Jaguar design chief Ian Callum has put his own unique stamp on a classic Mark 2 Jaguar by redesigning and re-engineering it in partnership with Shropshire restoration specialist Classic Motor Cars.
The special Mark 2 by Callum Jaguar saloon - an 18-month project - was unveiled at the opening of the company’s new headquarters in Bridgnorth.
The Post recently reported Classic Motor Cars had unveiled a new stretched E-Type Jaguar.
For Mr Callum, design director at Jaguar Cars, the exercise represented a true labour of love as it was his own car being restored with a unique individual twist.
He said: “This is a very personal statement. A long held notion that, although the Mark 2 has always been a beautiful car, it could be even more exciting in shape and performance.
“Whilst maintaining the purity of the car’s form, I wanted to add a number of modern twists to the design. Simplification and clarity was my objective.”
He added: “I like my designs to be very clean and very pure. There were one or two elements of the Mark 2 I felt were just slightly oversized, so basically we reduced that and simplified the car as much as possible - as much as I can get away with but still recognising it clearly as an original Mark 2 - a very fine balance.”
Mr Callum acknowledged there was a risk of upsetting some Jaguar purists but that from a design perspective he felt people would ‘get it’.
He said: “It may not be to everybody’s tastes but at the end of the day it is my car and hopefully we have done it in a way that I think purist designers will understand.
“I think that those who understand the original intent of Jaguar - of Sir William Lyons’ intent of purity - I think they will get it.”
Working with CMC’s engineers, Mr Callum’s Mark 2 now boasts a host of aesthetic and technical modifications that also ensure it is a practical, reliable, enjoyable and exciting everyday car.
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It features a modified and uprated 4.3 litre XK engine, 5-speed manual gearbox, unique independent rear suspension and upgraded front brakes.
Mr Callum said: “The stance of the Mark 2 is already excellent, but I wished to make it even better. The car’s form is now 30mm lower and sits on 17-inch split rim spoke wheels. The bumpers are now part of the overall form. It is a fine balance of extracting and adding.
“I have always loved traditional louvres as seen on many older race cars. Four louvres appear on the side of the car to add to that sense of power and ‘something different’.
“Of course they had to work, so they have been designed in a low-pressure area for a better internal airflow from the modified engine.”
The suspension was designed and re-engineered by CMC. The front incorporates a bespoke power assisted rack, uprated coil springs, roll bar and wishbone bushes, adjustable dampers and solid subframe mountings.
The unique independent rear suspension now includes uprated coil springs, blade control wishbones, outboard disc brakes, an anti-roll bar and adjustable dampers.
The car has also been fitted with Clarion’s NZ502E single DIN multimedia station, a high-tech in-car entertainment system with a 16cm flip-out touch screen and loudspeakers in specially-designed housings.
The cabling has been provided by VDC Trading and is the type used in the world’s top recording studios, including London’s famous Abbey Road where The Beatles recorded.
Peter Neumark, chairman of CMC, said: “The wide-ranging list of modifications in the Mark 2 shows just how much design and engineering development has gone into this venture from the original car.
“To be chosen by Ian Callum to work with him on his project is a testament to the skills and passion that exist within our business, and is something that CMC are immensely proud of.”
CMC’s new headquarters was officially opened by motorcycle and Formula One Grand Prix world champion John Surtees and the restored Mark 2 was unveiled by Jaguar’s famous test driver Norman Dewis.
The new building complex is one of the biggest of its kind in the UK.
It has been fitted out to the highest standards and boasts new paint and trim shops, providing 40,000 sq ft of production space.
With the exception of chrome plating it enables CMC to cover every aspect of a car’s restoration in-house and there is a further 24,000 sq ft of space for classic car storage.
Mr Surtees said: “I have long admired the designs of Ian Callum, to be present at the unveiling of Ian’s personally redesigned and updated Jaguar Mark 2 is a privilege, and I am honoured to be officially opening the premises that have made this extraordinary project possible”.
Mr Dewis said: “I have been associated with Jaguar for more than 60 years and was their chief development test engineer for 33 years.
“I have always been excited to work with them and over the years I have come to know and respect the work that CMC have carried out restoring Jaguar’s heritage.
“Mark 2 by Callum is something special and I was delighted when I was asked to unveil the car. It is something that both Ian Callum and CMC should be very proud of.”
The car is making its first public outing at the Salon Prive event at Syon House in Brentford, which runs from September 3-5.
