7-393: The Bertone Pirana (or Jaguar Pirana ) is a concept car created by Bertone for the 1967 London Motor Show at Earl's Court . The sleek GT car was based on the chassis and powertrain of the 4.2 litre Jaguar E-type , with a unique steel semi- monocoque body and luxurious interior. It was officially named "Pirana," not "Piranha" as some sources describe, although the badge on
14-422: A working drivetrain and accessories. The state of most concept cars lies somewhere in between and does not represent the final product. A very small proportion of concept cars are functional to any useful extent, and some cannot move safely at speeds above 10 miles per hour (16 km/h). Inoperative " mock-ups " are usually made of wax, clay, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or a combination thereof. If drivable,
21-488: Is a car made to showcase new styling or new technology. Concept cars are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not be produced . General Motors designer Harley Earl is generally credited with inventing the concept car, and did much to popularize it through its traveling Motorama shows of the 1950s. Concept cars never go into production directly. In modern times, all would have to undergo many changes before
28-751: The Jaguar engine and chassis. The car was originally registered "TGF 1F". After a successful showing at the London Motor show, the Pirana was subsequently exhibited at the New York car show and then at the British Motor Show in Montreal . The car was later converted to a 2+2 seater arrangement and the transmission changed from manual to automatic. The space for the plus 2 seats being made by moving
35-553: The air conditioning unit to the rear luggage space. The Pirana, along with the Lamborghini Marzal , influenced Gandini's design of the Lamborghini Espada . The Espada was introduced in 1968, one year after the Pirana. The wooden body buck built for the Pirana was used in the construction of an early Espada prototype. Concept car A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle or show vehicle )
42-743: The design is finalized for the sake of practicality, safety , regulatory compliance , and cost. A "production-intent" prototype , as opposed to a concept vehicle, serves this purpose. Concept cars are often radical in engine or design . Some use non-traditional, exotic, or expensive materials, ranging from paper to carbon fiber to refined alloys . Others have unique layouts , such as gullwing doors , three or five (or more) wheels , or special abilities not usually found on cars. Because of these often impractical or unprofitable leanings, many concept cars never get past scale models or even drawings in computer design . Other more traditional concepts can be developed into fully drivable (operational) vehicles with
49-503: The rear of the car reads Piranha. This spelling was reportedly an aesthetic choice. The Pirana was designed by Marcello Gandini , perhaps best known for styling the Lamborghini Countach . Unusually for a show car, the Pirana was commissioned by The Daily Telegraph , a leading British daily newspaper, as an example of an "ideal car." Sir William Lyons was contacted beforehand about the project and agreed to sell Bertone
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