Jaguar Mk2 by Ian Callum
PH meets up with Ian Callum as he presents his personally configured and modernised Mk2 Jag
For such a glitzy sounding premise a low-key unveiling on an industrial estate in Shropshire is a thud back down to earth, Callum arriving solo in his F-Type to reveal the fruits of this totally extra curricular project. But hidden among the faceless concrete warehouses is Classic Motor Cars' (CMC) new home. CMC is the Jaguar restorer Callum chose to collaborate with and it doesn't take long to realise why. From early XKs, E-Types, to lots of Mk2s and even something that even suspiciously looks like a real D-Type, the spotlessly clean facility is pretty much close to big cat heaven.
Moments before the drapes are pulled off we catch up with Callum to find out what it's all about.
"When I grew up it seemed that all my mate's fathers had Mk2 Jaguars. We had Vauxhalls, so I grew up always wanting one and started drawing them when I was nine years old," he says.
Despite a relaxed atmosphere that feels more club meet than car launch, the normally unflappable Callum doesn't seem himself. Where normally he exudes confidence he's now using phrases like "it might not be to everyone's tastes" and, hopefully, "purists will be able to at least appreciate it."
With the drapes off, the amassed owners and car collectors circle the Mark 2 like a pack of vultures. They all seem pleasantly surprised at Callum's restraint, his mods focusing on improving the existing lines and features rather than stripping the car of its bodywork and starting again. What is clear is he given the Mk2 a more muscular stance - perhaps reflecting Callum's love of hot rods.
Biggest exterior change is the Mk2's familiar chrome coachwork because Callum always felt it was the product of the marketing men and not Sir William Lyons' original design. Also removed are the Mk2's 'girder' chrome bumpers, replaced by composite items. Callum, at great expense, had to splash out on the development and tooling to create them and says his love for the clean, stripped-back look came from watching saloon car racing as a child.
"I used to love watching Minis, Galaxies and Mk2s battle it out. I loved the clean look the racing cars would have when everything that added weight would be ditched- except the Jag, that is. The Mk2 bumpers stayed because there was nothing behind them once removed." This frustration helped him become the designer he is, as his earliest sketches involved simply chopping off the chrome bumpers.
Crucial to the success of the Mark 2 is blending new modern thinking to the design. Note the huge motorsport brake ducts embedded in the front bumper and the cooling vents slashed into the wings behind the wheels. Both are real and work to cool the brakes and the new 4.3-litre straight-six. There was a temptation to use a modern V8, but a bored-out Jaguar XK was kept for authenticity. Breathing through two SU carbs rather than Webers, Callum's focus was real-word driveability and low down torque rather than performance.
The typical designer's obsession with filling wheelarches with the biggest possible rims at least accommodated proper brakes, though luckily for Callum's spine the wheels remain modest by modern standards at 17 inches. They run 205-section front and 225 rear tyres. All-new wider aluminium wings were also fabricated to house the wider wheels.
Biggest change is the adoption of a whole new independent rear suspension with outboard disc brakes. A cheap fix would have been pinching the old S-Type's rear, but it was decided that solution would add too much weight.
Biggest gasps from some of the VIP Jaguar owners were reserved for the interior. "I could have gone for a more traditional, darker red colour," says Callum. "But I thought, what the hell, it's my car and went with bright red." The classy dark wood meanwhile was pinched from the XFR, while an aftermarket electric power steering was added along with a five- rather than four-speed 'box for quieter cruising.
So far all the work has been done without Jaguar's help, although that might change when Callum lends what he's calling his Mk2-R to Jaguar chassis guru - and mate - Mike Cross. Expect retuned dampers, springs and the call for Callum to reinstate smaller wheels to fall on deaf ears.
So what's the plan for the Mark 2 By Callum?
"The whole car has been created to be driven, daily, and that's what I intend to do," he says, before adding, "OK, maybe not when it rains."
The modified Mk2 will join his modest collection that includes a recently bought TR6, a 1932 Ford Model T hot rod, a 56 Chevy, plus a late 90s widebody Mini Cooper. "Hope it will be more reliable," he jokes, referencing the 'work in progress' state of many of them.
On the eve of the launch of the all-new Jaguar XE, Callum has been working almost constantly, putting in seven-day weeks for months. The Mk2 project was originally supposed to be done in nine months but took two years as Callum was simply too busy to send over the CAD work for the engineers. Asking if it was useful working in his evening and spare weekend time designing the Mk2 Callum's eyes light up.
"Of course it was, I like to wind my friends up at BMW when I tell them that it was the Mk2 that was the original sports saloon, not some 5 Series. The XE has been created to be the modern Mk2. The XE captures the spirit of the Mk2." Says Callum proudly, and back on message.
And what of the collaboration with CMC? It seems a suspicious amount of work for just one car and as 60-year old Callum nears retirement could it be the start of some Singer-like plan for juicing up old Jags?
"I would love to do this after Jaguar and I have a great idea for an E-Type," he says before pausing reflectively. "Although I'd probably start with an XJ-C coupe, or a MkX..."
This design is not bold enough, there is certainley more to be done to a standard MK2 to improve its looks, performance and driving experience.
Beacham do it better, go south young man go south.
If his intention was to make it beefier, musclier and generally a bit "not sure if..." then he knocked-it-out-of-all-the-parks...
I cannot imagine any purist would like it - I don't dislike it but it's a bit - well - yeah...
Seems pointless - one of the most iconic shapes ever, so why mess with it? Agree that there are tasteful mechanically modified versions around (eg Beacham) which enable the cars to be driven in a manner more in keeping with today's culture but I think it should stop there.
But the bumpers are a definate let down, and suprising considering his expertise.
Also the intakes within the bumpers look like something some 17yr old would do.
Such a shame, as a few tweaks could take this in the direction of a very select club. Singer , Eagle etc.
And as hinted at a no doubt very viable business , especially with his name fronting it.
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