Callum and Wood & Pickett Unleash a $100K Rally-Ready Mk5 Mini

Legendary British designer Ian Callum is back in the spotlight—this time teaming up with iconic coachbuilder Wood & Pickett to breathe new life into a classic: the Mk5 Mini Sportspack. Their latest creation, dubbed the Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum, blends old-school British charm with modern performance, creating a compact hot hatch that's as rowdy as it is refined.

A Classic Mini, Reimagined for the Modern Era

This isn't your average resto-mod. The Mk5 Mini has been thoroughly reengineered from the ground up, bringing with it updated suspension geometry, a reinforced chassis, and serious stopping power thanks to upgraded brakes. But the biggest transformation lies under the hood.

Gone is the original engine. In its place sits a rally-inspired 1310cc powerhouse—rebuilt from the ground up with a new cylinder head, dual-point fuel injection, and a bespoke twin-pipe exhaust. With 110 bhp on tap, it’s more than double what the classic Mini ever dreamed of delivering, backed up by a strengthened gearbox ready to handle the extra grunt.

Performance that Packs a Punch

The handling has been returned with purpose, giving the little hatchback razor-sharp responsiveness and a distinctly modern attitude. It’s agile, planted, and quick to react—exactly what you'd want from a city-slicking pocket rocket with rally DNA.

Rolling on Callum-designed four-spoke alloy wheels, still measuring in at 13 inches to maintain its classic proportions, the Mini now hides grooved and ventilated 8.4-inch disc brakes that offer significantly improved bite and fade resistance. Every twist and turn feels deliberate and dynamic, a testament to the level of attention Callum’s team poured into this build.

A Cabin That Marries Heritage and Technology

Step inside, and it’s clear this Mini is as much about craftsmanship as it is performance. The cabin is a tasteful homage to the 1960s Margrave Mini from Wood & Pickett, featuring a bespoke walnut-inspired wooden dashboard, retro-style metal toggle switches, and polished aluminum cupholders that feel straight out of a classic British coach house.

Yet, it’s not all throwback. Tucked discreetly into the dash is a modern touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, offering seamless connectivity for drivers who appreciate vintage aesthetics but demand 21st-century tech.

Every Build is One of One

Each Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum will be individually tailored to the customer’s tastes, from exterior paint and interior trim to performance specifications. With prices starting just north of $100,000, exclusivity is baked into the formula. This is more than a restomod—it’s a bespoke British design statement with real performance to back it up.

From Aston Martin to Mini: Callum's Design Legacy Continues

This project is yet another chapter in Ian Callum’s impressive design portfolio. Best known for penning icons like the Aston Martin DB7, Vanquish, and Jaguar F-Type, Callum now channels that same passion into reinterpreting one of the UK’s most beloved classics.

The Wood & Pickett collaboration pays homage to Britain’s motoring past while pushing the Mini’s capabilities to new heights. It’s bold, it’s beautiful, and it’s ready to surprise anyone who still thinks of the Mini as just a charming city car.