Two Royal Naval apprentices have unveiled a fully restored 1980s Aston Martin Bulldog super car.
It follows an 18-month total nut-and-bolt restoration, which saw technicians at Classic Motor Cars in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, spend more than 6,000 hours working on the car.
Aston Martin planned that the car would become the fastest production car ever, running at 200mph. But it fell short at just 191mph and due to financial constraints, the project was axed.
“It beame something of a mythical beast,” said project leader Richard Gauntlett, whose father Victor Gauntlett, was MD at Aston Martin when Bulldog was axed in the 1980s.
He added: “It disappeared from view when it was purchased from Aston Martin by a Middle Eastern buyer. Over the years Bulldog was ‘sighted’ in various locations around the world before turning up in the United States where it was bought by Phillip Sarofim, who has flown to the UK for the unveiling of the car.”
Air Engineering Apprentices, Lewis Delaney, 27, from Wales and Andrew Earl, 23, from Norfolk , who are both based at RNAS Yeovilton, unveiled the car after the Corps of Drums from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Portsmouth, carried out a “Mess Beatings” to announce its presence.
The apprentices were accompanied by Warrant Officer 1 Baz Firth, who said: “It was an easy choice to select these two AETs to help unveil the Bulldog as it was an excellent opportunity to recognise and reward their good efforts and for them to see the engineering involved in such a special restoration.”
David Barzilay, who looks after PR and Marketing for CMC said: “It seemed fitting to involve the Royal Navy.
“Our engagement with the Senior Service will see apprentices from Yeovilton, where testing of the car takes place being involved. CMC apprentices will be involved when Bulldog visits a Royal Naval warship.
“It will mean that old technology will meet the Royal Navy’s latest technology.”
