Jaguar's Ian Callum reveals his personal take on the classic Mark 2

A Jaguar Mark 2 redesigned by Jaguar design director Ian Callum has been unveiled after 18 months in development.

The finished car was shown off at the opening of the new headquarters of Shropshire-based restorer Classic Motor Cars (CMC), which was responsible for the reengineering of Callum's Jaguar.

The car was redesigned by Callum for his personal use and boasts many aesthetic and technical modifications. He endeavoured to retain the integrity of the original Mark 2, while making it even more exciting in shape and performance.

Callum 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.”

The Mark 2 by Callum features a modified and uprated 4.3-litre XK engine, five-speed manual gearbox, unique independent rear suspension and upgraded front brakes.

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 racing 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 has been designed and reengineered by CMC. The front incorporates a bespoke power assisted rack, uprated coil springs, roll bar and wishbone bushes, adjustable dampers and solid subframe mountings, repositioned to improve anti-dive characteristics.

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 been fitted with a high-end Clarion audio system with recording studio-specification cabling.

Also in attendance at the reveal of the Mark 2 by Callum were Formula One and motorcycle world champion John Surtees and Jaguar's test driver Norman Dewis.

The original Jaguar Mk2 saloon was produced from the late 1950s until the late 1960s, and became well known for its prowess in touring car racing.

The car will make its first public outing at the Salon Prive car show at Syon Park in west London on 3-5 September.