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1980 Aston Martin Bulldog Concept

The Aston Martin Bulldog Concept was styled by William Towns. Only one was ever constructed, though plans were to produce a limited number of about 25. The code name for the project was DP K9, named after a Doctor Who character. The car was a left-hand-drive car built in the United Kingdom.

This gullwing coupe has a low height of just 43-inches and features a sharp, angular design. The exterior color was silver and light grey. Power is supplied from a 5.3-liter twin-turbo V8 engine offering an astonishing 700 horsepower. A test drive showed the car had the potential to achieve a top speed of 191 mph, though the theoretical top speed is estimated at 237 mph.

The car made its official debut at the Bell Hotel at Aston Clinton on March 27th of 1980. It was sold by the company as short time later.

The car was in the United States for a number years before it was sent back to Britain. It was offered again for sale, this time wearing a green paint job.


By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2010
Today, Aston Martin vehicles enjoy the pure distinction of a very enviable reputation for ‘quality, performance, style and engineering', which places them smack dab at the very top of the automobile lineup. Various owners over nearly 90 years have shaped the Aston Martin Company, with all of them sharing a common passion for power and performance.

In 1975 the Aston Martin Company changed hands and was taken over by North American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden. Immediate steps were taken to inject ‘new vitality' into the automobile line and a direct result was the appearance of a brand new Lagonda in 1976. Williams Towns was responsible for the coachwork, and had also previously styled the DBS. It was under his influence and modern flair with design that the revolutionary mid-engined two-seat Bulldog would evolve.

On March 27th 1980, the Aston Martin Bulldog made its official debut at the Bell Hotel as Aston Clinton. The company sold it a short time following its debut to the highest bidder for around £130,000.

Designed by William Towns, the Bulldog was a one-off concept produced by Aston Martin in 1979. At the time of conception, the Bulldog had been intended to be a limited run of around 25 units, though only one was ever created. The Bulldog was codenamed DP K9, after a Doctor Who character. Constructed in the UK, the Bulldog was actually a left-hand-drive vehicle, though UK cars are typically right-hand-drive. This concept was built at an ridiculously low height of 43 inches high and it featured a sharp, unique gull-wing door design. The Bulldog featured a distinctive Trapezium shaped design that features centre-mounted five Hidden headlamps and gull-wing doors. The inside of the Bulldog utilizes digital instrumentation and the rear view was delivered through a television monitor mounted on the center console.

Powered by a twin Garrett AirResearch turbocharged 5.3 liter V8, the Bulldog was originally powered with Bosch Fuel Injection. During the testing, the power output reached in excess of 700 bhp, though installed in the vehicle it would have been in the region of 650 bhp. Though designed to surpass 200 mph, at the time, the maximum speed of the Bulldog was 192 mph.

The Bulldog remained in the U.S. for several years before being sent back to the U.K. Later it was once again offered for sale, this time sporting a green paint job, while the original exterior colors were light gray and silver. The interior had also been updated from dark brown and black to light tan. The owner of the Aston Martin Bulldog is Mr. Paul Tanner.

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 colors were silver and light grey). The interior has also been changed from the original dark brown and black to light tan.

By Jessica Donaldson

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