This Aston Martin Restomod is Marvelous and I Need It Now
The David Brown Automotive 2017 Speedback GT made its European debut in Geneva.
At first glance, the Speedback GT appears to be an Aston Martin restomod, but that’s literally just the surface. The British company is a low-volume automaker and the coachbuilt Speedback GT pays homage to the Aston Martin DB5, riding on an all-aluminum monocoque chassis with handformed aluminum body panels. Powering the Speedback GT is a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine, delivering 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque, resulting in a zero-to-60 time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Both the underpinnings and engine are taken from the Jaguar XKR, ensuring the Speedback GT is as British as it gets.
2017 Geneva Motor Show Coverage
The British automaker says the 2017 Speedback GT will be limited to just 100 units and they come at a significant price, starting from £495,000.00 ($602,895) excluding taxes. But then again, no two Speedback GTs will ever be alike as buyers can choose from a wide variety of bespoke options to make each vehicle their own. The company claims it takes over 7,200 hours to hand build one unit, with over 800 man hours going into paint and body alone. The craftsmen working on the interior takes over 2,000 hours to create a bespoke cabin for each vehicle.
If all this looks familiar to you, that’s because the Speedback GT was first shown as a prototype to the press and public in 2014. Since then, hundreds of changes have been incorporated into the 2017 model and the company has a new manufacturing facility as it looks to ramp up production.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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