Jaguar design director Ian Callum has teamed up with a British restoration shop called Classic Motor Cars (CMC) to design and build his dream resto-modded Jaguar Mark 2 sedan.
Finished in 18 months, Callum’s Mark 2 is powered by a Jaguar XK-sourced 4.3-liter V8 engine whose output has been increased thanks to a host of unspecified modifications. The eight-cylinder spins the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, but precisely how much horsepower it pumps out has not been revealed.
CMC totally reworked the rear suspension to give the Mark 2 a more responsive handling and fitted beefier brakes up front to keep the extra power in check.
Inside, the Mark 2 seamlessly blends old and new with features like front bucket seats upholstered in diamond-stitched red leather, a three-spoke steering wheel, dark wood trim on the dashboard and a revised instrument cluster with custom analog gauges. The center console boasts a flip-out color touch screen that runs the car’s sound system.
The visual modifications have been kept to a minimum in order to create a discreet “wolf in sheep’s clothing” appearance. Callum’s Mark 2 stands out thanks to a body-colored bumpers on both ends, louvers in the front fenders and the rear quarter panels as well as 17-inch alloy wheels. Additionally, a well-trained eye will notice the designer’s Mark 2 sits slightly lower than stock.
A life-long car enthusiast, Callum says he has always dreamed of making subtle modifications to improve the already-stunning Mark 2.
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“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. Simplification and clarity were my objectives,” explained Callum in an interview with Top Gear.
One-offs often get sent to the auction block or get tucked away in a garage where they seldom see the light of day. Callum’s Jaguar is different: as the “I|C” emblem on the trunk lid denotes, it was built for his personal use and he plans on driving it on a regular basis.
