Registration: V8 JSP
Chassis: PAR-2001-01-D
Odometer: T.B.C.
Transmission: Manual
- Offered from the Parradine family
- The sole completed production example of the Parradine 525s
- Understood to be the example from the Parradine stand at the 2000 Motor Show at the NEC
- Built to the press-pack brochure’s 525s specification
- The current V5C Registration Document is present
There is a good chance you’ve seen this Parradine before - at least if you attended the British International Motor Show at the NEC in 2000. Where there were landmark debuts such as the Ford Focus and BMW X5, there was also the debut of this actual Parradine 525s; the one and only! While it may be known to only a few today, offered here is possibly one of the rarest cars available to buy today. Ahead of its time, the Parradine 525s represented the culmination of one man’s ambition to create a British supercar. Its story is one of the motor industry’s quieter tragedies, yet also a powerful testament to determination and resilience. Had it succeeded, one can only wonder just how far that dream might have gone.
We pick up the inspiring story following decades of the Parradine family’s experience of many things automotive, including previous car concepts. John Parradine’s first venture into the supercar industry was the Jaguar powered Roadster the Parradine Pegasus. With orders from the 1990 Geneva Motor Show, French government support, a planned Magny Cours race circuit factory, and Jaguar component supply support, after c.20 units were built, sadly, the Pegasus was the victim of Gulf war and the oil markets as well as and French auto industry pressure. John Parradine refunded the depositors, cut his losses and retreated to Humberside where he tried to sell off the remaining components. A very sad story indeed, but you get the picture more so now about how this car was special and that it was challenging the big manufacturers out there. How history could have been so different? However, that was not the end of his dreams.
True to the saying that you can’t keep a good man down, John took a brief hiatus before turning his attention to his next automotive ambition. By 1998, now trading under the JJR Automotive banner, he was developing his next production project: the Parradine 525S Roadster. Essentially a modernised reinterpretation of the Pegasus, it stood out among the displays at the 2000 British International Motor Show. Of note was John Parradine’s idea at the time, to explore deleting external door mirrors in lieu of cameras and monitors on the 525s, an idea well ahead of its time.
Among the menu of revisions to the Pegasus platform were the adoption of Quantum H4 doors and the same car’s clever retractable roof system designed by Harvey Wooldridge. The Parradine was powered by a supercharged 4.6-litre version of the modular, quad-cam Ford Mustang V8 engine paired to a 6-speed gearbox. Retail prices started at some £130,000 at the time.
The press-pack brochure promised the availability of 320 (316bhp) - and 525s (525bhp) variants. ‘V8 JSP’ is the only 525s to have been completed in press-pack brochure specification (press-pack brochure on file).
We are grateful for the information that has been supplied by the Parradine family for the following description:
“Understood to be the very same car as seen at the British International Motor Show in 2000, ‘V8 JSP’ is offered for auction from the family of its creator, the late John Parradine (1950-2023), and this Parradine 525s is the sole completed production example of the car and to the 525s specification. Granted SVA (road legal) approval, it therefore stands as the definitive expression of the Parradine 525s concept.
Power is provided by a supercharged 4.6-litre all-alloy quad-cam V8 engine with forged internals, producing approximately 525bhp, paired with a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission. Period performance figures indicate 0–60 mph in approximately 3.8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph at the time.
The car is constructed around a torque-tube spaceframe chassis, zinc-treated and epoxy-coated, and clothed in lightweight composite bodywork. Fully independent double wishbone suspension front and rear reflects its strong motorsport influence and delivers a highly engaging driving experience.
Developed at a cost exceeding several million pounds, the Parradine programme was conceived as a no-compromise supercar, combining lightweight construction, advanced engineering, and exceptional performance. Development of the Parradine concept included extensive testing in 1999 and 2000, with input from racing driver Martin Bell, who praised its “pin-sharp handling,” “rocket-like acceleration,” and “superb braking ability”.
The bespoke interior combines hand-crafted materials with competition-inspired instrumentation and advanced display systems, underscoring the car’s blend of craftsmanship and performance intent.
Following its completion and launch, this example has been placed into storage and has seen very limited use. As such, it will require recommissioning prior to regular road use, presenting an opportunity for its next custodian to return this unique machine to active service.”
It is offered with the current V5C Registration Document showing it first registered as a ‘Parradine 525s’ on 25th May 2001.
As the first and only road-approved Parradine 525s, with direct lineage to its creator John Parradine, this example represents a singular piece of British automotive history - combining exclusivity, usability, and engineering ambition in equal measure.
