Unique and iconic retro car concept combined British and Italian designs

Beautiful Creation Jaguar, a leading British automotive manufacturer once made a concept car along with Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina, named Jaguar XJ Spider. These car made its maiden debut at the British Motor Show 1978, and took advantage of the record for most visitors to that year, which reached more than 900,000 people during the exhibition.

1978 Jaguar Pininfarina XJ Spider concept. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

During its debut, the XJ Spider received high enthusiasm from the visitors of those automotive event. As the name suggests, the Pininfarina's XJ Spider is equipped with a convertible roof as well as several other distinctive features such as pop-up iconic headlights and leather-nuanced panels on its interior.

Right side view of 1978 Jaguar Pininfarina XJ Spider concept. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

The high enthusiasm of visitors and the world's automotive circles at the British Motor Show then made Jaguar more enthusiastic in developing a series of their new prototype cars at Browns Lane, which was later known to have internal code of XJ41 (coupé/targa version) and XJ42 (convertible version).

Interior view of 1978 Jaguar Pininfarina XJ Spider concept. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

These experimental cars take many styling cues from the Pininfarina XJ Spider concept combined with the Corvette-style at rear end, and replace the square pop-up headlights with oval-shaped ones - where this feature is then used on the famous XJ220.

Engine view of 1978 Jaguar Pininfarina XJ Spider concept. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Equipped with a V12 engine with a capacity of 5,343 cc which is capable of producing the power up to 284 horsepower and mated with a five-speed manual gearboks. 

Rear side view of 1978 Jaguar Pininfarina XJ Spider concept. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

These Pininfarina XJ Spider shares the same chassis as the Jaguar XJ-S. However, despite sharing the same chassis, the XJ Spider is shorter, wider and lower than the XJ-S, and giving it a more sporty appearance.

Jaguar XJ Spider may have a 'too American' styling for those British automaker, but inevitably this Pininfarina's XJ Spider concept could inspire some Jaguar models which will later become the latest generation Jaguar E-type. *** [EKA [05122018] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES |  CLASSICDRIVER]

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