On a small farm in East Hertfordshire lies Dowsetts Classic Cars. To all intents and purposes, it looks, well, just like a farm. Behind the shutters, though, and past the barns is a veritable treasure trove of motoring.
Founded by Ant Anstead, Dowsetts designs and builds bespoke vehicles that evoke the spirit of classic sports cars.
It’s here that the Comet is built. Dowsetts’ latest venture is a two-seater grand tourer built in the image of iconic classic sports cars.
And in keeping with that image, it’s little surprise that the Comet looks like a 1960s car brought into the modern age. The long, flowing lines are an example of classic coachbuilding, but the body hides modern brakes and a complete sport exhaust system.
Then there’s the engine. It’s a tried-and-tested General Motors LS3 crate V8, which here produces close to 430bhp. That’s quite a lot, considering the car weighs in at just over 1,500kg.
In fact, Dowsett claims that the Comet will manage the 0-60mph dash in just 3.9 seconds, and flat out it’ll exceed the 150mph mark. Customers can choose individual specifications and mechanical differences, but the car we got up and close with used a manual gearbox driving the rear wheels only.
Inside, you’ll find a raft of high-quality materials; the seats and headlining have been quilted, and everything feels impressively hand-finished. Seating is a little tight for those over six foot, however. There’s polished metal used throughout, and a highlight is the gloriously thin-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel – it’s something you just don’t find on modern cars. The cabin feels expensive, but it is fitted to an expensive car – the Comet costs from £140,000 before you’ve added any specific touches.
We only managed a very short drive in the car, but it was enough to get some initial impressions. The V8 under the bonnet is immediately characterful from start-up, burbling away at low speeds. It feels punchy, but the throttle isn’t intimidatingly sharp, either.
The ride is good too. The area we’re driving on is pretty agricultural to say the least, but the Comet manages to iron out the worst of it. Having power steering also makes low-speed turns a little bit easier.
However, it’s a compact thing. Despite the long front overhang, it isn’t intimidating to move around, and the wealth of torque available means that it can be driven at low speeds quite easily.
Before long, our time with the car is up. It’s an attractive package, the Comet. Good look, elegant craftsmanship and a whopping great V8 combine to make a car which feels like a vehicle of yesteryear brought up-to-date. It’s an experience from start to finish, even before the engine has roared into life, one which will appeal to those with a love of classic sports cars just as much as with petrolheads who have a penchant for cutting-edge metal.