  We report on the optical recovery of SN~1986E 7.1 and 7.9 years after
explosion. The spectra are dominated by broad H$\alpha$ and [O~I]
$\lambda\lambda$6300,6364 emission lines with a minor contribution from [Ca~II]
$\lambda\lambda$7291,7324 and, possibly, [Fe~II] $\lambda$7155. Compared with
the spectra of the other recovered SNII, SN1986E shows strong H$\alpha$
luminosity similar to SN~1979C but, in contrast, weak [O~III] emission. So far,
among classified SNe, only type II Linears have been recovered a few years past
the explosion. The high optical luminosity of Linear SNII at this phase is most
likely related to the interaction of the ejecta with the circumstellar wind
which is also expected to produce strong radio emission. Therefore radio
observations of the remnant of SN~1986E are worth attempting. The circumstellar
interaction model predicts that, in the next decade, the strength of the
[O~III]/H$\alpha$ emission rapidly increases and [O~III]
$\lambda\lambda$4959,5007 should eventually dominate the spectrum. We observed
this effect in SN~1957D 30 years after explosion which therefore may represent
the normal evolution of SNII with a dense circumstellar medium. The details
observed in the spectra of both SNe suggest directions for further refinement
of the modelling.
