F1 champion Jenson Button’s coachbuilding car company, Radford, has shown off the inspiration for its retro-inspired new sports car.
Codenamed Project 62, the company says each car will be hand-crafted to individual customer specifications. The two-seater will use Lotus technology and will be ‘mechanical, engaging and poised’, says Radford.
Its design plays homage to the short-lived Lotus Type 62 racing car from the 1960s (pictured here).
Details are thin on the ground at this stage, but a spokesman told Motoring Research the company will reveal powertrain and price information “later on in the year”.
Prospective buyers are being invited to register their interest by placing a $1,000 (£704) refundable deposit.
Radford was founded in 1948 as Harold Radford Coachbuilders Ltd. Its original projects included the Bentley Countryman and fibreglass bodywork for the prototype Ford GT40.
The company later became famous for custom Bentleys and Minis. Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein commissioned Radford to create one-off Minis for the Fab Four.
Button announced he would bring back the name earlier this year, alongside car builder Ant Anstead, designer Mark Stubbs and business adviser Roger Behle.
“We believe in creating a personal experience throughout the build process and beyond, ensuring your vehicle is tailor-made for you, as well as inclusion in Radford events. Each owner will become a member of the Radford community,” the company says.
Those successful will be invited to attend a track-day with Button, where he will ‘demonstrate how owners can get the most out of their Radford on the racetrack on which they were developed’.
“As a British car lover, I am excited that Radford has the honour of working alongside Lotus to pay homage to the truly stunning original Type 62 from 1969,” Button said.
“With the dynamic development of our car already well underway, we are working hard to ensure we do this car justice, and I can’t wait to put it through its paces on the Radford track, before inviting today’s Project 62 owners to come and do the same.”
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