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Even Enzo Ferrari described the Jaguar XKE as one of the most beautiful automobiles ever created. It would take a lot of cheek, as the Brits say, to meddle with it, but when you're the former head of Jaguar design, you can make concessions. Thus, Callum Designs has ventured to revamp the original Jaguar E-type silhouette—and you have to agree, they did a very good job.
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Ian Callum's portfolio includes the Aston Martin DB7 (and most of the early work on the DB9), the Jaguar XK, and the Jaguar F-type, demonstrating his familiarity with traditional grand tourer stylistic features. This project has not been confirmed for production. Instead, it provides an opportunity for the design team to express their creativity. If a customer with a donor E-type expresses an interest, it may absolutely progress from the virtual to the actual world.
The exterior is done in a simple matte gray, with all chrome trim removed. The headlights and taillights have been modified for a more modern appearance (Lucas, Prince of Darkness, consider yourself exorcised), and the huge wheels appear futuristic while yet retaining the essence of the original wire wheels and three-bladed knock-on hubs. It sits low like a crouching cat.
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The interior follows the same theme, with discrete digital gauges and analog dials for the instrument panel. There are physical toggle switches, and arguably the nicest feature is a huge metal shift knob that signals a five-speed manual transmission.
Twin pipes out the back appear to confirm that this design is not intended to be a whisper-quiet EV, but rather a real growler. There are no indications whether it is intended to be powered by a straight-six or a V-12, although either might be modified to suit.
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Eagle Restorations, situated in Sussex, already restores and modifies Jaguar E-types. Then there's Jaguar Heritage itself. But they are more typical goods, not as daringly forward-thinking as Callum Designs'.
As Jaguar repositions itself in a fast changing market, it will have to decide what to carry over from the past into the future. Even as a one-off, this automobile demonstrates that when the big cat firm was at its peak, their vehicles were really ageless.
