Cars with History: Jaguar Pirana Concept by Bertone

Although the history of the Jaguar Pirana Concept commissioned to Bertone in 1967 is not well known enough, it served as the basis (not to say they practically copied it) for the concept of the Lamborghini Espada, which Bertone and Lamborghini presented in 1968. The Jaguar Pirana had been forgotten for more than 40 years, but now it will return with a full restoration for the Concorso Italiano at Laguna Seca, on 17 August.

The idea behind the Pirana Concept was to combine the power and luxury of Jaguar from those years into a single futuristic design, without giving up the 4.2 engine of the Jaguar Type-E, nor its chassis, nor all the quality finishes that Jaguar was accustomed to. The Pirana was aimed at the “wealthy driver” who enjoyed the luxury and safety of British cars, along with interesting performance.

Commissioned by the British newspaper Daily Telegraph as an advertising model, much of the design came from the minds of Lucio Bertone himself and his chief designer, Marcello Gandini. Although it made a few fleeting appearances after the Earls Court Motor Show of 1967, where it was presented, the Pirana came to have an uncertain and almost unknown fate, as has almost always been the case with this kind of concept car.

On top of that, this restoration of the Jaguar Piraña will be one of the models presented at the celebrations around the world marking Bertone’s 100 years.