The result of a new, groundbreaking collaboration between the legendary coachbuilders Wood & Pickett and the renowned design house CALLUM, founded by Ian Callum CBE.
The Wood & Pickett Mini by CALLUM
Merging retro inspiration with modern precision, the project is a tribute to the enduring legacy and future of British craftsmanship. Ian Callum is a British car designer whose career includes influential roles at Ford, TWR, and Aston Martin. In 1999, he was appointed Director of Design at Jaguar Cars—later Jaguar Land Rover—a role he held until 2018, after which he founded his automotive and product design company, CALLUM.
Ian Callum designed Aston Martin Vanquish (photo: Bonhams)
The Masons have always held a special place in their hearts for the Mini. Following in the footsteps of legions of British men, Elliot Mason's first car was a Mini, and the family's latest addition to their fleet is a 1963 Morris Mini delivery van, sourced by Duke of London, then given a nut-and-bolt restoration by Romance of Rust and finished in the corporate livery of Mr Fish. We are therefore always enthused by the stories relating to this iconic marque.
The 1963 Mr Fish Minivan (Photo: Nick Clements)
Wood & Pickett Ltd was founded in 1947 by Bill Wood and Les Pickett who were former employees of the esteemed Rolls Royce coachbuilding firm, Hooper & Co. Having initially used Bill's living room as an office, they relocated to Abbey Road, Park Royal - not to be confused with the Abbey Road in St John's Wood which was home to the famous recording studio used by the Beatles. There is however some irony in the fact that the Fab Four each owned customised Minis produced by Harold Radford (Coachbuilders) Ltd., who introduced the concept of luxurious upgrades for the humble small cars with the 'Mini de Ville' in 1963.
John Lennon in one of The Beatles "Radford" Minis (Photo: BMW)
Having established the market for majestic Minis, Radford soon found itself in competition with Wood & Pickett, who launched their own interpretation of the ultimate London runaround — the 'Margrave' Mini — in 1965. The newcomer not only began to steal the market, it also recruited Radford's managing director, Len Minshull, and head of marketing, Eddie Collins.
The Wood & Pickett "Margrave" Mini
Throughout the late 1960s, Wood & Pickett continued to add opulent features such as walnut dashboards and leather upholstery to their personalised cars, while also attracting the celebrity clientele that had previously flocked to Radford. In 1967, even Harold Radford himself turned to Wood & Pickett to upgrade his Triumph 1300.
Wood & Pickett, Abbey Road, Park Royal (1967)
The "Margrave" Minis pictured above await collection by their illustrious customers. OGO 668E was prepared for Mick Jagger and KUM 1 for Prince Mohamed Bolkiah of Brunei, while both NPL 660D and 1 LPJ were built for British actor Laurence Harvey.
Laurence Harvey with one of his "Margrave" Minis
During the 1960s, Laurence Harvey had become one of the world’s most famous screen actors, and, having starred in The Alamo, Walk on the Wild Side, and The Manchurian Candidate, was heavily tipped to play 007 in the first Bond movie. It was, of course, Sean Connery who got the Aston Martin — but Harvey appeared to be happy with his Minis. Although Browning machine guns were not an available option, the chrome bumper overriders and corner bars, together with Lucas fog lamps recessed in a Benelite grille, were handsome adornments.
Marianne Faithfull and Jagger's "Margrave" Mini
Mick Jagger’s Mini received much attention when he and his then-girlfriend, Marianne Faithfull, arrived at a press conference he held in Soho on 1st July 1967, following the overturning of drug-related jail sentences for both Jagger and Keith Richards by the Lord Chief Justice. The car features the signature chrome body mouldings and Webasto sunroof seen on most Margrave conversions, and the company had clearly followed Jagger’s instruction to “paint it black.”
The automotive equivalent of a bespoke suit
In addition to movie icons, rock stars, and royalty, Wood & Pickett attracted the attention of the Swinging Sixties fashion crowd. John Paul, founder of the legendary boutique I Was Lord Kitchener’s Valet — frequented by Clapton, Lennon, Jagger, and Hendrix — is pictured above being fitted for the “Margrave” Mini that was to replace his Buick Riviera, seen in the background, which proved too wide to navigate along Carnaby Street. Some 60 years later, Ian Callum not only had to design a car that met the Wood & Pickett standard of excellence - he also needed to capture the spirit of the brand.
Ian Callum and David Gandy with the first commission
The very first Wood & Picket Mini by CALLUM has been delivered to its new owner, the international style icon and automotive enthusiast, David Gandy. He is a good friend of Mason & Sons, and we understand his passion for detail and quality having worked with him to produce the custom luggage for his 1964 Porsche 356C. David was undoubtedly the perfect candidate for CALLUM's inaugural Mini commission. His sense of style is modern and progressive, yet he maintains an unquestionable reverence for the past.
Steve McQueen and his 1967 Mini Cooper S
Amongst the myriad choices to be made when detailing the specification for a bespoke vehicle, the most important decision is the simplest: the body colour… but the options are infinite. Thankfully, the King of Cool provided sufficient inspiration to narrow the process. Steve McQueen's 1967 Mark II Cooper S was factory standard when he took ownership, and finished in green with a white roof. He immediately had the car repainted in metallic brown and installed a wooden dash and single fog light, transforming it from a regular vehicle into a McQueen Machine and, almost six decades later, providing a steer for the latest addition to Gandy's Garage.
The detailed interior
Inside, the transformation from standard Mini is remarkable. A reimagined dashboard—drawing inspiration from Wood & Pickett’s iconic “Margrave” interiors—seamlessly fuses retro charm with modern precision. A distinctive ‘Piano’ switch pack, finely crafted metal bezels, and bespoke seats trimmed in leather and checked cloth enhance both the aesthetic and tactile appeal of the cabin.
“The Wood and Pickett Mini by CALLUM embodies everything I love about automotive craftsmanship, bespoke, attention to detail, and, of course, performance. I’m proud to be the first owner of such a remarkable vehicle.”
- David Gandy
Ready to ride
Beneath the bonnet, performance is matched with precision. A freshly rebuilt 1310cc Stage 3 road/rally engine produces 110 BHP, paired with a reengineered gearbox and re-tuned ECU for sharp, responsive power delivery. Key upgrades include a high-performance cylinder head, twin-point fuel injection, and a bespoke twin-exit exhaust system featuring a distinctive upswept tailpipe.
Handling has been meticulously refined for modern driving comfort and control. A road-tuned suspension kit, enhanced braking system with vented and grooved 8.4” discs, and bespoke 13” alloy wheels—designed in-house by CALLUM—ensure confident, composed performance. Enhancements to noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) complete the transformation, delivering a driving experience where luxury and performance go hand in hand.
“The Mini is one of the most important cars ever created not just for its innovative engineering, but for what it represents culturally as a symbol of British ingenuity and style. It’s a car that broke the rules and became a global icon. To reimagine it through the lens of CALLUM, with Wood and Pickett’s craftsmanship, has been deeply rewarding.”
- Ian Callum
Which colour will you choose?
Each Wood and Pickett Mini by CALLUM is hand-built in the UK as part of a limited production run, starting from £75,000. No two cars will be alike—every customer will work closely with CALLUM’s design team to craft a Mini that reflects their personal vision.
Hmmm... I wonder how it would look in Mr Fish orange.
Contact CALLUM for more details.