Jaguar Bertone Pirana is the ‘perfect car’

Posted on 16-01-2014 at 22:58 by ii – 16 Comments”

There is but one of in the whole world. A fully functioning show models of the most perfect car ever, as was intended.

It started in 1967, all with the basis of an E-Type: the chassis and its 4.2 litre engine. Around it was by Bertone and Marcello Gandini, who was also the Lambo Countach, for example, a steel monocoque body designed. The reason why it is unusual: the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph gave the order to build. The Pirana was designed to serve as a stunt for the newspaper: this was, according to them, the ‘perfect car’.

It should be clear that the Lamborghini Espada, a while later, quite a few design features borrowed from this 2+2 Jag. Just look at the elongated front and the placement of the headlights. And of course those tasty Kamm-tail.

The public saw the special prototype for the first time at the London Motor Show of the ’69 in Earl’s Court. For Bertone, this was not only a stunt for the newspaper, but his views on how the successor of the E-Type should look like. That successor came there only not.

The interior of the Pirana has an integrated center stack, a well chime and specially designed seats. Also had the prototype electric windows and a radio antenna that, when the contact turned on, automatically came up. As icing on the cake was the Pirana equipped with a precursor of a Climate Control system: cool air over the hemeltje, warm air through the floor.

Gallery: Jaguar Jaguar Bertone Pirana

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