Bertone's B99 GT5: Jaguar XJ12C Reborn!

I really loved the overall look and feel of Bertone's B99 Jaguar coupe concept at Geneva. I think it captured the Jaguar ethos better than the marque's current offerings.  But I must confess I loved the outlandish racing version of the car even more than the "production" version of the concept. The aggressive haunches and proportions instantly recall the Broadspeed XJ12C racing car campaigned by British Leyland in the 70s, and the wild spoilers and diffusers bring to mind some of the crazy Japanese Silhouette racers from the 80s.  Sure, it's a bit wacky, but after the trauma of the Alfa 4C, the Saab PhoeniX and the BMW Concept, it was a nice salve for my eyes. Check out these awesome renderings released by Bertone!

Lancia Stratos Prototipo by Stile Bertone: Where is the future we were promised??

I don't think car design ever really surpassed the extremes to which the styling houses of Italy went in the early 70s with their space-age wedge designs. And perhaps the most extreme example of that archetype was the Lancia Stratos Zero by Marcello Gandini, which actually did lead to the renowned Stratos production car.  This clip is really cool because I had never seen any footage of this earth-bound spacecraft in motion before-- and the synth music just makes it even better! Those of you know me personally know that this video is so right up my alley!

News Flash! Pirana Surfaces in the Desert!

If you read my recent articles about the Lamborghini Espada and its progenitor, the Bertone Pirana, you will recall that this Jaguar E-type-based, one-off show car had essentially been out of the public eye since Earl's Court Motor Show of 1967 and a few subsequent shows that year. My attempts to find modern photos of the car for the article had been unsuccessful. Then all of a sudden, BAM, the car appears on EBAY, and is located in Palm Springs, CA!!

Bring A Trailer broke the story, and I am just floored to find the car still exists, though it has been repainted a rather fetching shade of Green. Any bets on how much this exceedingly rare handmade prototype will sell for?? It's times like this I really wish I was a millionaire.

Update on Monday, October 11, 2010 at 5:34PM by Bradley Price

The Pirana's ebay auction ended with a high bid of 190K, but did not meet the reserve.  Item has been relisted with an opening bid of 150K.

Bertone Pirana - British Cat in an Italian Suit

In researching the history of the Lamborghini Espada, I was surprised to discover that it was not based solely upon the famously outlandish Marzal concept car, which was built on a stretched Miura chassis for the 1967 Geneva Motor Show. In fact, there was another less famous Bertone show car built for the 1967 Earl's Court Motor Show in London, which even more closely presages the Espada.  It was constructed by Bertone directly over a Jaguar E-type 4.2 Liter 2+2 chassis provided willingly(!) by Jaguar.  I think most observers would agree that Marcello Gandini's design doesn't hold a candle to Malcom Sayer's iconic feline curves, but the result is an fascinating historical footnote that is worth remembering, and puts the Espada into context. Does anyone know where this one-of-a-kind car ended up? I was unable to find any modern photos of the Pirana online.

By the way, don't you love the lightweight Dunlop alloy wheels?