a no expense spared cosmetic restoration, completed a little over 15+ years ago. The results are excellent, and the work completed has held up nicely. The car is straight down the sides and the paint is very consistent throughout with a deep shine. No signs of failing work to be found. If we are nitpicking, we can point to one item that stands out and that is the trunk lid fitment. It is slightly raised on the sides and not 100% flush with the body. This is often due to new rubber seals, of which this car has many. Again, it could be left or adjusted as the new owner sees fit. There are perhaps one or two small chips or blemishes to be found. Otherwise we consider this car to be show quality overall in its presentation.

The glass on the car appears to be original for the doors, but the windshield has seen replacement and currently shows to be free of any defects. All of the brightwork appears to be untouched originals with some age showing. Still presentable but not perfect. All of the exterior rubber trim, grommets, boots, seals etc… are all new, as is the top, and various other components. The lenses all appear to be original with the only issue found being on the drivers side lower turn signal lense, a small crack is present. Perhaps the most interesting part about this example is the covered headlights which use a Swiss-made conversion kit that really changes the look for the better along with the European bumper conversion - a unique presentation for a Series III. However, we have noted a small crack in the lens on the drivers side headlight cover. Lastly, the passenger side window does not always fit well/easily into the intended area with the top up and sometimes requires extra attention.

The wheels are newer, and of the correct type and style installed in 2006 featuring stainless steel spokes. Strong and safe. No issues to note - show quality.

The cosmetic restoration was continued on the inside with careful attention to restoring only the items that needed to see restoration. The seats, carpets, kick panels, door panels etc… are all superbly appointed having been restored to a high level. The dash and other interior components remain original but in excellent condition in that they are indistinguishable from the restored aspects of the interior. All of the correct trim items whether they be chrome or otherwise, escutcheons, pulls, knobs, toggles etc… are all present and in excellent condition. The one item we have noticed is a small section of the passenger side seat back on the corner has come into contact with the top during the action of putting it up or taking it down, resulting in a small area of fraying to the material in that area. Not worth refinishing, but present.

This car has seen very careful attention to detail during service to make certain that 100% of the interior items are in correct working order. We have tested all aspects of the various functions of this car and can report that with the exception of two items, the car is otherwise totally in order. The drivers side front turn signal bulbs seems to work intermittently (this could easily be the bulb and how it sits in the socket), and the interior clock is not functioning (a new one is included however). To that end, this car includes a variety of new small interior parts such as a new clock, toggles, bulbs, seals, and fuses.

The engine bay is a wonderful and unexpected surprise. Upon opening the bonnet it is immediately evident that the engine bay has been preserved as original and untouched beyond general service or mechanical refurbishment as needed. Immediately, the trained eye can see red oxide primer coming through in various spots - an indication that the paint in the engine bay is indeed original and untouched from the factory. The mechanical aspects of this car, upon close inspection reveal that no system has gone untouched. While the original hoses and clamps may no longer be present, we see upgrades to silicone hoses and modern clamps for the purposes of use and reliability. As this car has been fully sorted and invested in to be turn key and reliable. There are no signs of any accident damage or rust of any kind and the engine bay is that of a highly original but functional area of the car.

The trunk is similar to the engine bay in that it appears to be mostly original as well. Removing the mat shows original wood planks, and once those are removed we see original sound deadening and the presentation overall is that of a solid original. Tidy and with no needs

The underside is solid, straight and shows only signs of use commensurate with the mileage. Any previous rust issues were dealt with in an expert fashion and no signs of rust or even previous efforts to remediate rust were obvious during our inspection. This car has seen expert attention. The underside presents as solid, serviced, and driven. Our biggest complaint is perhaps the front cross member which has seen its fair share of jacks over the years with some of the metal bent. Not uncommon on an e-type with some use and miles.

The engine starts easily, and once warm holds a steady idle with coolant temperature remaining within the appropriate range. The oil pressure settles into an appropriate range once warm as well. There are no unwanted noises and the engine produces the long smooth power that these V12’s are known for. We have noticed that the engine does smoke a little on startup but quickly goes away the warmer it gets. We suspect this would lessen with more frequent use.

The transmission and clutch operate exactly as intended with no grinding. Lots of life is left on the clutch as is evident by our brief testing of this car.

The suspension and brakes have both seen open check book attention and operate without any faults of any kind. Quiet, responsive, and firm, the suspension is excellent. The brakes are effective with no pulling or warping in the rotors to report.

The tires are period correct style Michelin Radial X 205/70VR15’s on all 4 wheels and were installed in 2019. They have a good tread life and remain supple. The spare wheel is an older, possibly original, Pirelli P5.

The Jaguar E-Type offers two distinct experiences depending on the Series. While Series 1 and Series 2 cars offer a more raw unrefined experience, the Series III reigns in a GT like environment when driving. It really is a contrasting experience to the earlier examples with much in the way of refinement without losing that sports car feel. It is quieter, comfortable, with more room and offers a unique driving experience with a V12 and air conditioning. Long smooth power, the Series III E-Type is a contender for any serious collector looking to complete a collection of E-Types or if you're in the market for a wonderful collector car that remains an icon, this will always check that box.