Aston Martin unique 1979 Bulldog supercar finally surpassed its own speed of 200 mph

Aston Martin’s one-of-a-kind Bulldog supercar has finally surpassed 200 mph, more than 40 years after it entered service.

The Bulldog was a unique concept produced in 1979 in an effort to demonstrate the capabilities of the company’s new engineering facility in Milton Keynes. When it was first tested, it reached a speed of 191 mph but it was later sold to a Saudi prince after the legendary British carmaker fell into financial difficulties.

A lengthy restoration project of the Aston Martin Bulldog was completed in 2021. On June 6, 2023, it reached a top speed of 205.4 mph, at Machrihanish Airport, a former NATO headquarters in Campbeltown, Scotland.

""image — Aston Martin’s one-of-a-kind Bulldog supercar has finally surpassed 200 mph, more than 40 years after it entered service. Today, driver Darren Turner, winner of the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, reached a top speed of 205.4 mph in his car

Video: Darren Turner surpasses 200 mph in Aston Martin’s Bulldog >

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Driʋer Darren Turner, a three-time winner of the prestigious Le Mans 24-Hour, said: ‘The Bulldog’s 200 mph target has been 40 years in the making, to be part of that legacy is a great feeling. great. The Bulldog has now fulfilled Aston Martin’s 1980s promise and everyone who worked on the car – from those who first designed and built it, to the Classic Cars who carried out the restoration When under the management of Richard Gauntlett, everyone could feel very proud.’

He added: ‘Conditions were perfect for the run and the car performed flawlessly, easily hitting 200mph.’

Aston Martin originally planned to produce 15 to 20 cars, but the company later decided that the project was too expensive and so only one was produced. When the next owner took it on its first run, the 5.3-liter twin-turbo V8 was fired up.

The car made headlines again in 2020 when it was restored by car enthusiast Philip Sarofiм, who asked Richard Gauntlett, son of former Aston Martin owner Martin Victor Gauntlett, to restore it. The Bulldog was restored within 18 months at Shropshire-run Classic Motor Cars.

Tim Griffin, the company’s chief executive, said: ‘Thanks to the hard work of the CMC team the Aston Martin Bulldog made it possible!. The people of Campbeltown were very welcoming and encouraging, and we were happy to give them the opportunity to see the car and meet Darren.’

Mr. Sarofiм said: ‘Today, making dreams come true are the dreams of the original designers and engineers who created the Bulldog. Those automotive pioneers broke barriers, not just in speed but also the limits of design, innovation and engineering.’

Mr Gauntlett added: ‘It is an incredible moment to witness the end of a 45-year chapter in the history of the incredible Aston Martin Bulldog. The team that built it and the team that rebuilt it are selflessly celebrating their momentous achievements and it’s heartwarming to see all their hard work rewarded.’

After its initial sale to Aston Martin, the Bulldog spent time in hidden storage facilities around the world, including in the United States. It was eventually located in the Far East and acquired an American Bulldog fan before it was shipped to Shropshire for restoration.

The Daily Mail reported on the car when it was first produced, revealing that it would set buyers back a staggering £200,000 – more than £800,000 at today’s prices.