Sunday 21st July 2019

Jaguar Pirana | Pic of the Week

The Jag concept that inspired the Lamborghini Espada can now be in your collection - or just on your desktop

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The story of the Jaguar Pirana really is a fascinating one, the kind of escapade that simply wouldn’t happen nowadays. It was the brainchild of the Daily Telegraph’s motoring staff; in 1967, they wanted to discover what their ultimate grand touring car would be like - to have that sort of free time in 2019 - and the Pirana was the incredible result of their ambition.

It was an ambition fuelled by a collaboration with the greats, though. Having been sold a 2+2 E-Type engine and frame by William Lyons, the DT boys needed a designer for their vision. So they did what anyone else would have done in the 1960s: they wrote a letter to Nuccio Bertone, offering him some work. He duly agreed, and along with chief stylist Marcello Gandini they set about working on the Telegraph’s vision. Having only sculpted the first lump of clay in the May of 1967, the Pirana styling buck made its debut at the Earls Court show in October of that year and was sold the May after. It really was (and remains), a stunning piece of design, drawing inspiration from the earlier Lamborghini Marzal but very evidently the basis also for the later Espada. Indeed it’s hard to spot many meaningful differences - Gandini clearly was chuffed with what he’d achieved…

Having disappeared from public view for more than 40 years, the Pirana has been with its current owner since 2011 and sympathetically restored to its original motor show configuration. Now it’s being sold once more, one of many outstanding lots in RM’s upcoming Monterey sale. There isn’t even an estimate, let alone a reserve, though it’s hard to imagine a unique Bertone Jaguar being an entry-level classic purchase. What an incredible thing to be able to own, though. Alas, it shall remain but a dream for many; if you also fall into that camp, join in updating your desktop with a Gandini GT classic - the Jaguar one...

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[Nerdherder]

Did not know this one! Very interesting indeed. Would not be a problem to see pictures from different angles added to the article.

[gforceg]

That's a new one on me too. The story of how it came to be is as remarkable as the car.

[SimonTheSailor]

Kind of disappointed about the Espada now !!

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd like to see more photos.

[FourWheelDrift]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd like to see more photos.

Here's a video - https://www.pistonheads.com/news/british-cars/jagu...

[JohnG1]

The car itself bears the name "Piranha" rather than Pirana.

Look at the photos on the auction website.

[Turbobanana]

[qupte=PH]... to have that sort of free time in 2019...
[/quote]

You do. You just choose to spend it differently.

[the pips]

I bought two copies of the Telegraph as the magazine had a double page photo of the car. That adorned my bedroom wall for many many years. The other copy i kept squirrelled away. Sadly lost in of the house moves.

[RobDickinson]

Thats a bit special!

[ZX10R NIN]

FourWheelDrift said:

Here's a video - https://www.pistonheads.com/news/british-cars/jagu...

Thanks that really is a good looking car, you can really see the Espada in it.

[Fetchez la vache]

Hands up who saw the pic and thought the title of the article was wrong as *obviously* that's an Espada... before reading the sub-title...
Never heard of this one. Massive soft spot for the Espada...

[AC43]

When I saw it I thought Alfa Romeo Montreal.

[NG7]

Original article:



and



And a few more as well. Unfortunately I don't have the wk2 follow-up

Edited by NG7 on Saturday 27th July 11:03