Description
By the mid-1960s, the Jaguar E-Type was appealing to the man with a young family but who were restricted by the size of the current Jaguar E-Type Coupé and its open topped sibling. This prompted Jaguar to offer a third option in the form of a 2+2 Coupé. By adding nine inches to the wheelbase and two inches in height, it was then possible to fit a rear seat capable of seating two adults in tolerable comfort. Of course, the rear seat was more suited to children or, as ‘The Motor' put it at the time, the car could extend Dad's youth for another seven years. Robert Bell in Motor was quoted as saying at the time that ‘all we expected to try was a new engine but what in fact we drove was a new car. Not a yowling, aggressive Ferrari-like machine with which, perhaps, most people associate a V12 engine but a very smooth, quiet and refined grand touring sports car.’
This loverly, original right hand drive, matching numbers, UK supplied Jaguar E-Type series III Coupé with a manual gearbox was supplied new in Old English White with black leather interior complemented with a Webasto sunroof. This E-Type has one of the most comprehensive histories starting in the 1980’s we have ever seen. Supplied to the first owner, Morton C Cullinort & Sons in October 1971 by Plough Motors in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. In 1986 this car was offered by the famous sailor ‘Chay Blyth’ as the first prize in a Multihull Challenge sailing race. Not thinking it would be won by anyone other than an Englishman he had to eat humble pie when the race was won by a famous French explorer ‘Philippe Poupon’ who accepted his prize with much satisfaction and took the car to France, where he kept it for nearly thirty years, until 2016, when it was liberated back into the UK by a UK dealer. In the mid 1990’s Philippe had the car mechanically restored; this work was clearly carried out to a very high standard with no expense spared. In 2016 the car came into the possession of Peter Gostelow, in his ownership, over the next three year, he kept up with the high standards of work having the front suspension rebuilt, new clutch and the brakes fully overhauled. Peter used the car regularly and was seen a Jaguar events and at the Henley Traditional Boat Rally. It changed hands again in 2020 when purchased by Paul Burrows who changed the wheels from factory steel to 72 spoke wire wheels fitted. Purchased by the current owner in 2023 and placed in his private collection, he has decided to reduce the number of cars he owns giving someone else the opportunity to own, cherish and drive this car that wants for nothing and is simply one pampered Big Cat.
