Does the name “Radford’ ring any petrolhead bells? In 1948, Mr Radford himself set about starting his own little coachbuilding outfit, with his first creation being a station wagon based on the Bentley Mk VI. He became rather well-known for his unparalleled attention to detail and remarkable workmanship. In the 1960s, Aston Martin’s DB5 was given the Radford treatment with 12 shooting brakes having been created for sporting, discerning folk.
Along with a few other feathers in their cap, Radford also created the bespoke doors, engine hatch, and front nosepiece for the Ford GT40 Prototype, however, they were probably best known for their tarted-up Mini’s. Enzo Ferrari, every member of The Beatles, and Peter Sellers all drove a Radford Mini – not too shabby, then.
Despite this success, the company entered voluntary liquidation in 1966.
Fast forward some time and here we are in 2021, with F1 Champion Jensen Button, car designer Mark Stubbs, TV Personality Ant Anstead and lawyer Roger Behle at the helm of the much-loved British Coachbuilder.
The first modern car from Radford, the Type 62-2 showcases the breadth of the company’s ability, taking inspiration from the revered Lotus Type 62 but with Hethel’s latest technologies beneath the retro-inspired bodywork.
Technologies such as a bonded and riveted aluminium and carbon fibre bodywork, allowing for the Type 62-2 to have a dry weight of under 1 000 kg, depending on specification. Lotus’/Toyota’s spectacular 3,5-litre supercharged V6 provides the power and aural enjoyment, mounted behind the driver and as low as possible to benefit the car’s handling characteristics.
Speaking of which, development driving and testing has been done by Jensen Button – if you have the man on board, may as well put him to good use, eh? Of the handling, he says,
“Its responses, low centre of gravity and handling make it feel like a race car, yet it is also smooth and compliant on the road. The experience of driving the car is really about fun, simplicity and inspiring driver confidence behind the wheel – but with the luxury appointments you would expect from a world-class coachbuilder.”
Two models will be on offer – the ‘Classic’ with subtle design cues to the original Type 62 Lotus, and the ‘Gold Leaf’ which pays homage to the iconic race car’s livery and distinctive wings which were added by Lotus in period for more downforce after track testing. The 3,5-litre 2GR-FE powerplant outputs 320 kW in the Classic model and 373 kW in the Gold Leaf, with the Classic model available with a close-ratio six-speed transmission and the Gold Leaf a seven-speed DCT . Should buyers wish to do so, the Classic can be fitted with the seven-speed DCT and the engine’s output increased to 373 kW. The Gold Leaf also features a mechanical limited slip-differential whereas the Classic features an electronic system.
Both models are fitted with superb AP Racing four-pot calipers with iron rotors to ensure optimum stopping power. Each vehicle features wing mirrors that visually reference those found on the original car, but also feature compact yet powerful cameras mounted inside their housing which are connected to two small screens on each A-pillar, displaying a live image from outside. Bluetooth, a five-speaker sound system, and a Wi-Fi-enabled data logger also feature inside the Type 62-2.
Production of the Radford Type 62-2 begins in late 2021 and first deliveries are set to take place in the first quarter of 2022.
