Modified Jaguars are still a rare phenomenon in the modding scene, and that's partly because there aren't many off-the-shelf parts that builders can use. That means most project car owners have to custom fabricate their parts, which makes these builds even more expensive and time-consuming.
As rare as they are, when owners do modify their Big Cats, they usually look insane. From desert-crossing builds to obsessively-detailed restomods, there's a huge range of builds out there. Enthusiasts put their blood, sweat, and tears into making their unique takes on the British brand's classics. Here's a look at ten of the best.
10 Jaguar XJ6 "The Connoisseur"
Modifying this Jaguar XJ6 was a labor of love by its owner, Colaërt Jean-François. A lack of off-the-shelf parts meant the air suspension of the car had to be custom engineered, largely by trial-and-error.
The end result, though, looks great, with the car able to sit low for shows but also return to stock height so it doesn't get scraped on the ride home. Three-spoke Work Voggard wheels and a custom front bumper round off the car's sleek but practical look.
9 Jaguar E-Type "Frankenstein 20B"
If there was ever one E-Type to send the purists into a fit of rage, this is it. The madcap creation from Coltech Classics in Poole, UK houses a triple-rotor Mazda 20B engine instead of its stock block.
A multitude of other modifications have been made, including wider fenders, a redesigned hood, and a carbon fiber rear splitter. Outrageous and unapologetic, it's one of the coolest E-Type builds out there right now.
8 Jaguar Mk2 Ian Callum
Ian Callum is the ex-Head of Design at Jaguar and has played a critical role in shaping the brand's lineup today. He also owns a restoration company, which built this restomod Jaguar MkII.
Taking all the classic lines of the MkII but adding modern touches and features gives the car the best of both worlds for Jag enthusiasts. Everything from the louvres to the exterior door handles has been carefully redesigned by Callum, making this one of the most detail-oriented builds around.
7 Jaguar XKR By Arden Tuning
Thinking of 2000s tuner culture usually conjures up images of Toyota Supras or modified Camaros, but even Jaguars weren't left out of the craze. Arden Tuning created this full body kit for the Jaguar XKR, turning it from understated British classic into all-out tuner beast.
Most of the car's body panels are reworked, from the new circular rear lights to the simplified and debadged front bumper. It's a product of its time, but it still manages to hold its cool as a retro mod today.
6 Jaguar E-Type By Foose Design
Chip Foose, owner of the eponymous Foose Design, was tasked by a customer of coming up with his unique take on a '74 E-Type. This is the result, displayed at the SEMA show in 2019.
The most instantly noticeable change are the larger chrome rims, but countless other parts from the original design have been tweaked too. The redesigned front grille and enlarged air intake give the car an American feel, but the preservation of the classic body lines ensures this Jag still retains its British touch.
5 Slammed Jaguar XJ6
XJ6s are an unusual base for projects, even by Jaguar standards. That makes this build all the more cool. Sporting the style of rims usually reserved for muscle cars, it's clear the owner was intent on modding the Jag exactly to their tastes.
The XJ6 retains a heritage-style badge on its front grille, but its lowered and stanced look is anything but heritage. It's a unique combination of older styles and new, that culminates in an understated but undoubtedly awesome car.
4 Jaguar XJ40 "The Gentleman"
The lowered look and clean lines of this XJ40 resemble a Japanese drift project, but this car was in fact built on the other side of the world in Belgium. The XJ40 was a top-shelf luxury effort from the British brand, aimed at letting the world know it could still keep up with the big players.
The Jaguar's owner, Kenny, decided he wanted to keep the luxurious interior stock and instead focus on attaining as aggressive a stance as he could. The result is a car that's barely off the ground, and sports ultra-rare vintage Epsilon wheels to complete its stately stanced look.
3 Jaguar XKR "Baguar"
The "Baguar." Yes, that's "bagged Jaguar." Terrible naming puns aside, owner Tristan Holmes did a great job at creating a unique take on an underappreciated British classic, the Jaguar XKR.
As well as the bagged suspension, the car's wheels are cambered at -26 degrees front and -23 degrees in the rear. That gives it the distinctly ground-scraping look, while also allowing it to rise up enough to get over speed bumps. It's fair to say there isn't anything else like it out there right now.
2 Jaguar XJ "Dakar Rally"
Jaguar as a brand has a reputation for being unreliable, so it wouldn't be many people's first choice for a rally car. Enter this 1978 Jaguar XJ, which Dutchman Frans Van Engelen successfully raced at the infamous Dakar Rally in 2003.
The car features a Range Rover-sourced 4.2-liter V8, and a host of heavy-duty off-road modifications that help it cope in the desert environment. Despite Jag's shaky reputation, the XJ was actually very reliable throughout the competition, at one point even towing a Mercedes G Class assistance truck that had broken down.
1 Jaguar XJ220 By Overdrive AD
The XJ220 was the first true Jaguar supercar, and had the brief honor of being the fastest production car in the world. It was also a bit of a parts-bin special, featuring taillights off a British economy sedan—among other things.
In 2013, Bulgarian tuning house Overdrive AD decided to revamp the XJ220 with more status-appropriate parts. They fully overhauled the Jag, including those taillights. The new units were borrowed from a Ferrari, which seems much more appropriate given the Jag's world-beating status. Many other things on the car were changed too, from the rims to the new carbon-accented interior.