S34COW - anyone know what it is?

[Jader1973]

I just spotted what looked Ike a sort of backdated Aston Martin, reg was S34COW. Phone was flat so no pic I’m afraid.

Googling the reg brings up two pics from Twitter and Aston Martin’s website.

Does anyone know what it is / is based on?

[Jon39]

Vehicle Details
Vehicle make ASTON MARTIN
Date of first registration September 2016
Year of manufacture 2016
Cylinder capacity 5935 cc

Looking at the MoT history then reveals that this car is registered as an Aston Martin DB9.
Presumably rebodied.

I cannot spot it, but is the registration mark supposed to read something?
Something to do with dairy farming perhaps.

A bit of a chancer. The year of first registration does not allow black and silver number plates.

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 4th July 18:58

[Simpo Two]

I found two photos on Twitter but they're not loading. However I did find this odd beast: https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1563066 Interesting, but the front does look rather like a startled hamster.

[Doofus]

Bradley Walsh's fever dream.

[Jader1973]

Thanks for the replies.

So it is a BAE Vantare of which they were meant to build 10. However googling it returns a Carscoops article which says they think the one for sale may be the only one - obviously there are at least 2!

The website is “undergoing maintenance” and the FB page was last updated over 12 months ago, so it looks like they are no longer in business.

[F1NDW]

I saw one at the Silverstone Classic around about 2018. Not my cup of tea.

[Doofus]

Not anybody's cup of tea, as it turns out. Even Bradley sold his.

[LesXRN]

The closest thing to the reg', S34COW, would be an old BR SEACOW railway ballast wagon.

[senninha2]

Spotted today outside Lords Cricket ground … very unique rear 3/4 and side profile, front not so good but looked interesting. Parked in an Electric car bay(?), so hope it hasn’t lost its soul

[LesXRN]

From the windscreen back, it reminds me of an old Volvo. Think Simon Templar, the Saint.

[Jon39]

senninha2 said:

Measure up from the sill, over the door to the lower window trim.
Then upwards to the roof.

No golden ratio (1.618), or devine proportion there.
Hence the roof looks squashed.

[Calinours]

I guess its easy to pour scorn on dreams that an individual was brave and bold enough to make into reality, especially when it doesn't quite work out. Brad had a good go and must have put loads of his own money in. For sure the result is at best awkward, but we can all see what he was trying to do, which kind of makes me for one wonder why he didn't just buy a David Brown Speedback - for me a far better riff on the same (updated DB5) theme. Image below for the uninitiated:



Maybe the Jag underpinnings of the Speedback GT just didnt sit well with Brad.

Edited by Calinours on Thursday 11th July 20:32

[goatherder2001]

Seen today. Stunning

[Nigel_O]

I had a good look round this car while I was having some work done at Aston Installations.

I think it s fair to say that the aesthetics are an acquired taste. It s not for everyone, but that s often the case with custom builds.

However, despite what anyone thinks about the looks, there s no denying the execution is amazing. The bodywork is close to factory standard and the interior is stunning.

I couldn’t live without analogue wing mirrors, as small LED panels don’t give and depth of field (and the screens inside the car aren’t particularly well integrated)

I wouldn’t, but I can easily see why some would

Edited by Nigel_O on Thursday 18th September 09:01

[Simpo Two]

If I had far too much money I'd buy one for the curiosity value and uniqueness. It would go nicely with the Eagle Speedster I don't have...!

I had no idea it was the product of the gabby man who hosts quiz games on the telly. Someone might like to add the car to his Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Walsh

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 18th September 09:28

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Spotted this today parked at Old Street McDonald's. It's quite stunning to behold, although the screens for the camera mirrors look like a couple of chunky old Tomtom satnav units. Ceramics brakes lurking under those wheels as well.

Edited by Koyaanisqatsi on Saturday 20th September 16:08

[Simpo Two]

Yep, the mirror idea is silly, but it has a DB9 interior and I'd still buy one (if they take the iPad off the dashboard)

[johns355]

Regards with the digital mirrors, I’ve got them on one of my other cars (ioniq 5) First week I didn’t like them much, but they really grow on you, had the car 17 months now, I actually prefer them to conventional mirrors.

[Doofus]

johns355 said:

Regards with the digital mirrors, I ve got them on one of my other cars (ioniq 5) First week I didn t like them much, but they really grow on you, had the car 17 months now, I actually prefer them to conventional mirrors.

My problem is that they display a 2D image, whereas the view in a real mirror is 3D.

It may not be a concern to others, but I find it disconcerting.

[VantageHead]

This looks very much like the Aston Martin DB9-based BAE Vantare GT.

According to publicity at the time, “The Vantare GT is the brainchild of actor, television presenter and engineer Bradley Walsh, and was built by British Automotive Engineering. The Vantare GT was Bradley Walsh’s vision of what a modern Aston Martin would be if Aston had kept faith with the design ethos of cars like the DB4, DB5 and DB6”.



Here’s the sale details (and more photos) of Bradley’s own car, which sold at auction in October 2024.

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2005-bae-vanta...