This Jaguar XK ‘European’ is a £550k+ limited run restomod

This is officially called the Jaguar XK European; a fully restored and tastefully upgraded British classic built by the same team responsible for that delectable Lancia Aurelia Outlaw. And like that car, this one’s a stunner.

It’s the first car from Thornley Kelham’s ‘European’ range that aims to transform old XKs into something resembling what a Jaguar skunkworks team in the 50s might have cooked up.

As with any good restomod it starts with a bad car, or in TK’s words, a “derelict donor Jaguar XK” as a base. The Jag’s 3.8-litre straight-six has been given a complete overhaul, including stuff like reboring the cylinders, bespoke cams and direct injection. There are two power options on offer, 300bhp and 340bhp, which is a sprite livelier than the original XK’s 160-220bhp.

There’s a five-speed ‘box sending power to the rear via a limited slip diff, and new suspension too – double wishbones front and rear (replacing the leaf springs) complete with Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs. Vented discs with four-piston calipers, too.

It’s all wrapped up in that subtly redesigned body, penned by none other than Paul Howse, who also did something called a ‘McLaren P1’. Yeah, us neither. Howse’s work involves adding ‘curvature’ to the overall shape, lowering the roofline and gently sweeping the tail for more of a teadrop silhouette. Subtle changes, but noticeable, sure.

The arches have been widened too, more so at the back, for a gently staggered stance, filled with wider alloy wire wheels for full period effect. It’s a cleaner design, incorporating things like bezel-less headlights, and rear lights sunk into the body.

We’re assured the interior has been redesigned too; same dials (only positioned a little higher), with a surround now in aluminium. The seats sit lower and offer more comfort than the XK’s original ones, and there’s a new door panel design.

Depending on your view of these things, the addition of electric windows and gauges, Bluetooth, air-conditioning, a rollcage and power steering are either a) the work of the devil, or b) superb.

All this work costs, of course, and while TK hasn’t revealed how many it intends to build (noting only that numbers will be “strictly limited”), there is a price, and it’s a big one: £550,000 plus the donor car, depending on spec.

Thornley Kelham co-founder Simon Thornley said the team’s mission was to not only pay tribute to the heritage of Europe’s post-war sportscar landscape, but also to “develop them to meet the demands of the 21st Century driver”.