Jan 21, 2022

1980 Aston Martin Bulldog Concept

Updated: Mar 11

The Aston Martin Bulldog, a distinctive British concept vehicle, was designed by William Towns and produced by Aston Martin in 1979 as a one-off concept. The project's code name was DP K901, and despite initial plans for a production run of 15–25 cars, only a single Bulldog was built due to the project's high cost.

Named after a Scottish Aviation Bulldog airplane flown by Aston Martin's then-managing director, Alan Curtis, the Bulldog also bore the nickname "K9," a reference to the robotic dog from the Doctor Who TV series. The vehicle aimed to showcase Aston Martin's engineering capabilities at its Newport Pagnell facility and pursue the title of the world's fastest production car. The official launch took place on March 27, 1980, at the Bell Hotel in Aston Clinton. Although built in the UK, the Bulldog is left-hand drive, featuring William Towns' signature sharp wedge shape, five center-mounted hidden headlamps, and gull-wing doors. The interior boasts leather upholstery with walnut trim, incorporating multiple LED buttons reminiscent of the Lagonda.

Originally, Aston Martin envisioned a production run of 15-25 Bulldogs. However, in 1981, Victor Gauntlett assumed the role of chairman and deemed the project too costly, leading to the shelving of the Bulldog project. In 1984, the car was sold to a Middle Eastern collector for £130,000, who added rearview mirrors and cameras. Subsequently, it changed hands and underwent modifications, including a shift in color from silver and light grey to green and alterations to the interior from dark brown and black to light tan. In 2020, an American owner acquired the car, initiating a full restoration project managed by Richard Gauntlett, son of Victor Gauntlett.

The Bulldog is powered by a 5.3L V8 engine with twin Garrett turbochargers, generating 600 bhp and a maximum torque of 500 lb-ft. Although Aston Martin claimed a top speed of 237 mph during its launch, the car achieved a recorded speed of 191 mph in a test run at the Motor Industry Research Association track in late 1979. The distinctive wedge-shaped design contributed to a drag coefficient of 0.34.

Under new ownership in early 2021, plans were revealed for a comprehensive restoration with the goal of reaching 200 mph. In November 2021, the restoration was completed, and the Bulldog achieved a speed of 162 mph during its initial shakedown.

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