Peter Lyon
June 1, 2025
Boasting an enviable portfolio that includes the Aston Martin DB7, Jaguar XK, and F-Type, former Jaguar design director and current head of Callum Designs, Ian Callum knows his way around classic grand tourer style elements. The production of this project is not assured. Even though this project might not be confirmed for production, there’s little doubt that it may go from the virtual world to the real one if a client with a donor E-type expresses interest.
All of the chrome trim has been removed, and the exterior is painted in a simple matte grey. The huge wheels have a futuristic appearance while maintaining the essence of the original wire wheels and the three-bladed knock-on hubs. Meanwhile, the headlights and taillights have been upgraded for a more contemporary look (Lucas, Prince of Darkness).
The cabin has the same design direction, with digital gauges but analog dials for the instrument panel. There are physical toggle switches and best of all, a large metal shift knob that indicates a five-speed manual transmission.
It appears that the twin pipes out the back further suggest that this design is intended to be a real growler rather than a whisper-quiet EV. There are no indications as to whether a V-12 or a straight-six engine are intended to power it, though both could probably be modified to work.
Eagle, a Sussex-based company, already restores and modifies Jaguar E-types. Then there is Jaguar Heritage itself, of course. However, these are more conventional options and are not quite as boldly futuristic as the Callum Designs.
Jaguar will also have to decide what to carry forward from the past into the future as it repositions itself in a market that is rapidly changing. Even as a one-off, this vehicle demonstrates how classic the Big Cat company’s vehicles were during their peak.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Just thinking—but there would have to be perhaps one or two people on the planet that you could trust to successfully restomod a Jaguar E-Type, and former Jaguar design director Ian Callum is at the top of the very short list. When it surfaced in the early 60s, the original car was drop-dead gorgeous—a car that Enzo Ferrari called the “most beautiful car in the world.”
