IAN CALLUM ON THE WORLD'S GREATEST SPORTS COUPES

Jaguar’s Design Director was one of twelve celebrity curators asked to select their favorite sports coupe of all time for a major new exhibit called “The World’s Greatest Sports Coupes” at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Here he explains his decision.

What is Ian Callum’s favorite sports coupe of all time?

As most might have guessed, in fact, it’s not an E-Type. It would have been too obvious for me to have gone for the E-type and it’s the same reason why I’ll probably never own one. Yes, of course I adore the car, it’s an absolutely beautiful sports coupe with a design that is so pure, so geometric and so devoid of frivolity. I love the lines of the Ferrari 250 short-wheelbase, and the split-window ’63 Chevrolet Corvette is one of my all-time favorites. In the end, I went for the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Zagato. It’s simply one of the best-looking coupes there is.

If you didn’t choose the E-Type as part of the exhibit, then who did?

That’s the other reason why I didn’t pick the car for this fantastic exhibit, Bobby Rahal got there before me! It was Bobby’s choice and the Petersen Museum found a lovely black ’67 Series 1 coupe. It’s beautifully displayed in close proximity to the Corvette and I just love the juxtaposition of the two cars and the different stories they tell, one very American, and the other so very British.

Why are the majority of the world’s most beautiful cars two-seater sports coupes rather than roadsters?

I think it’s because a coupe offers a more complete shape, and tells a more interesting story. The problem with a roadster is that you have a big hole in the middle of it. Coupes tend to have a form that rushes off towards the rear, an aerodynamic line that gives the car true visual excitement. That’s certainly the case with the F-TYPE Coupe. Its roof line is all about holding on to the air as long as possible before it departs at the back.

How was the opening night reception of “The World’s Greatest Sports Coupes” exhibit you attended?

It was one of those nights you wish you could bottle-up and take home with you, I really had a great time. There were around 400 people in attendance, and being L.A., it was a very glamorous, high-end event with a very knowledgeable, very appreciative audience, an audience that loved Jaguar. Guests asked me really interesting, informed questions and showed some real enthusiasm for the brand and the direction its taking.

“The World’s Greatest Sports Coupes” exhibit runs through October 18 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. For more information, go to www.petersen.org