Legendary Jaguar designer Ian Callum reimagines the classic Mini with bespoke styling, modern tech, and boosted performance.
Famed automotive designer Ian Callum, best known for shaping icons like the Jaguar F-Type and Aston Martin Vanquish, has unveiled a bold reinterpretation of the original Mini — and it comes with both modern flair and a six-figure price tag.
Dubbed the Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum, the retro-inspired restomod is a tribute to the coachbuilt Minis once favored by celebrities in the 1960s and ‘70s. Commissioned by model and motoring enthusiast David Gandy, the first car will make its public debut at the Heveningham Concours in Suffolk, England, later this month.
The project revives the spirit of Wood & Pickett, the historic British coachbuilder renowned for bespoke Minis during the classic era. Partnering with the modern-day Wood & Pickett restoration specialists, Callum based the new design on a late-production Mk5 Mini Sportspack from the late 1990s.
Visually, the restomod features redesigned front and rear fascias, revised rocker panels, and bespoke LED lighting, all while preserving the original Mini’s compact proportions. The signature 13-inch wheels have been reimagined with a muscular four-spoke look. Inside, the cabin showcases a Margrave-inspired dashboard trimmed in premium Bridge of Weir leather, new switchgear, and integrated infotainment.
Under the hood, the original 1.3-liter engine receives a substantial performance bump, now producing 110 horsepower — nearly double the factory output. Upgrades include a reworked cylinder head, modern fuel injection, remapped ECU, and a tuned exhaust. A reinforced gearbox, upgraded suspension, and vented front disc brakes enhance the driving experience, while efforts were made to reduce vibration and noise.
Each build starts at £75,000 (about $102,000 USD), not including donor car costs. Only a limited number will be produced, with Callum Designs confirming that no two cars will be identical.
This restomod joins a growing trend of high-end reinterpretations of the classic Mini, following efforts by David Brown Automotive and Mini’s own EV conversion initiative, Mini Recharged.
