Found on JamesList: 1956 "Jaguar" Aerodyne Streamliner Coupe
Another day, another meticulously-crafted yet completely bastardized retro-mod, conceived but not realized by a designer working for a major car company, finished via the patronage of California collector Ron Kellogg. This time ’round, Big Ron’s looking to de-acquisition an Aerodyne Streamliner Coupe penned by Nissan Design’s California model shop manager John Toom. The quote marks denote deconstruction. Toom’s fantasy whip sits on a 1956 Jaguar XK140 frame, powered by a rebuilt 3.8-liter XKE engine. Et voila! A Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantique knock-off! Whatever it isn’t, the Jag-based whip’s got bespoke door handles, gauges, dashboard, the works. Unlike Kellogg’s cod-Bug, the sales bumph for the made-up Jag doesn’t include a list of concours events which have welcomed the car. Take that as you will. Referring to Kellogg’s car photo website, we can speculate that the collector’s willingness to do the wild thang with a Jag connects to his first car: a XK120 coupe. More than this, I do not know, and the Internets will not reveal. Suffice it to say, if I were a mainstream manufacturer’s car designer with a hankering to reinvent a classic car, I’d think twice before risking the Curse of The RestoMod Motors.
More by Robert Farago
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Most of us do not know these classics well enough to really have a knowlegable opinion, other than, "I want one," or "Eeoow!" However, I think it would draw darn near anyone's eye if it pull up to the drive through window. It looks like something from a Dick Tracy movie. I like it. No I don't. OK, I do...
This car was built by my dad, John Toom. He did not try to copy the Bugatti. He had been sketching this car for many years. He designed and built this car in his shop in Alpine, CA. Every detail of this car was worked out in his head. The comments stating that my dad "bastardized" this design really hurts. My dad had retired from Nissan Design International in La Jolla, CA at the age of 62. It was a dream come true to be able to work in his shop at home on this car and not have to go to work. Unfortunately, he never got to see the car to completion, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer around July 2000 and passed away in August of 2001. The car was sold to Ron Kellogg and he completed the car as my dad had planned. My father would be very proud.