My Car Quest

May 22, 2013

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Classic Cars / Why Redesign Perfection?

Why Redesign Perfection?

December 7, 2012 By 3 Comments

by Mike –

When I was reading through the October 1966 issue of Road & Track recently I saw this photo below and immediately recognized the car as one that I saw at the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance in Beverly Hills in June 2012.

Raymond Loewy Jaguar XKE Custom

Raymond Loewy And His Custom Jaguar XKE In 1966

Raymond Loewy (1893 – 1986) was a French born industrial designer who worked on a wide range of projects, which included: company logos, railroad cars, Coke vending machines, the US Air Force One livery and automobiles.

Raymond Loewy's Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

Raymond Loewy’s Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

He was involved with Studebaker car designs dating back to 1936, including the Avanti in the early 1960s.

At Studebaker he worked with Virgil M. Exner who went on the lead the Chrysler styling team.

Raymond Loewy's Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

Raymond Loewy’s Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

Shown here is a one off custom design by Loewy where he started with a 1966 Jaguar XKE and made a few modifications.

Raymond Loewy's Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

Raymond Loewy’s Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

Raymond Loewy's Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

Raymond Loewy’s Custom Jaguar XKE In 2012

You can see the modifications Loewy made in the photos below.

The changes Loewy made to the front of the XKE are: the nose was shortened by 10 inches, the grille was enlarged by five times and an air scoop was built into the hood.

Jaguar XKE and Loewy Custom Jaguar XKE

Jaguar XKE (Top) and Loewy Custom Jaguar XKE (Bottom)

The changes Loewy made to the rear of the XKE are: the rear of the body was shortened so that the car is 15 inches shorter than the original, the side windows are larger and shaped differently, the rear window is about 25% larger, the wheel wells have been enlarged, a racing style gas filler cap was added, and round taillights from a Corvair have replaced the originals.

Jaguar XKE (Top) and Loewy Custom Jaguar XKE (Bottom)

Jaguar XKE (Top) and Loewy Custom Jaguar XKE (Bottom)

If I did not know that this car was a customized Jaguar XKE I would like this design but knowing that this is a customized XKE I will always compare it to the original XKE and wonder why Loewy felt the need to redesign perfection.

Let us know what you think in the comments – do you like this customized XKE?


Subscribe to My Car Quest

Enter your email address:


Loewy Custom Jaguar XKE logo

Filed Under: Classic Cars, People Tagged With: , , ,

3 comments on “Why Redesign Perfection?”

  1. ScuderiaPacNW on said:

    This one is real simple, the Loewy car is no where near as beautiful or elegant as the original design. Modern designer or not, Mr. Loewy’s ego mucked up a once finely sculptured work of automobile art. Frenched Corvair tail-lights…REALLY!?! I can hear the Brit’s moaning the word “twit” from here. Sorry, but this “face-lift” experiment gets a failing grade. Makes us want to go out and buy our old E-type back for fear that some knuckle-head will do this to it.

  2. jharvat on said:

    This is really like messing with the Mona Lisa – there is nothing you can do from which you will not suffer by comparison. The idea of shortening the overhangs? Probably some merit there but the execution is gawd-awful. I like the larger rear window but the racing gas-cap is totally out of place. Personally, I don’t hate the tail-lights. They seem a little less fussy than the stock units.

  3. Grifo4me on said:

    HA ! Anytime anyone sticks up for English trim or tail lights it makes me want to laugh. Most British cars look as if the factory workers affixed whatever parts were on the shelf that day, it’s crazy

Speak Your Mind

+Michael Gulett Find us on Google+