A decade after the Jaguar E-Type Series I arrived, the design progressively matured through 1971 with the introduction of the Series 3 developed to showcase the new smooth and torquey 5.3-litre engine, originally destined for Le Mans.

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.

A long-legged tourer it may have been but this was undoubtedly a rather quick motor car.

The 5,343cc all-alloy SOHC 24-valve V12 generated 272bhp at 5,850rpm and 304lb/ft at 3,600rpm which, when fed through the four-speed manual gearbox, offered 0-60 in 6.8 seconds on its way to over 140mph.

On offer here is a very special UK-supplied, right-hand drive, manual gearbox Series 3 which has been with its current private owner for the last 40 years.

Presented in the timeless combination of Opalescent Silver with a black leather interior and sitting on...