IAN CALLUM’S BOLD REVIVAL OF THE JAGUAR E-TYPE
The Callum E-Type restomod concept is the work of Ian Callum, the designer responsible for the Jaguar F-Type, XE and I-Pace during his two decades as the brand's design director. Released through his independent studio, Callum Designs, as part of a Portfolio series of concept exercises, the Callum E-Type asks a specific question: what would the E-Type look like if it had continued to evolve naturally through the decades, rather than being frozen in 1975 when production ended? The answer is a restomod concept that refines rather than replaces, with every change justified by the original's logic rather than imposed from the outside.
Exterior: Lower, Wider, Still Unmistakably an E-Type
Callum's changes begin at ground level. The car has been lowered and the track widened, sharpening the already-famous proportions without distorting them. Pronounced wheel arches accommodate 19-inch aero-disc wheels whose design references the knock-off hub caps of the original Series 1. LED lighting replaces the classic units at both ends, with new casings that match the original geometry. Flush-mounted door handles, a subtly redesigned front grille and the removal of all chrome trim and external bumpers give the exterior a cleaner, more aerodynamic profile. The silhouette from any angle remains unambiguously E-Type.
Interior: Analogue by Choice
Inside, Callum has paired modern digital displays with tactile analogue controls. Toggle switches, analog dials and a machined metal gear knob sit alongside precision digital instrumentation, maintaining the E-Type's driver-focused intimacy while adding clarity and functionality. The five-speed manual transmission is retained, and the interior can be fully tailored to a commissioning client's preferences. The powertrain remains combustion: the dual exhaust outlets point toward an inline-six or V12, staying faithful to the E-Type's heritage. Callum has been explicit that this will not be an EV restomod, which will be a deliberate relief for E-Type purists who value the sound as much as the sensation.
Production Possibility and Commission Process
The Callum E-Type is currently a rendered concept within the Portfolio series, but Callum Designs has confirmed that serious enquiries for a bespoke one-off commission will be considered. The technical brief exists, the studio has the capability, and the donor car supply for E-Types, while limited, is available through specialist restorers. For collectors drawn to this category of heritage British sports cars rebuilt to modern standards, the TheArsenale car collection includes comparable bespoke and restomod vehicles. The Project M Ferrari 308 GTS and the Nardone 928 Porsche restomod both occupy the same creative territory: donor cars of genuine cultural significance, reimagined with engineering precision and design restraint.
Top Gear's coverage of the Callum E-Type is available at topgear.com. Hagerty's analysis of where the concept sits within the restomod market is at hagerty.com.
Photo: Callum Design
