David Brown Speedback GT: review

Except it’s someone else’s name. By one of those coincidences you come to expect, another David Brown decided to build a modern car that looked the way he wanted it.

Being a successful businessman with the means to do this helped a lot. And when it comes to selling the thing, being called David Brown (and not, say, Hector Clapworthy) does no harm either.

Here we have the result. Cars of this nature are almost always based on something else underneath, and the Speedback GT has the frame and drivetrain of a Jaguar XKR. Not a bad start, then.

The body up top was designed by one Alan Mobberley, a Land Rover old boy who Brown coaxed out of retirement to help make his dream come true.

And a dream come true is a pretty good description of the car itself. Aston was building the DB5 more than half a century ago, so it stands to reason that there’s plenty which can be done better now.

Of course, it doesn’t have the history of the real thing. But instead it has a standard of finish and detail that puts it in the highest echelons of the modern car market.

The bodywork, made for Brown by a coachbuilding company which specialises in concept cars, is like fine art. The interior likewise – it’s hand-crafted throughout in the best materials a man can get, looking a little like a throwback from a distant age but feeling a lot like a premium cabin that’s bang up to date.

It’ll seat four, and then there’s a sublime little touch at the back. With the main part of the tailgate up, its lower portion drops flat – then opens up to create a two-seat bench for viewing one’s horses on the gallops or other such gentlemanly pursuits.

We’ve not said anything about driving it, but here it is. It’s like an XKR. The 5.0-litre V8 engine and 6-speed auto gearbox are there, as is the suspension, braking and myriad electronics – though in keeping with its older styling, the Speedback is on taller tyres, so you can expect a plusher ride.

You can also expect a huge price tag, but one which merely reflects what goes into making such a car (a brand new XKR to cut up, things like that). Uniqueness will always be the preserve of the rich – or of people who do it themselves, and we’d like to see anyone creating a car of their own to anything like these standards.

At present, there’s only one Speedback GT. Brown says there’ll never be more than 100, though even that depends on the availability of suitable donor cars. But the company is already looking at ways of pulling the same trick in other parts of the market.

It won’t say what they are. But with the Speedback GT as your guide, you can safely assume the results will be worth looking at.

David Brown Speedback GT

Price: £594,000

0-62mph: 4.6 sec

Top Speed: 155mph

Engine: 8cyls, 5000cc, supercharged petrol

Power: 503bhp at 6000rpm

Torque: 416lb ft at 2500-5500rpm

Kerb weight: 1800kg (est)

Gearbox: 6-spd automatic with paddle shifters

Economy: 23mpg (est)

CO2 292g/km (est)