What do you get when you cross two acclaimed British institutions, Aston Martin Lagonda and British Airways? A stunningly luxurious car, of course – and just in time for Christmas.
Last year, to mark the renowned airline’s centenary year and the 50-year anniversary of the British-built Concorde’s first flight, the two pioneering brands announced the news of an exciting new project; the creation of a limited-edition sports car, inspired by the renowned supersonic aircraft. A year on and the 10 coveted cars have been realised in all their glory, now ready to be dispatched to their lucky new owners.
Dubbed the ‘High Climbing Queen of the Skies’, the Concorde was BA’s flagship, much as the DBS Superleggera Coupé was the flagship of the Aston Martin range. A special collaboration between acclaimed south west car dealership Dick Lovett and the two beloved British brands, the newly completed Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition is a car enthusiast’s dream.
The vehicles are rich with special features harking back to the original Concorde, including titanium elements crafted from the compressor blades used on the historic BA airliners. Each model is also marked with BA’s distinctive Chatham Flag tailfin cleverly worked into the design, with an eye-catching exterior accented by touches of the airline’s signature red, white and blue colour scheme. The stylish, black-tinted carbon fibre roof mirrors Concorde’s sleek design, with paddle shifters made from the original Concorde metal. There’s even a Mach Meter (an aircraft flight instrument) graphic embroidered on the driver’s sun side visor, so that owners can feel like they’re piloting their very own craft.
Every one of the 10 cars is entirely unique, thanks to their individual CAA registration numbers, marked on the exterior and etched into the seat belt buckle. With an ultra-exclusive run – like the 10 Concordes that were made in Britain – the vehicles have been kept at Aston Martin Bristol while awaiting their new homes. Fittingly, the site is just three miles from RAF Filton, where the first Concorde took off for the very first time, and where Alpha Foxtrot, the last Concorde to be built, touched down for the last time in November 2003. Today, David Levett’s Aston Martin Bristol workshop still looks out over the old runway, where the last Concorde now resides at Aerospace Bristol.
The journey of production was a truly special one, a testament to the unique nature of the cars and the project. Aston Martin Bristol worked closely with Aston Martin Lagonda and its Q team (specialists dedicated entirely to bespoke enhancements and unique vehicle features). Ever since the announcement of the special collaboration, car enthusiasts have been captivated by the project – including model, racing driver and former Concorde frequent flyer Jodie Kidd, who was thrilled to get involved in a behind the scenes video about the DBS Concorde Edition.
Priced at £321,350, part of the proceeds from each car sold is being donated to the Air League Trust, an aviation and aerospace charity that teaches underprivileged children how to fly planes and work in engineering. Aston Martin Bristol and BA will use the funds raised to run a week-long summer scholarship programme for young people at Cranfield University, helping to inspire a new generation of future engineers and scientists to become shining lights in the industry.
BA’s Chairman and CEO Alex Cruz commented: ‘Concorde was one of the most iconic designs of a generation and will always be a hugely important part of our heritage. In our centenary year we are thrilled to partner with Aston Martin, another British brand with an established history of exceptional design and engineering, and we hope to inspire another generation of aviators and engineers through this exciting partnership.’
For the eagle-eyed car aficionados snapping up the show-stopping new car, it’s a chance to get your hands on an exquisite piece of aviation and automotive history in one.
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