Owen Sedanca: The Rare, Exclusive Coachbuilt Coupé of the 1970s

Bespoke Legacy - In the world of automobile design, the art of creating custom bodywork has slowly faded away over the years. Once a common practice in the early days of motoring, the expense of skilled labor, combined with modern safety standards, made such projects increasingly rare by the 1960s. However, there are always those few individuals and companies that seek to revive this lost art. 

This gold-finished Owen Sedanca, now owned by Richard Town since May 2017, was found in Hampshire with 23,000 miles and plans for restoration to roadworthy condition by season's end. (Picture from: Wolfrace)

One such example comes from H.R. Owen, a luxury car dealer based in London. In the early 1970s, H.R. Owen embarked on an ambitious project to create a high-end, four-seater coupe that would capture the essence of classic, hand-crafted automobiles. Their creation, the Owen Sedanca, was based on the platform of the Jaguar XJ6 and designed by Chris Humberstone. Inspired by the sleek lines of the Lamborghini Espada, the Sedanca featured a large yet striking design with a hand-beaten aluminum body. 

The Owen Sedanca, the first Panther-built example, differs from the original with notable changes such as higher-mounted door handles and a revised headlamp arrangement. (Picture from: AROnline)

Made by the skilled coachbuilders Williams & Pritchard, it had innovative touches like pop-up headlights, rubber bumpers, and a practical hatchback. Despite its significant price tag, higher even than a Rolls-Royce, the Sedanca gained significant attention when it debuted at the 1973 London Motor Show. Its allure was immediate, and H.R. Owen even secured around 80 orders.

The Owen Sedanca, under construction at Williams & Pritchard's workshops, featured a fixed roof, making it a Sedanca in name only. (Picture from: AROnline)

However, the automotive world was about to change drastically. The global oil crisis, which emerged soon after the Sedanca's unveiling, led to cancellations of many of these orders. At the same time, Jaguar’s refusal to supply the bare platforms for the car meant that H.R. Owen could not continue production. As a result, only two prototypes were completed, marking the sudden end of a project that had promised much more.

The Owen Sedanca, featured in one of H.R. Owen’s original publicity shots, shows the prototype, which was later destroyed along with the first production model. (Picture from: AROnline)

But the Owen Sedanca was not done just yet. Several years after production plans were scrapped, an Arab Sheik who had seen the car at the motor show became so captivated by it that he ordered a custom version of the Sedanca. This vehicle was constructed in 1978 by Panther Westwinds, a well-known coachbuilder led by Robert Jankel. The Sheik took the car to his Oxfordshire estate, where it was used for several years. So taken with the design, he ordered a second Sedanca in 1983. This one was built by Robert Jankel Design, as he had left Panther after its closure in 1979.

The Owen Sedanca custom version constructed by Robert Jankel in 1983, was meticulously crafted for an Arab Sheik, showcasing exclusive luxury and bespoke design. (Picture from: RitzSite.nl)

Ultimately, only four Sedancas were made, far from the 100 originally planned. One of the prototypes was destroyed, and the other remains in poor condition. However, the two cars made for the Sheik continue to survive, with one still in Britain and the other in the Netherlands. These cars are a testament to the uniqueness and craftsmanship of coachbuilt automobiles. The rarity of the Sedanca makes it a highly sought-after piece for collectors, as its custom-built nature ensures that no two are quite the same.

The Owen Sedanca boasted a highly luxurious interior, complete with silver-topped decanters, brushes elegantly stored in the armrest, and other refined details. (Picture from: AROnline)

In recent years, interest in custom-designed cars has started to rise again. Modern manufacturing technologies have made it easier and more affordable for car buyers to commission bespoke designs. The Owen Sedanca, though largely forgotten by the mainstream, serves as a reminder of a time when automobiles were more than just machines—they were expressions of artistry and personal taste. With renewed interest in bespoke cars, we might just be on the brink of a new era for custom-designed automobiles, where creativity and craftsmanship can once again thrive on a smaller, more intimate scale.

The legacy of the Owen Sedanca proves that, while mass production has dominated the automotive world, there will always be a place for the bespoke, the unique, and the extraordinary. In a world of increasingly standardized products, custom cars like the Sedanca remind us that luxury and individuality can never be replaced. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RITZSITE.NL | ARONLINE | WOLFRACE ]

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