The Aston Martin Bulldog is a mid-engined sports car with 2 doors and a 2-seater car.
Aston Martin Bulldog
The Bulldog is Aston Martin's 1of1 sports car powered by the DBSV8's double Garrett AirResearch turbocharged 5.3 liter V8. The testbed produced almost 700 horsepower, but it would've been closer to 650 bhp. The Bulldog was a rarity for Aston Martin since it had a modern, compact, and streamlined design, unlike any Aston Martin from the 1970s. Aston Martin intended to build 15 to 25 Bulldogs in 1979, but due to high material costs, only one was created: the prototype. Only one Bulldog was produced, making it one of its rarest cars. The Aston Martin Bulldog has an intriguing history explaining its design and discontinuity. To know more about Bulldog, below is its brief history and how this car got its name, Bulldog.
History of Aston Martin AMV8
Designer William Towns granted the Bulldog the code name "DP K901" before it was revealed. A robot dog appears in numerous episodes of the famous British television show Doctor Who. The Bulldog's metallic or silver cabin and boxy shape remind us of K9 robot dogs. Towns requested that the Bulldog get a 5.3L V8 engine featuring two Garrett turbochargers to give it a "sports car-like" capability. Aston Martin claimed that the Bulldog's powerful engine could accelerate it up to 237 mph. However, historical documents reveal that the prototype's top speed was just 192 mph, achieved during a 1979 practice run at the MIRA test track.
For whatever reason, the car is equipped with a left-hand drive and built in the UK. William Towns devised the Bulldog's unique wedge style. The vehicle has gull-wing doors and five center-mounted, hidden lights. The inside is trimmed in leather and walnut, and features LED buttons like the Lagonda. Aston Martin originally planned to produce 15 to 25 Bulldogs, but when Victor Gauntlett took the position of chairman in 1981, he concluded that the project would be too expensive and put on hold. Aston Martin sold the Bulldog in 1984 for £130,000 to a middle eastern car enthusiast. The owner of the Bulldog decided to add cameras and rearview mirrors. Once sold to an American collector, the Bulldog spent some time in the US before becoming stored in various locations. The Aston Martin Bulldog returned to the UK in metallic green rather than silver. A new interior for the Bulldog has light tan seats and a black panel in place of the previous dark brown upholstery and black dashboard. The Aston Martin Bulldog's engine, as well as other components, are no longer functional. The Bulldog's current British owner is working for solutions to get it running again. However, of course, it will cost money and effort.
Features
The cat has electro-hydraulically powered gull-wing doors. Bulldog uses 4 and 2-inch diameter thin wall steel tubes. Aston Martin created this 1of1 sports car using a multi-tubular chassis with an incorporated roll-over bar, diagonally braced, and a backbone. The vehicle contains 5 quarts headlamps, 3 for the main and 2 for the dips. It is a fully airconditioned sports car with Wilton carpets and a complete Connoly leather interior. The vehicle has a fuel tank capacity of 113 liters with brakes at the front and rear sides, 11.67" in diameter.
Specs
The Bulldog is backed by a 5.3L V8 engine with dual Garrett turbochargers that generate 600 bhp (447 kW; 608 PS) and 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) load torque. The car has a potential of 700 bhp (522 kW; 710 PS) on the testbed. Aston Martin proclaimed that the car could go 237 mph (381 km/h) when first launched. However, the car's maximum speed was measured at 192 mph (307 km/h) on a training exercise at the Motor Industry Research Association circuit in late 1979.
Release Date
On March 27, 1980, Aston Martin launched the car at the Bell Hotel in Aston Clinton.
Aston Martin Bulldog Today
Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, in the United Kingdom, has been entirely restored since the previous owner sold it to the United States. It required them approximately 18 months to finish the job, during which they attempted to remain as accurate to the initial design as possible while still making the vehicle more futuristic. The car's current owner, Phillip Sarofim, was delighted with the repair work done to the vehicle. An Aston Martin factory driver, Darren Turner, will aim to take the car at 200 mph shortly, hoping to unlock the magnificent machine's full potential.