--- title: "How a Restored 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog Finally Hit Over 200 MPH" date: "2023-06-07" modified: "2023-06-07" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-a-restored-1979-aston-martin-bulldog-finally-hit-over-200-mph" categories: - "Aston Martin News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "concept car" --- # How a Restored 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog Finally Hit Over 200 MPH ![]() *\Facebook/Classic Motor Cars\* The 1979 [Aston Martin]() Bulldog concept is one of the [most famous Astons of all time](). Not because it sold well or because it represented a milestone for the company, but because it looked darn cool in the'80s and it still looks darn cool now. In fact, the Bulldog never made it into production and the one-off concept was aborted after it failed to fulfill its original goal of reaching 200 mph. Now, almost 45 years after breaking cover, it's finally completed its mission. It surpassed it, actually, reaching 205.4 mph on Tuesday. The UK company in charge of the restoration, Classic Motor Cars Unlimited, [announced]() on Facebook that it managed to break the 200-mph barrier at the Machrihanish airfield in Scotland this week. This fulfills the vision of Richard Gauntlett, the current project leader—who is ironically the son of the man who axed the Bulldog project back in the '80s. "What a day! 205.4 MPH we did it!!!!! A huge round of congratulations to all the Bulldog Team," read the company's post on [Facebook](). "After thousands of hours of restoration and preparation by the team at Classic Motor Cars Limited. The 40-year-plus wait is over for this car to achieve its original vision, it has happened today on a runway in Scotland. What a car, what a team! "A special thank you to Bulldog's owner Philip Sarofim, Darren Turner who drove it to its potential, and to Richard Gauntlet who carried forward the dream. A very proud day here at CMC!" ![]() **Facebook/Classic Motor Cars** The car was under CMC's care during the restoration process, which was carefully monitored by Guantlett and the current owner Philip Sarofim. It involved a full overhaul of every aspect of the car, from mechanicals to the interior and, of course, keeping its iconic body true to the original. While the ultimate goal was to reach its top speed goal, the team did not want to alter the car's original body and soul. As you can imagine, bringing a 44-year-old car up to spec isn't an easy task, but it's even harder when said car was a one-off concept to begin with. A lot of the parts were never manufactured in large quantities by Aston, so many components had to be reproduced or reimagined. Plus, there's always the fact that driving 200 mph is an intimidating thing to do in a new car, let alone a vintage one. So there was always a safety aspect to keep in mind. Originally, the Bulldog's target goal was set for 237 mph, but the Aston quickly realized that this would be extremely hard, if not near impossible. It's unclear how many top speed tests it ran back in the day, but it's reported that the highest speed it ever reached was 191 mph, well short of its original target. The goalpost was then moved to 200 mph, but the company hit financial trouble and the project ended up being shelved. Sure, 205.4 mph still isn't 237, but it's fantastic to see a car so unique and so rich in history hit such a magical number. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()