From Proteus to Pegasus: The Story of John Parradine’s Automotive Dream

Driven Vision - Every now and then, the automotive world gives us a story that feels more like a personal journey than a business venture. One that’s driven not just by horsepower or carbon fiber, but by passion, stubborn vision, and an almost childlike fascination with what makes a great car truly special. The story of John Parradine is one of those rare tales—where engineering dreams collided with raw ambition to create machines that still make enthusiasts smile today.

John Parradine’s first creation, the Proteus, made its debut in 1985 under the Deltayn Cars badge, blending Jaguar engineering with his own fresh vision of a handcrafted British sports car. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

John Parradine (1950 - 2023)
(Picture from: TotalKitCar)

Back in the mid-1980s, long before electric cars and digital dashboards became the norm, John made his mark with something rather unexpected: the Deltayn Proteus. Built under the Deltayn Cars name—a small independent car maker founded by John himself in Essex, England—the Proteus marked his first leap into the world of automotive creativity. Based on Jaguar XJ components, the car was available in kit form because John couldn’t find anything on the market that matched his taste, so he decided to make one himself. 

The Deltyn Proteus built based upon a ladder frame chassis with mechanical components from the Jaguar XJ and powered by Rover V8 engine with a 5-speed manual transmission. (Picture from: Classic And Recreation Sportscars in Facebook)

Its most distinctive feature was its triple-headlight layout on each side, giving it a striking front end that refused to blend into the crowd. A Citroën CX windshield added a touch of French flair, hinting—perhaps unknowingly—at the international chapter his story would later take.

The Deltayn Proteus stood out with its triple headlights and Citroën CX windshield, adding French elegance that hinted at John Parradine’s future ventures abroad. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

The Deltayn Proteus might not have become a household name, but it reflected something remarkable about John’s spirit. He wasn’t chasing fame or fortune; he was chasing perfection. After producing only a handful of cars, he returned to his earthmoving equipment business—but that desire to build something beautiful never really went away.

Richard Oakes crafted the Pegasus as a meticulous styling exercise and detailed scale model, capturing John Parradine’s vision for a refined, high-performance grand tourer. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

Engineering, it seems, ran in the family. John’s father once built a life-sized mechanical elephant powered by a Ford engine back in 1949. The elephant even became part of John’s company logo later on, a small but touching nod to his father’s inventive legacy.

The brilliant Pegasus made its debut at the 1990 Geneva Motor Show under the Parradine Motor Company banner, marking John Parradine’s bold entry into the world of advanced, handcrafted supercars. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

When John came back to the automotive scene, he was ready to do things differently. This time, under a new banner—Parradine Motor Company—he introduced the Parradine Pegasus, a car that would rewrite what small-scale manufacturing could look like. Designed by Richard Oakes and still carrying Jaguar DNA under its skin, the Pegasus stunned everyone. It wasn’t just sleek—it was advanced. The car featured a full Kevlar and carbon-fiber body, making it the world’s first production car to do so. Underneath, a robust spaceframe chassis supported a tuned Jaguar XJ12 engine delivering around 350 horsepower.

The Parradine Pegasus featured a lavish interior crafted by ace trimmers Callow & Maddox, who brought their expertise from working on Bentleys and Rolls-Royces to create a cabin of true bespoke luxury. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

Inside, luxury took center stage. Crafted by Callow & Maddox—the same team known for upholstering Bentleys and Rolls-Royces—the cabin was wrapped in Italian saddle leather and buckskin. With a launch price of £92,000 (about £142,000 in today’s money), the Pegasus wasn’t just a car; it was an experience. When it debuted at the 1990 Geneva Motor Show, it caused a sensation—nearly 400 orders poured in, each backed by a £5,000 deposit. For a boutique automaker from England, that was the stuff of dreams.

John Parradine deserved to see thousands of Pegasus cars on the road, but political pressures and the Gulf War abruptly ended production before his vision could truly flourish. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

Even France took notice. The French government, keen to bring such innovation onto its soil, offered John the chance to relocate his operations to a new facility near the Magny-Cours race circuit. It was an incredible opportunity—so much so that even Jaguar’s own leadership gave their blessing, offering discounted parts and engineering support.

It was a pivotal moment when the Pegasus began its transformation into the Parradine 525, evolving from a bold concept into a more refined expression of John Parradine’s enduring design vision. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

But like many brilliant but fragile ventures, the Pegasus dream was short-lived. By the early 1990s, shifting political tides, pressure from French carmakers, and the shadow of the Gulf War brought everything to a halt. Around nineteen cars were built before production ended abruptly. For John, it was a heartbreaking moment. He refunded deposits, packed up, and returned to England, his dream of becoming a global supercar maker cut short by circumstance, not by lack of vision. 

John Parradine made a remarkable comeback with the 525S under the JJR Automobiles name, which took center stage at the 2000 British Motor Show as a long-awaited modern evolution of his visionary craftsmanship. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

Still, you can’t keep a true creator down. A few years later, John returned once again—this time trading under a new company name, JJR Automobiles. With fresh energy and ideas, he set out to build his most ambitious car yet: the Parradine 525S. It made its public debut at the 2000 British International Motor Show and immediately drew attention—not only for its design but for its innovation. | OIwrTaMwBmo |

The 525S was years ahead of its time. Long before modern supercars adopted similar tech, it replaced traditional mirrors with cameras and dashboard monitors, offering a futuristic driving experience. Its retractable roof system, designed by Harvey Wooldridge, and Quantum H4-style doors gave it both sophistication and flair. Under the hood, it carried a supercharged 4.6-litre Ford Mustang V8, available in 430- and 525-horsepower versions, paired with a six-speed gearbox. Weighing only 1,350 kilograms, the 525S promised thrilling performance wrapped in elegant curves and craftsmanship.

The Parradine 525S was ahead of its time, featuring camera-based mirrors, a Harvey Wooldridge retractable roof, and Quantum H4-style doors that blended technology with elegance. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

The car wasn’t offered in kit form—just like the Pegasus, it was a complete, ready-to-drive machine. Prices started around £130,000, with later announcements of the 525SC (Coupé) and 525SE (Estate) models in the following years. Production continued until the mid-2000s, when the company quietly closed its doors and John finally decided to take life at a gentler pace after decades of pouring his energy, vision, and resources into his creations.

The Parradine 525S Coupé, introduced in 2000 as a refined variant of the original 525S, showcased a sleeker profile and further emphasized the car’s blend of power and elegance. (Picture from: AutoPuzzles)

Looking back today, the Deltayn Proteus, Parradine Pegasus, and Parradine 525S stand as milestones in the story of one man’s relentless pursuit of innovation. Each car captured a different stage of his dream: the curiosity of creation, the excitement of success, and the wisdom of refinement. John Parradine didn’t just build cars—he built pieces of himself into every one of them.

The Parradine 525S Estate, introduced alongside the Roadster and Coupé, offered a unique blend of practicality and performance while maintaining the signature elegance of the 525S line. (Picture from: TotalKitCar)

Even now, these rare machines remind us that great cars aren’t only born in vast factories with big budgets. Sometimes, they come from a single person with a clear vision, a strong will, and the courage to build something the world hasn’t seen before. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TOTALKITCAR | AUTOPUZZLES | ALLCARINDEX | CYBERNETICZOO | OBSCURESUPERCAR IN X | CLASSIC AND RECREATION SPORTSCARS IN FACEBOOK | RARECOMPONENTCARS IN FACEBOOK ]

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