Jaguar Classic’s XJ6 Restomod Is Rock & Roll On Wire Wheels

It’s not just new cars that Jaguar, for one, brought to the Geneva Motor Show this year. It also took the occasion to exhibit a very special vintage XJ sedan.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the XJ line, this 1984 XJ6 was commissioned from Jaguar Classic by one Nicko McBrain – best known as the drummer from the heavy-metal rock band Iron Maiden.

The result of 3,500 man hours of work, the restored XJ6 has been remade in consultation between Nicko, Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works, and designer Wayne Burgess. It features new bumpers (front and rear), flared wheel arches, 18-inch wire wheels with Pirelli P Zero tires, and new door sills. But that’s just the start.

The door handles, wing mirrors, and fuel caps, are all new. The suspension is upgraded, with adjustable rear dampers. The headlights have been modernized with LED units and “halo” DLRs. And the whole thing has been repainted in a unique shade of mauve.

“This is my ultimate XJ – my third, and lovingly named ‘Johnny 3’,” said McBrain. “It has been a true labour of love between Jaguar Classic and myself. I’m so excited by its completion and especially to be showing it at Geneva – it really is a Greatest Hits edition and to me it defines what the Jaguar XJ is all about.”

As you might expect, the interior’s been thoroughly worked over as well, with red leather, black piping, and dark gray-stained sycamore veneers to mimic Nicko’s favorite snare drums. There’s also better sound insulation, more padding in the seats, a new three-spoke steering wheel, a pushbutton ignition, remote central locks, ambient lighting, and modern electronics including a touchscreen navigation system and high-end audio with machined aluminum knobs inspired by a Marshall guitar amp.

Under the hood, the original 4.2-liter straight six packs the triple 2-inch carbs from the E-Type, breathing through quad exhaust pipes. It all strikes us as a build no less impressive than Jaguar design chief Ian Callum’s own Mk2 sedan. No wonder the automaker chose to showcase it alongside its latest products at Europe’s premier auto show.