David Brown Automotive, the maker of Speedback GT which is a highly customized, bespoke version of the old Jaguar XK, has showcased three of the latest production models in the colors of the Union Jack for a special photoshoot. We reckon the hope here is to use patriotism as a sales man because after all this time Brown is only up to production numbers 003, 004 and 005.

And if these had been sold there would have been no need for this patriotic campaign. The thing about David Brown Speedback GT is, although it’s a highly exquisite product with bespoke panels and a rather nice interior, at the end of the day it is still an old XK. That would have been OK if the asking price was in the neighborhood of, say, 100 to 150 thousand pounds. But no, Brown is asking £495,000 exclusive of taxes for each one of these cars.

They say the production cap for each year is six to ten cars, but at that price they will be lucky if they get rid of the five they have already built. After all, how excited can one get about 142 bespoke body panels, old-timey looks, handformed aluminium with entirely handcrafted interiors, Ruby Tuesday, Blue Moon and White Knight paintjobs? The GT is not even that fast – certainly not fast enough for half a million quid – with a 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine developing 510bhp and 461ft lb of torque and giving it a 0 to 60 time of 4.6 seconds.