1980 Aston Martin Bulldog Concept

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 a ridiculously low height of 43 inches and it featured a sharp, unique gull-wing door design. The Bulldog featured a distinctive Trapezium-shaped design that features 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