THE EUROPEAN COLLECTION
The Jaguar XK European GT Roadster
With each Jaguar XK European GT Roadster, we aim to capture the romance of 1950s open-top motoring, but with vastly improved performance, handling, and reliability. A true celebration of British design, brought up to date with respect and imagination.
Each car is crafted with an all-alloy body, subtly re-proportioned to enhance the original lines and provide a more muscular, assertive stance. The interior is entirely bespoke, tailored to each client’s personal taste, with the finest materials and finishes echoing the elegance of the 1950s while delivering the comfort and refinement expected of a modern GT.
MOTORSPORT LEGEND,
HOLLYWOOD ICON
Unquestionably beautiful, the Jaguar XK120 was not only the fastest car in the world, but also the most desirable. Almost in an instant the XK120 took over Hollywood boulevards, driven by legends like Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, and Tyrone Power. It will forever be synonymous with the glamour of 1950s Tinseltown.
It was a winner on the track too, taking first and second place at its racing debut at Silverstone in 1949, running at Le Mans a year later, and proving victorious in some of the world’s most gruelling rallies.
Modifying or enhancing any iconic design should always be approached with the utmost care. One must be respectful of what was originally created in what was a very different time using very different methods.
The Jaguar XK European GT Roadster combines the same time-honoured craftsmanship that first brought the XK120 to life with cutting-edge design tools and technologies to reimagine and redefine the elements that made it so breathtakingly beautiful. It remains instantly recognisable as a Jaguar, but more muscular and more assertive – something that could have emerged from Browns Lane in the late 1950s as a ‘skunkworks’ project.
Alongside the open top design, the bodysides now have real curvature – which, together with the wider front and rear arches, delivers a much more sculpted shape.”
THE DESIGN
Over 5,000 hours of
BRITISH CRAFTSMANSHIP
Painstakingly hand-formed from aluminium alloy by master craftsmen using English wheels, every panel is a work of art, and the near-imperceptible differences arising from this centuries-old process ensure that no two cars will be exactly alike.
The panels are then assembled on a precision jig to guarantee dimensional accuracy and consistent panel gaps. Seam welding throughout adds strength and stiffness, while external joints are smoothed to perfection, ensuring a beautifully clean, flawless, contemporary appearance.
Perfecting each body by hand requires more than 2,000 hours alone, and is testament to the passion and meticulous attention to detail that defines everything we do.
HAVE A JAGUAR XK EUROPEAN GT ROADSTER IN MIND?
Our team would be delighted to discuss how Thornley Kelham can bring your vision to life.