2014 Aston Martin Bertone Jet 2+2 for sale at Classicmobilia Limited

2014 Aston Martin Bertone Jet 2+2

Seller's description

Aston Martin Bertone Jet 2+2

“Every car enthusiast’s dream and one man’s reality: to design and build one’s own supercar”

It was Barry Weir’s dream to design and build an Aston Martin supercar to his own specification and ideas.

Many share that dream, but what makes Barry different, and able to fulfill it, overcoming time, finances and know-how potential obstacles?

Barry is an adventurer, artist and driver of historic motorcars; he needs little sleep and never gives up.

My first encounter with this dynamic individual occurred at a time when he wanted to achieve more headroom in his new Aston Martin DB7.

After a number of back-to-back meetings, we proceeded substantially to redesign the interior of one of the most successful Aston Martins of its time. As a result, plenty of legroom was achieved, as well as good head clearance to stop Barry’s hair brushing on the roof panel (as shaving his head was not an option). The modifications carried out ensured that even a tall man would feel comfortable at the wheel of his car.

It was then that I realised how focused Barry was, and how he would not give up until he achieved his goals. His requirements may have been exacting, even demanding, but meeting them brought a lot of satisfaction.

This first project was followed by the adventure of a lifetime: driving a 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI around the world in 80 days! This took Barry through 22 countries, crossing four continents and covering 34,000 miles, all within that set period of time.

Preparation for the trip was long and rigorous, as much had to be anticipated and planned for: the car had to survive more than just a long rally, as it would have to drive on some of the worst roads in the world. Both man and car came back in one piece, and Barry moved onto his next project: building his own supercar.

Some background to what happened next may be useful: in 2009, Bertonebuilt a concept, known as the “Jet 2 shooting brake”, based on the Aston Martin DB9 platform. Barry enquired if the car may be for sale, but was told that it was Lilli Bertone’s personal car.

Italian coachbuilder Bertone, specialising in car design and manufacturing, has a distinctive style, with a strong "family resemblance" across work carried out on behalf of many manufacturers such as Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Citroën, Ferrari, Fiat, Iso, Lancia, Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz, Opel and Volvo, among others.

In October 2012 Barry received a call from Bertone: “would you like to build another Bertone Jet 2?” he was asked.

The immediate answer was a direct refusal, but after a couple of hours and a couple of coffees, it changed into a more sensible: “perhaps… how much?”

A meeting was set up in November 2012 at the Marco Polo Airport, around not very glamorous Formica table and plastic chairs. From there, the new adventure began.

Three simple sheets of paper were sent back to Bertone, together with a couple of rough sketches for its design team.

It was decided that the best donor car would be an Aston Martin Rapide, for which Barry set out ten requirements:

1) The finished car had to live up to or go beyond the reputation of the Rapide (the most luxurious 4-door saloon in the world, at the time).

2) It had to have a notepad in the front and rear, with matching pens.

3) The rear air vent ‘hump’ had to go, as Barry felt that it did not suit the car.

4) It had to have a glass roof, no curtains: just clear glass that turned opaque

with colour patterns.

5) It had to fit four full-size adults, not legless midgets. More headroom and legroom was required.

6) It had to be a shooting brake.

7) Its large front seats had to be made slimmer, to avoid the claustrophobic feeling in the rear.

8) It had to look stunning, like an Aston Martin, but different, fast, sexier, easy to use.

9) It had to be cheap to produce. “Impossible,” Barry’s wife exclaimed: “it’s an Aston Martin!”

10) It had to be something Aston Martin should have built, but never did.

It took Aston Martin 30 minutes to agree to support the build, as long as they could see the design. When the Bertone design team flew to Gaydon to show the design, the first words were “Wow, where does this come from?”

Barry agreed the design, with a few minor changes, and the project continued at full speed, with a fixed budget.

The donor car was purchased and arrived at Bertone in Turin in December 2012. By January 2013, the full size clay model was in place and decisions were made for interior fittings: wood, leather and fixtures.

The re-designed, slimmer and smaller seats were sent back to Aston Martin for approval.

Bertone announced that the car would be unveiled at the March 2013 Geneva Motor Show; this was a tight deadline, especially as the glass roof had not been yet manufactured.

Despite that, it all came together without any hiccups, with a few finishing touches to be completed after the show.

The release on the day was spectacular, though Barry would miss it because of his planned holiday in South Africa; he was there in mind, if not in body.

The car was a real show-stopper: even in the company of other substantial launches on the same day it held its place as a dream sportscar; it was a double celebration for both companies, as the year also marked a historical sixty-year cooperation anniversary between Aston Martin and Bertone.

Barry has covered over 9,000 miles in the car to date, and has displayed it at a number of events. He has used it as it should be, as a dream come true and an experience which went beyond the dream itself.

What now? A new adventure awaits, and Barry is eagerly expecting a phone call to start it all again.

For further details on the Bertone Jet 2+2, contact:
keith@classicmobilia.com
+44(0)7889 805432

Thanks to Lyndon Mcneil for the photographs