Historics offers the Aston Martin DB9-based BAE Vantare GT prototype on 25th November
The prototype of a coach-built Aston Martin DB9-based evocation - the brainchild of actor, television presenter and engineer Bradley Walsh - comes to auction with Historics at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, on 25th November.
The design concept and three-year journey to the completion of this, the first BAE Vantare GT, is believed to have started with Walsh’s drive of his childhood icon, an Aston Martin DB5. The quintessential Bond car did not entirely suit him so Walsh set about the preliminary design of a car with more than a hint of British classicism, but featuring modern day mechanicals and a bespoke specification.
The experienced team at Essex-based British Automotive Engineering (BAE) was contracted to interpret Walsh’s preliminary design concept and bring the necessary engineering and coachbuilding skills to develop and produce the car, which took some three years. Whilst it started as a one-off project for Walsh, demand spawned the subsequent bespoke manufacture of a handful of cars to customer order.
Based on a 2005 Aston Martin DB9, a donor car was stripped to the chassis and rebodied with a flowing design in carbon fibre. Beneath the bonnet is the well tried and tested
6.0-litre, 450bhp V12 powerplant and running gear of the DB9, featuring a paddle shift automatic gearbox. Aston Martin vented disc brakes provide the stopping power front and rear.
Echoing Walsh’s desire to combine classicism with contemporary design cues the re-crafted, full leather interior features retro styling with a modern twist, the classic instrumentation and switchgear combining with a modern touchscreen display and infotainment system.
‘713 XUK’ is chassis number 001 of the project and was successfully utilised as a publicity and press car when the Vantare GT was launched. Estimated at £210,000-£240,000, this very first example of the BAE Vantare Grand Tourer has undoubted collector appeal.
The Historics sale, on Saturday 25th November at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, is preceded by viewings on the three previous days at the venue.
To view full details of all 150 fine and varied sale entries, see HERE
To register to bid - in-hall, by phone and online - see HERE
Photograph courtesy of TAZ BROTHERTON (www.tazzybrophotography.com)
Photograph of Bradley Walsh reproduced by kind permission of Steve Camplin
