Aston Martin Bulldog
Encyclopedia
The Aston Martin Bulldog, styled by William Towns
, was a one-off testbed vehicle produced by Aston Martin
in 1979. Originally, it had been intended to be a limited run of about 25. The code name for the project was DP K9
, named after a Doctor Who
character. It was built in the UK, but is a left-hand-drive car (UK cars are right-hand-drive). It is very low at 43 inches (1.1 m) high, and sharp, distinctive Trapezium shaped design, features centre-mounted five Hidden headlamps
and gull-wing doors. The interior uses digital instrumentation and the rear view is delivered via a television monitor mounted on the center console (a later addition). The Bulldog was powered by a 5.3L twin-turbo V8 delivering 700 bhp (522 kW – other source claims 600 bhp/477 kW) maximum power and 69 kg/mm (500 ft・lb/677 Nm) maximum torque.
The first test drive of the Bulldog came in late 1979 and was a great success. The Bulldog achieved a verified top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h), but the theoretical top speed is estimated at 237 mph (381 km/h). The car was officially launched on 27 March 1980 at the Bell Hotel at Aston Clinton
. After the development program was over, Aston Martin
sold the only Bulldog to the highest bidder for about £130,000.
The Bulldog spent some time in the United States, but recently surfaced back in Britain, for sale and with a new green paint job (the original exterior colours were silver and light grey). The interior has also been changed from the original dark brown and black to light tan.
The car is currently on sale for $1,300,000
William Towns
William Towns was a British car designer.Towns began his training as a designer at Rootes in 1954, where he was mainly involved in the styling of seats and door handles. Later he was also involved with the styling of their Hillman Hunter. He moved to Rover in 1963 and worked there for David...
, was a one-off testbed vehicle produced by Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
in 1979. Originally, it had been intended to be a limited run of about 25. The code name for the project was DP K9
K-9 (Doctor Who)
K-9, or K9, is the name of several fictional robotic canines in the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who, first appearing in 1977...
, named after a Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
character. It was built in the UK, but is a left-hand-drive car (UK cars are right-hand-drive). It is very low at 43 inches (1.1 m) high, and sharp, distinctive Trapezium shaped design, features centre-mounted five Hidden headlamps
Hidden headlamps
Hidden headlamps, also commonly known as pop-up headlamps or headlights, are an automotive styling feature that conceals an automobile's headlamps when they are not in use...
and gull-wing doors. The interior uses digital instrumentation and the rear view is delivered via a television monitor mounted on the center console (a later addition). The Bulldog was powered by a 5.3L twin-turbo V8 delivering 700 bhp (522 kW – other source claims 600 bhp/477 kW) maximum power and 69 kg/mm (500 ft・lb/677 Nm) maximum torque.
The first test drive of the Bulldog came in late 1979 and was a great success. The Bulldog achieved a verified top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h), but the theoretical top speed is estimated at 237 mph (381 km/h). The car was officially launched on 27 March 1980 at the Bell Hotel at Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton is a village and civil parish close to the main A41 road in Buckinghamshire, England between Tring and Aylesbury. The parish covers and is about east of Aylesbury. The village is at the foot of the chalk escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at the junction of the pre-historic track the...
. After the development program was over, Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
sold the only Bulldog to the highest bidder for about £130,000.
The Bulldog spent some time in the United States, but recently surfaced back in Britain, for sale and with a new green paint job (the original exterior colours were silver and light grey). The interior has also been changed from the original dark brown and black to light tan.
The car is currently on sale for $1,300,000
External links
- Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. – Official Company Site
- Aston Martin Picture Gallery – Bulldog