Unveiled during the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Jaguar C-X75 stood as a potential flagship model for the British marque, embodying innovation and bold design.
Despite receiving approval for production, the project was ultimately shelved, only to resurface in the 2015 James Bond film, Spectre, capturing imaginations once more before fading from view.
Yet, lingering fascination persists, especially with Callum, the design studio founded by former Jaguar design chief Ian Callum, who has achieved the remarkable feat of rendering a C-X75 street-legal. The precise circumstances leading to Callum’s acquisition of the C-X75 remain shrouded in mystery.
The particular vehicle subjected to modification is among the four surviving stunt cars crafted by Williams Advanced Engineering for Spectre, suggesting it might have been the same one offered by auction house RM Sotheby’s in Abu Dhabi back in November 2019.
Estimated to fetch between $800,000 and $1.2 million, the car surprisingly failed to find a buyer during the auction.
Nevertheless, Callum emerged as the ideal candidate to tackle the formidable challenge of transforming an esoteric, experimental supercar into a road-legal marvel, given his leadership role in the original design team.
His company meticulously implemented hundreds of alterations, ranging from glass replacements to the integration of a quieter exhaust system with catalytic converters, alongside tuning adjustments to the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine and the incorporation of additional interior switches.
Notably, the stunt cars originally sported foam door mirrors, necessitating their replacement with functional mirrors equipped with turn signal repeaters.
During the extensive refurbishment process, the team seized the opportunity to enhance the vehicle’s aesthetics, meticulously reducing and aligning panel gaps for a more seamless appearance.
The C-X75 underwent a fresh coat of paint, accompanied by modifications to the suspension system, notably adjusting the ride height for optimal performance.
Leveraging an engine already sanctioned for road use, namely the V8 powerplant renowned for its application in vehicles like the Range Rover, facilitated the transition to street legality.
The eagerly anticipated debut of Callum’s street-legal Jaguar C-X75 is scheduled to take place at the Bicester Heritage Scramble event in England on April 21, 2024.
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