Back in his youth, tech entrepreneur Dominic Taylor spent twelve years in naval submarines. He used to do a regular commute between Plymouth and Southampton and his chosen steed was an MGB… but with a Chevy V8 in it. It was a pretty basic conversion, and he admits that it was wild, fast and frightening. The brakes were standard for a start, and the engine poked through the hood like a hot rod. He loved it. And also survived it.
But Dominic left the Navy (and the MG hot rod) to work in the innovative mobile phone business. From there he started contributing to tech start-ups and ended up taking a very successful firm from creation to flotation over a fifteen-year period.
I think much of our desired driving experience hinges on what you fancied when you were young, and back in my early days MGBs were the affordable thing. I wasn’t from a wealthy family, but things have worked out well for me and I wanted to invest in a car I loved: I wanted to get that youthful motoring feeling back and also to own something very beautiful that was really aligned to who I am.
I was an avid Top Gear watcher and one day I saw Chris Evans’ rave review of the Frontline MGB and I was struck. Evans’ point was that classic cars are all very well but they are generally pretty rubbish to drive, unless you pay a fortune to have them totally restored and properly sorted out. Or, if it’s your thing, even ‘retromodded’. The usual story involved an expensive car in the first place – a Jaguar E-Type or an old, V8-powered Aston Martin – and then a vast sum to sort it all out and make it the car you really want to own and drive. But the Frontline solution was different. There was a much more affordable car in the first place, and one which could be optimised in a more cost-effective way. Sure, it’s still a big investment, but it’s a fraction of what you’d have to spend on the more exotic stuff.
I chanced upon the Frontline stand at the Goodwood Revival and I remembered the Top Gear review and made the decision there and then. I particularly wanted a MGC – for all its quirks, great looks and more muscular character. I didn’t want to change the engine – go the 'Frontline Mazda' route – partly because I live in Malta and the import procedure needed it to be a largely original classic car. Besides, there’s a lot you can do to make a 'C really powerful and responsive. Tim and Frontline really took to the challenge – they are so good at bespoke engineering – and the result is brilliant. It has fuel injection for a start, which produces about 230bhp. It’s also got a five-speed box, but the fifth gear ratio is more like an overdrive.
I had to find a donor car, which Frontline helped me with. But it was when I was spec’ing the C – a full day’s job incidentally – that I spotted a GT V8 at Frontline with the most amazing dashboard and detailing. I was so intoxicated that I decided to go for one of those as well.
The V8 is a long-legged Grand Tourer: huge Lamborghini-like performance but quite relaxed. Whereas the Roadster C is more of a sporty and visceral choice. So, they are an ideal pair. Aside from living in Malta I also needed to spend time in Germany, so the two cars fitted my motoring ideals in those two countries perfectly: the Frontline C Roadster for twisty roads in sunny Malta; the GT V8 for the German autobahns. I also wanted two cars to leave to my two children – one each – ultimately. Cars that were unique, bespoke, high quality and forever desirable. Frontline has provided both to perfection.
Spec’ing the 'C (and the V8) took pretty much a whole day (each car). I wanted a unique colour combination for the 'C, a particular Aston Martin grey-green with deep burgundy leather and a metal dash. And I wanted modern benefits. I wanted to be able to answer calls and enjoy my music. So, we incorporated a Quadlock phone arrangement in a particular way that was quite unique at that time. And it’s all dialled into a wonderful sound system. For me that’s fundamental.
Security is a thing for me in Malta, so we created a bespoke tonneau cover arrangement, that took a bit of thought, and also incorporated a removable steering wheel. Perfect for when you stop for lunch – you just unclip the wheel and take it in with you.
I didn’t want keys flapping around the dashboard, and I wanted the theatre of a starter button. So the keys sit on a contactless tab under the armrest. The ignition switch would only be live if the keys were located on the tab under the armrest.
I’m besotted with the result. It’s everything I was hoping for and the whole process from start to finish has been such a joy. It’s an absolute dream to drive. I cannot imagine what else I would have bought for anything like the money that provides so much.
