Jenson Button heads up revived Radford

Jenson Button has diversified his post-F1 career by forming part of a consortium dedicated to bringing back one of Britain’s coolest 1960s coachbuilders – Radford.

Button has got together with TV presenter Ant Anstead, car designer Mark Stubbs and business advisor Roger Behle to bring back the famous name, with the firm’s first project being the Lotus 62-2 (based on the 1960s Lotus 62 sports racer), which was recently unveiled during the Quail Lodge show at Monterey Car Week. Only 62 cars will be made in total, with just 12 in the more powerful ‘Gold Leaf ’ specification. Prices…? Probably best not to ask.

Radford was founded in 1948 by Harold Radford and built its name creating bespoke Bentley and Rolls-Royce offerings. Among its designs were the Bentley Countryman and the fibreglass bodywork for the Ford GT40. It then designed a string of custom Minis for the likes of The Beatles and Peter Sellers. The firm went into liquidation in 1966. Button said: “Radford carries such prestige and magnetism for anyone with an appreciation of cars.”