2019-08-25 11:20:05 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 9/19
www.brightwells.com/classic-motoring/leominster-classic-vintage/leominster-class ...

Auction description:
Lot No. 170
Registration Date 1974
Make & Model Jaguar E-Type S3 V12 Roadster
Colour Westminster Blue
Registration Number CDM 468M
Chassis No. UE1S24220
Engine size 5,343 cc
Engine No. 7S14937LB
Documents V5C; MOT December 2019 with no advisories; two old MOTs; spec sheet; import docs; Heritage Certificate
Estimate £80,000 - £90,000

As the Heritage Certificate confirms, this stunning V12 Roadster was built in November 1973 and was destined for the American market, being shipped to New York in January 1974. It remained in the USA for the next 38 years but was put into storage in 1999 from where it was rescued and brought back to the UK in 2012.

Between 2014 and 2017 it was treated to a total nut-and-bolt rebuild which cost £118,000, the majority of the work being carried out by Kinkell Classic Cars of Dingwall, with the final detailing and fine-tuning being entrusted to John Chatham Cars of Hallen, Bristol. Although there are no bills for all the work carried out the whole process is documented by photos on file and the results are plain to see – the car really does look gorgeous.

The rebuild philosophy was to create a powerful and refined cruiser that would be capable of reliable daily use without compromising Jaguar’s original design ethos. To this end many subtle upgrades have been incorporated including the fitment of a Tremec 5-speed gearbox which gives more relaxed cruising than the four-speed original. The original Stromberg carbs have also been ditched in favour of new SU carbs and the original engine has been fully rebuilt and carefully set up on a rolling road, the vendor stating that it delivers effortless performance with 20% better fuel economy than standard.

Finished in Westminster Blue with a new burgundy hide interior and matching hood, it also has a burr walnut dash and door trims which make the interior especially pleasing and luxurious compared to the vinyl-clad standard fittings. All mechanical aspects have been fully rebuilt with new components throughout including brakes, suspension, uprated cooling system, all new electrics, five new chrome wire wheels shod with new whitewall tyres – you get the picture!

The attention to detail is most impressive with new parts in evidence everywhere you look down to the smallest hose, clip and bolt, the car being as clean and tidy underneath as it is up top. Indeed the underside is protected by anti-stonechip underseal so it should keep looking good for years to come.

Since the restoration was completed the car has covered fewer than 1,000 fine-weather miles and has been stored and maintained by John Chatham Cars within their atmospherically controlled storage facility at the Chatham Vaults in Hallen, protected by a fitted cover which is included in the sale. Starting promptly and running beautifully as we moved it around for these photos, it has an MOT to December 2019 with no advisories recorded.