The Bertone Pirana, sometimes called the Jaguar Pirana, is a one-off concept car created by Bertone for the 1967 London Motor Show at Earl’s Court. It used the chassis and powertrain of the 4.2-litre Jaguar E-Type under a unique steel semi-monocoque body designed by Marcello Gandini, and it was commissioned by The Daily Telegraph as an example of an “ideal car”.
Bertone Pirana at a glance
| Builder | Bertone, Turin |
|---|---|
| Shown | 1967 London Motor Show, Earl’s Court |
| Commissioned by | The Daily Telegraph |
| Designer | Marcello Gandini |
| Based on | Jaguar E-Type 4.2-litre chassis and engine |
| Body | unique steel semi-monocoque |
| Interior | luxurious, with air conditioning |
| Registration | TGF 1F |
| Later changes | converted to 2+2 seating and automatic transmission |
| Also shown | New York and Montreal motor shows |
| Influence | Lamborghini Espada of 1968 |
based on one source
History of the Bertone Pirana
The Pirana was unlike most show cars in that it was ordered by a newspaper. The Daily Telegraph asked Bertone to build a car that would stand for the ideal motor car, and Sir William Lyons was contacted beforehand about the project; he agreed to sell Bertone a Jaguar engine and chassis. The result was a low, sleek GT body on the running gear of the E-Type, officially named “Pirana” rather than “Piranha” as some sources describe, although the badge on the rear of the car actually reads Piranha. The spelling was reportedly an aesthetic choice.
Marcello Gandini, the Bertone designer best known for the Lamborghini Countach, drew the body. Underneath, the car used the 4.2-litre Jaguar chassis and powertrain of the E-Type, clothed in a steel semi-monocoque body with a luxurious interior. The car was originally registered TGF 1F. After a successful showing at the London Motor Show it was exhibited at the New York car show and then at the British Motor Show in Montreal.
Design and features
- One-off GT body: a steel semi-monocoque shell unlike anything in the Jaguar range.
- E-Type running gear: the 4.2-litre Jaguar chassis and engine, sold to Bertone by William Lyons.
- Luxurious cabin: a show-car interior with air conditioning.
- Newspaper commission: built for The Daily Telegraph as its idea of the ideal car.
Bertone Pirana versions
- 1967 show car: two-seater with manual transmission as first exhibited.
- Converted 2+2: later rebuilt with two extra seats and an automatic gearbox; the air conditioning unit moved to the rear luggage space to make room.
The Pirana was built on the running gear of the Jaguar E-Type, and its shape fed into the Lamborghini Espada of 1968. More cars are in the Jaguar collection.
Sources
- Bertone Pirana, English Wikipedia: commission, design, later changes
