What happens when your heart desires a vehicle with the timeless, sculpted silhouette of Jaguar Mark 2, but your head wants all the drive and features that a modern jaguar can provide – well you call Beacham Special Vehicles of course. Not only do they restore and modernise the classics, but more importantly, their vehicles retain their soul.
Beacham Special Vehicle’s Formula
Nestled in the vibrant fruit bowl of the Heretaunga plains, south of Hastings, Beacham Special Vehicles, is a specialist ‘one stop shop’ business with decades of passion and expertise that has carved out a unique niche in the car restoration world. They don’t just restore old Jags (although that is something they still do); they transform them too. By carefully upgrading classic models with contemporary engines, drivetrains, electronics, and even (in the case of the E-Type) carbon fibre frames, Beacham Special Vehicles is delivering the best of both worlds to discerning automotive enthusiasts worldwide.
“In a nutshell, we take the old, put some new in, and make it better,” says Greg Beacham, founder and visionary of Beacham Special Vehicles. And it’s this philosophy that has set them apart.
The workshop at Beacham Special Vehicles is a car lover’s dream. Here, iconic models like the Jaguar Mark 2 and the E-Type from the 1960s are meticulously stripped down, modernised, and rebuilt. The company even works with slightly younger classics, such as the XJ Series and the legendary XJ-S. Every car is a complete teardown and rebuild, with each nut, bolt, and wire scrutinised and reimagined for modern performance.
As Greg explains, rebuilding a Mark 2, for example, involves replacing its antiquated floor pan with something built to accommodate Jaguar’s modern drivetrains. By doing so, the car’s performance is elevated to contemporary standards without sacrificing the classic aesthetics that enthusiasts love.
“It’s not about just slapping a modern body on an old frame,” Greg says. “We go right back to the core of the car—completely modernising everything from the wiring loom to the paintwork. The result? A 1960s Jaguar that drives like it rolled off a cutting-edge luxury car production line just yesterday.”
But it’s not just Jaguars on Beacham’s radar. With the growing popularity of Land Rovers among collectors, the business has begun expanding into restoring and modernising classic Land Rovers, always with the same level of craftsmanship and focus on marrying vintage design with 21st-century technology.
Beacham Special Vehicles’ operation occupies an impressive 1,000-square-metre facility in central Hastings. Every step of the process happens under one roof, from stripping and labelling parts to panel beating, painting, electronics work, and upholstery trimming. “Everything is done on-site,” Greg explained. “That’s vital for quality control.”
This meticulous approach allows them to reuse and breathe new life into parts where possible, like bolts and door locks, while also carefully discarding or replacing components beyond repair. They even zinc-plate old parts to ensure longevity. “The most important tool we have,” Greg jokes, “is a label printer. With so many intricate pieces from each car, meticulous organisation is the only way to do it right.”
Inside their workshop, bins of properly labelled parts from donor cars keep the workflow humming. Larger kits of pre-cut components, designed in-house and sourced before each project begins, help streamline the rebuild process, enabling faster turnaround times without sacrificing quality.
The team has also explored cutting-edge materials like carbon fibre, a game-changer for the restoration business. With E-Type builds already created with carbon fibre body and bonnet, Beacham is ensuring these cars remain strong, lightweight, and stunning for decades to come – what’s more, you can have your choice of either 4.2L V8 supercharged power or a completely electric drivetrain!
Beacham’s restorations go far beyond simply making old cars roadworthy. The final product is a meticulously balanced marvel that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation. Take a modernised Jaguar Mark 2 cruising down the highway, it handles as smoothly as a 2015 XF but retains its signature 1960s silhouette. The addition of modern comforts like infotainment screens, reversing cameras, and advanced suspension systems creates a unique luxury experience.
“It has to be done right,” Greg explains. “These cars are more than just restored, they’re reborn. If there’s wind noise, it’s because of an inherent design quirk of the original model, not because the workmanship isn’t perfect.”
Each car that leaves the Beacham Special Vehicles’ workshop bears the result of countless hours spent refining the process. Every wiring loom, for instance, is adapted to fit the classic frame, a painstaking process they’ve perfected through trial and (sometimes) error over the years.
While these builds may be a throwback to the Jaguar posters of yesteryear, the company knows they’re also delivering something entirely modern. “We’ve created a niche,” Greg says. “The demand for vehicles that inspire nostalgic sentiment but function like a contemporary car is huge. People want to park their dream car in the garage, but they also want it to have reversing cameras and the reliability to drive it every day.”
Through word of mouth alone, Beacham’s creations have found homes across Europe, the US and beyond. The global demand for their creations is steady, but the team is poised to scale up their operations to meet an ever-expanding customer base. “We’ve spent the last few years deep in research and development,” admits Greg. “It’s been a tough road, especially during COVID, but now it’s time to focus on ramping up production.”
According to Greg, along with the supply chain, and ‘regular’ production headaches caused by COVID, the then government stopping immigration of skilled labour to NZ, seriously harmed them too. However, that’s all in their rear view mirror now.
For Beacham, that means a renewed commitment to marketing their work and ensuring their extraordinary craftsmanship reaches a wider audience. With nine skilled tradesmen on staff and all the in-house expertise to handle increasingly complex projects, the business is well-positioned to grow its reputation as the go-to restorer for historically significant, modernised Jaguars.
As the classic car market continues to evolve, Beacham Special Vehicles is ready for the challenges ahead. Beyond stepping into Land Rover restoration, they’ve also plotted a sustainable future for their iconic Jaguar builds. With supply chains for some older models drying up, the embrace of carbon fibre technology and partnerships with engineering firms ensure that Beacham can continue producing world-class cars for years to come.
While their focus remains firmly on quality, Beacham is now honing in on scaling their production, solving the challenge of increasing output without compromising their high standards. “We’ve ironed out most of the kinks, while staying true to our ethos: restoring these cars the right way.”
For car lovers nostalgic for the golden age of design but unwilling to sacrifice the conveniences of modern engineering, Beacham Special Vehicles has created something truly special: classic elegance with 21st-century comfort and performance. It’s no wonder the world is paying attention.
Beacham Special Vehicles’ bespoke creations showcase the beauty of heritage motoring at its finest. With restoration handled down to the very last bolt and every nut labelled, they’re proving that you can improve on perfection—one Jaguar at a time.
