UK-based car restorer Thomley Kelham has taken the wraps off another gorgeous restomod dubbed the Jaguar XK European. The car runs on a mostly intact chassis and sports an all-new body by Paul Howse, the designer of the legendary McLaren P1 and 720S models.
Prices begin from £550,000 (over $720,000 USD), and the quantity will be strictly limited. Customers are asked to source their own vehicles for the conversion.
The company takes the original Jaguar XK and restored it from the ground up. The new body looks very similar to the original coupe, but benefits from a widespread use of lighter materials. Most stylistic differences (and chassis reinforcements) are dictated by modern compliance requirements. Modern highlights include Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs, wishbones and four-piston rotor brakes.
There are no cabin shots yet, but Thomley Kelham promises an upgraded interior for every customer. This includes a high-end leather makeover of the entire inner space, low-sat comfort seats, climate control and the latest infotainment features.
The standard 3.4-liter engine gets torn apart to form a new, 3.8-liter six-cylinder block with redesigned injection and cooling, as well as a modern camshaft. This and other mods result in a power increase from the original 220 PS (217 hp / 162 kW) to 340 PS (335 hp / 250 kW). A stock five-speed transmission drives the wheels through a new self-locking differential.
The company is currently busy finalizing the first demo car and promises to announce the production quantity later. Extensive use of hand work means each vehicle takes around 5,000 hours to produce.