If, like many well-heeled automotive enthusiasts, you were left drooling over the images of Jaguar head designer Ian Callum's unique take on the classic Jaguar Mark 2, then there's good news.
The car, officially unveiled at the Salon Prive in London on Wednesday, was meant to be a one-off 'restomod' designed by Jaguar's head of design for his personal use and built by British firm Classic Motor Cars Limited (CMC) over a period of 18 months.
However, due to what CMC describes as an "amazing response," the Mark 2 by Callum will be going into very limited production.
"In my remarks at the launch of the car I said that we would love to build more, but little did I think the response would be so great. Within hours we had received calls from people all over the globe asking if they could buy one. We asked Ian Callum if we could produce a limited run and he has said ‘yes'," said Peter Neumark, Chairman of CMC.
The cars will cost between £350,000 and £375,000 (roughly $575,000 - $620,000) each and owners will be able to specify exterior and interior finishes.
Of the planned production model, Ian Callum said: "I redesigned the car and CMC rebuilt it and reengineered it for my personal use. I wasn't sure how it would be received but I have been both astounded and delighted with the response. I am pleased that a few more cars are going to be built."
As well as being a world-class automotive designer, Callum's comments also highlight his modesty. His creation, The Mark 2 by Callum, manages to retain all of the style, elegance and subtlety of the now-iconic original 1950s car while bringing it bang up to date in terms of performance, handling and comfort.
From the outside the car does look almost original: the only noticeable stylistic changes are integrated front and rear bumpers, louvres behind the front wheels and a slightly lower ride height.
However, under the hood is a 4.3-liter V8 mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and the car sits on a specially developed independent suspension system so that it can make the most of the extra power and acceleration.
"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," said Neumark when the car was unveiled.
Source: Relaxnews