Outside the Hermes store in London’s Bond Street your reporter was unexpectedly invited to sample what is known as a dream machine. As the epitome of precision engineering and excellence in craftsmanship the David Brown Speedback GT takes the biscuit. It is an extraordinary partnership of design and technology, the Speedback found its inspiration in the iconic cars of the 60’s and the ultimate vintage speedboat the Riva. Combining retro looks with performance, hosting a 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine,and attention to the tiniest detail – hand-formed aluminium panels, British sourced hides, beautiful veneers, handmade bonnet badges- the Speedback Grand Tourerfulfils all the expectations of a petrol head.
This is a stylish woman/ man’s car, it looks and feels very sensual, it is fast with acceleration 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 155mph with loads of torque, the engine starts with a throaty purr not an ostentatious growl, it is comfortable with 16 adjustment seats, it is elegant and has a beautiful body 4.8 metres long, the interior is handcrafted with a split tailgate that allows for a fold-out picnic seat. The steering wheel is retro style solid lacquered wood with a silver riveted rim and an airbag in the centre for safety, each dashboard is unique with a veneer sourced from a UK supplier who scours the globe for the best quality and most unusual veneers; the Speedback GT has all the intelligent luxuries and safety features you would expect from a classic car designed for the twenty-first century.
David Brown Automotive is a traditional best of British motoring company, they offer a massive variety of bespoke options and work intimately with each customer to not only spec their particular car but involve them throughout the build process.
Colour wise the Speedback is bespoke, your reporter enjoyed one the colour of a cabochon ruby, this unique colour is achieved by an incredible fourteen different layers of paintand it was confessedthat each car takes an astonishing 8,000 man hours to build from the rolling chassis up.
Yorkshire born David Brown, the man behind the car, is a successful all-round entrepreneur, with a family background in quality engineered vehicles for the international market; Brown still has all the practical skills he learned on the shop floor. Two of Brown’s key passions are design-led engineering and the advanced techniques of low volume manufacturing, which allow the cost-effective production of complex parts, enter David Brown Automotive founded in March 2013. His concept of the Speedback was a marriage between the beauty of a Ferrari Daytona and the performance of a Peugeot 207.
David Brown Automotive is a traditional best of British motoring company, they offer a massive variety of bespoke options and work intimately with each customer to not only spec their particular car but involve them throughout the build process. Each car is serviceable at any Jaguar garage worldwide.David Brown intends the Speedbackwill be a limited edition of 100 cars, so far five cars have been delivered to their owners, currentlythey have the capacity to produce six to ten cars each year, the naires are beginning to queue up, it is loose change for some, the standard specification is £495,000 excludinglocal taxes.