Restored Mini Coachbuilder Resumes Operations Through Collaboration with Ian Callum
🚗 Newsflash! 🚗
Headline: Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum: Classic Mini Blends Heritage with Modernity
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Cult icon and automotive designer Ian Callum of Callum Designs is reinventing the wheel—or wheels, as it were—with the revival of the Aston Martin Vanquish and creating a street-legal Jaguar C-X75, but that's a story for another day. Today, we're all about the Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum.
Now, before you get a whiff of Victorian interior design styles, you're absolutely correct—this isn't some home makeover brand. Wood and Pickett, Ltd. is the cream of the crop for Mini restorations. Tracing its roots back to the 1960s and technically starting in 1947, the company has been crafting high-end Mini conversions while the quaint little cars ruled the roads.
Founders Bill Wood and Les Pickett left Hooper & Co to strike out on their own, a testament to the flourishing coachbuilding industry back then, where there was enough market for numerous bespoke car upgrades. The company found its niche with the release of the Radford Mini de Ville, and focused its efforts on Mini customizations.
One of Wood and Pickett's most notable models was called the Margrave, which attracted substantial attention with its exquisite design. Over the years, they expanded into customizing early Range Rovers and other popular British cars. In the 1990s, Wood and Pickett shifted their focus from coachbuilding to parts and accessories, eventually pivoting again in 2022 under British classic car parts specialist Motaclan Limited.
With the new partnership between Wood and Pickett and Callum Designs, the revived brand takes center stage on Motaclan's Wood and Pickett link. Prepare yourself for a ride—this Mini restomod is an exquisite blend of vintage charm and contemporary style.
The Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum redefines the iconic British classic, using a fully restored MK5 Sportspack body shell (produced between 1997 and 2001, yes, Mini production extended into the Y2K era). The vehicle showcases both Wood and Pickett's legacy and Callum's contemporary design expertise.
Prominent features include aggressive fender flares, slick taillight design, and aero splitters, giving the car a touch of muscle without sacrificing its lovable character. Mini purists can breathe easy knowing that the car's spirit remains safe and sound.
Under the hood, a "rebuilt 1310cc Stage 3 road/rally engine" brings enough horsepower to Zoom-Zoom this pocket-sized powerhouse. Additional upgrades include 8.4-inch disc brakes and a road-tuned suspension kit.
The pièce de résistance? The impeccable wheel design, which pays tribute to the original Mini's iconic style, yet brings a fresh twist with a contemporary feel.
Inside the mini marvel, the old-school charm is still very much intact, yet modern elements like a DIN-style infotainment screen provide useful connectivity features. Each Wood and Pickett Mini build is a one-of-a-kind creation, tailored to each customer's vision. Like wearing a bespoke suit that makes a powerful statement, the car is hand-built in England and available on a limited production run for a cool £75,000—that's around $102,000, if you fancy getting your hands on a compact luxury classic in the US.
Want to share some classic Mini restoration secrets? Drop us a line at andrew.collins@our website.
📝 Key Insights:
Iconic British coachbuilder* Rich history with classic Mini vehiclesSought-after "Margrave" Mini conversionsCollaboration with Callum DesignsLimited-edition restomodBespoke, hand-build finishHigh-performance engine and suspension upgradesUniquely designed interiors and exteriors*
- With the collaboration between Wood and Pickett, known for their custom Mini conversions, and Callum Designs, the Wood and Pickett Mini showcases a blend of vintage charm and contemporary technology.
- The exquisite design of the Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum incorporates gadgets, like a DIN-style infotainment screen, that offer modern connectivity without compromising the classic car's traditional lifestyle.
- Electric vehicles are just the tip of the iceberg in today's tech-driven world; even car-maintenance has evolved, as seen in the high-performance engine and suspension upgrades on the limited-edition Wood and Pickett Mini restomod.
