Classic specialist’s bid to finally send one-off Aston up to 200mph
Aston Martin test driver to make record attempt 40 years on
Arejuvenated Aston Martin concept car is to have another attempt at the record it failed to achieve back in 1981 – with the carmaker’s current test driver sitting behind the wheel.
It was hoped that the one-off, William Towns-designed Aston Martin Bulldog would crack 200mph at MIRA proving grounds in Warwickshire a year after it was built, but fell short – by 9mph.
The Aston’s current custodian sent it to Classic Motor Cars (CMC) in Bridgnorth, Shropshire for a nut-and-bolt re-build; 18 months later, the car is almost complete, its revival overseen by Richard Gauntlett, son of then Aston Martin chairman, Victor Gauntlett, at the time the Bulldog was being built. Aston Martin works and development driver, Darren Turner, was asked to come on board to finish the job the Bulldog set out to complete in 1981.
Darren told Classic Car Weekly: ‘I had heard of the legend of Bulldog from within Aston Martin and when news started to filter out about the car being restored to go for the 200mph target, I thought that was such a cool thing to do.
‘I was following the story and thinking that it would be great to be involved in. I didn’t need to be asked twice when I was asked to drive it!’
CMC managing director, Nigel Woodward, said: ‘It’s great that Darren has agreed to drive the car. Having such an accomplished driver on board who will become involved in the final set up and testing is fantastic and, of course, given Darren’s own historic connections with Aston Martin, very fitting too.’
] classic-motor-cars.co.uk