An elegant take on the iconic MK2 Jaguar, classic in appearance but bristling with technology
Utah
MK2 JAGUAR
CLIENT NEEDS
Create a classy and elegant take on a MK2 Jaguar, but one that has modern technology seamlessly incorporated.
The power plant should provide a sting in the tail that belies the period styling. The straight six soundtrack is a must as is modern nav and AC.
OUR SOLUTION
A truly elegant and contemporary take on the classic MK2 Jaguar. One that preserves its timeless charm while seamlessly integrating modern engineering and comfort.
With custom bodywork and subtly flared arch spats, we paired a formidable Toyota 2JZ straight-six engine to a BMW M3 Getrag six-speed gearbox, ensuring both refinement and a thrilling “sting in the tail.”
Beneath the surface, a 6-linked rear axle with coilover suspension delivers composed handling, while inside, a completely bespoke interior offers air conditioning, modern navigation, and heated electric seats—bringing together period style and cutting-edge sophistication in perfect harmony.
KEY FACTS
- Custom bodywork & arch spats
- Toyota 2JZ engine
- BMW M3 6 Speed Getrag gearbox
- 6-linked rear axle with coilover suspension
- Totally bespoke interior with AC, Nav & heated electric seats
THINKING OF STARTING A PROJECT? HERE ARE THE NEXT STEPS...Just over a year on from the conception of Project Utah (a name selected as a nod to Jaguar’s original, in-house prototype designation for the Mk2), and our Mk2 base has been transformed. Stu’s unparalleled panel-beating and general metal whispering abilities were brought to bear on the Mk2’s iconic lines, and the dozens of subtle yet wholly in-keeping changes are the result.
Perhaps the most noticeable (not to mention divisive) deviation from the norm are the rear wheel spats, both painstakingly shaped by Stu over the course of several weeks and secured via a pair of clips of our own design. These ensure that the spats can be removed easily and swiftly – though we must admit to being very taken with them in situ, largely as they completely transform the overall appearance of the big Jag.
Utah’s metalwork phase was complete come the end of August 2020, whereupon it was wheeled to the bodywork treatment area for coats of zinc (an anti-corrosion treatment), epoxy, sprayable polyester, Raptor (another rust inhibitor), and finally, paint – hence the coat of Aston Martin California Sage the shell now sports.
Since being painted and wheeled into our Assembly Hall Project Utah has undergone something of a transformation. The last 12 months have seen the project make key strides towards completion, and as such its engine – a naturally aspirated variant of the iconic Toyota 2JZ inline six cylinder – has been bolted into position, then shod with a trio of Jenvey’s stunning DCOE-aping Heritage throttle bodies.
Project Utah has since been dyno tested and found to make a none-too-shabby 252bhp, a figure wholly in-keeping with the understated appearance and ethos of the car as a whole.
Running gear fitted and fettled we’ve turned out attention to Utah’s interior, an environment now dominated by lashings of hydro-dipped aluminium, much of it carefully fabricated from scratch by Stu in the metalwork phase of the build. Other interior additions include plenty of high quality, tobacco coloured leather, not to mention the usual billet custom tweaks our interiors have come to be known for.
Now completed and in the hands of its new owner, Project Utah stands apart as one of the most challenging, and at the same time rewarding, ‘builds’ to have passed through the Retropower ‘works.’ We believe we have achieved all we set out to with this project, namely a reworking of a timeless classic but with one eye firmly fixed on the fundamentals – the things that have made the Mk2 Jaguar such an automotive icon – easily one of the most beloved of all Browns Lane creations. We hope that you concur.
