The Aston Martin Bulldog reached the target of 200 miles per hour on June 6, 2023 at Machrihanish Airfield, a former NATO base in Campbeltown, Scotland, which it failed to achieve in 1979.
The Bulldog was developed by Aston Martin in 1977 as the fastest production vehicle on the road. However, at the end of 1979, the Bulldog reached a top speed of 191 miles per hour on the MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) test track, falling just short of the hoped-for 200 miles per hour.
Now the Bulldog has been driven to record speed by three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Darren Turner, works driver for Aston Martin. He had already taken the Bulldog to 176 mph during tests at the Royal Naval Air Station in Yeovilton in 2021.
Darren says: "The Bulldog's goal of reaching 200mph has been chased for over 40 years and it's a fantastic feeling to be part of that legacy."
"The Bulldog has now delivered on Aston Martin's promise from the 1980s and everyone who worked on the car - from those who originally designed and built it to Classic Motor Cars, who carried out the restoration under the direction of Richard Gauntlett - should be very proud."
He added: "The conditions were perfect for the run and the car ran perfectly too, reaching the 200-mile mark with ease."
Originally, the unique Bulldog was to be one of 15-20 examples, but the project was deemed too costly by Aston Martin and the car was sold to its first owner, a Saudi prince, for 130,000 British pounds. On its first drive, the engine exploded.
The Bulldog was then passed from owner to owner and occasionally appeared at car shows around the world. It was also often seen in online lists of the ten most influential prototypes until it hit the headlines in 2020 when new owner Philip Sarofim asked Richard Gauntlett, son of former Aston Martin owner Victor Gauntlett, to lead the restoration.
Richard Gauntlett commissioned Classic Motor Cars Ltd in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, to carry out a complete overhaul of the Bulldog. Classic Motor Cars has already restored some of the most historic cars in the world. The skilled technicians worked on the Bulldog for 18 months, completing 7000 hours of restoration work and hundreds of hours of testing and adjustments.
Tim Griffin, Managing Director of Classic Motor Cars, says: "Thanks to the hard work of the CMC team, the Aston Martin Bulldog has made it! The people of Campbeltown have been very welcoming and encouraging and we are delighted to have been able to give them the opportunity to see the car and meet Darren."
Phillip Sarofim, owner of the Aston Martin Bulldog, said: "Today is about making dreams come true, the dreams of the original designers and engineers who created the Bulldog. These automotive pioneers broke boundaries, not just speed boundaries, but also the boundaries of design, innovation and engineering."
Richard Gauntlett, Project Director, added: "It's a truly incredible moment to see the end of a 45-year chapter in the history of the incredible Aston Martin Bulldog. The team that built the Bulldog and the team that rebuilt it are deservedly celebrating their great achievements and it's heart-warming to see all their hard work rewarded."
Now that the Bulldog and its team have reached their goal, they can celebrate the successful high-speed attempt and look back on their hard work, knowing that this project has paid off many times over.
