Newly-founded British marque David Brown Automotive has set its sights high with the brand-new Speedback GT model, revealed in London this week ahead of April’s Top Marques Show. The hand-crafted British sports coupe aims at emulating the beautiful and timeless Aston Martin DB5 with modern running gear, making it a great option for collectors who want classic looks without the hassle.
The DB5 was a car driven by the superstars of the 1960s though the car is somewhat of a superstar itself. Its fame comes primarily from its appearance in 1964’s Goldfinger where it was spec’d up to international spy standards with smoke screens, ejector seats, and a revolving license plate. The DB5 was famous, too, for being the ride of choice for Beatle Paul McCartney. His Sierra Blue 1964 DB5, with on-board record player and musical notes stitched into the seat fabric, sold recently at an RM auction for $495,000. It was considered one of the greatest sports cars available during the 1960s, and its 282 horsepower 4.0-liter straight-six, sophisticated ZF 5-speed manual, and 145 mph top speed certainly helped it achieve that distinction.
Named after company CEO David Brown, David Brown Automotive is set on replicating the visceral performance and understated elegance of the Aston Martin DB5 with the Speedback GT. The car sits on a modified version of the Jaguar XKR’s platform and it utilizes Jaguar/Land Rover’s monstrous 5.0-liter supercharged V8 developing 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of low-end grunt. This performance translates into a 4.6 second 0-60 time and a top speed of 155 mph, all accomplished while swaddling passengers in the utmost luxury.
Inside, the vehicle is a true mix of classic and modern design cues. Large, analog gauges grace the center cluster and a large-diameter, wooden-rimmed steering wheel acts as a throwback to Astons of the 1960s. However, HVAC, an infotainment system, and high-grade leather seats all come standard on the Speedback, making it as cutting-edge as most other vehicles available today. Renderings have even shown that two seats located in the trunk may fold out and provide seating while the vehicle is stopped, making the perfect setup for a picnic in the countryside.
Though prices haven’t been officially announced, expect the Speedback GT to be an expensive toy somewhere in the range of the current Aston Martin DB9. Stay tuned on TFLcar.com for the Speedback’s official debut at the Top Marques show in Monaco next month.
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video review of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.
Frank caught automotive fever early in life. Hailing from a long line of car fanatics, he was able to recite the year and model of every car that passed him by age five. His passion and love for the automobile have only grown since then. When not thinking about cars, he is reading, writing, learning, or dreaming about them. His area of expertise is in the realm of German and Italian cars, of which Porsche is a favorite. Frank currently resides in the heart of NASCAR country in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his family. He enjoys driving exotic cars in the beautiful Carolina weather.
