Royal Aston steals the show 29 | 04 | 2011
IF JAGUAR, ROLLS-ROYCE, Bentley and Range Rover thought they would battle it out for maximum Royal Wedding exposure, they didn't consider the surprise appearance of the 1969 vintage droptop Aston Martin Volante the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge used to leave Buckingham Palace.
A 21st birthday gift to Prince Charles from the Queen, the Seychelles Blue DB6 MKII Volante — complete with its 'L'-plate — was 'loaned' to his son Prince William and his new bride Kate for the short drive up The Mall from the palace to Clarence House.
Capable of only about eight miles to the gallon, the Aston DB6 has been converted to run on 100% bio-ethanol fuel distilled from grapes grown on a vineyard owned by the Royal Family. It's all part of Prince Charles' plans to cut his carbon footprint.
Sure the various Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Jaguar models which ferried the families to Westminster Abbey received their global TV coverage, but there's no question which car captured everyone's imagination, and which is dominating coverage on YouTube — the stunning Aston Martin DB6 MKII Volante convertible.
And just in case you were interested, here are details of some of the other cars which were used on the wedding day.
Kate Middleton’s mother was chauffeured to the abbey in a Jaguar, while the bride travelled in a 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI specially made for Queen Elizabeth II.
The Rolls was given to the Queen in 1978 for the Silver Jubilee of her reign by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a grand gesture by the imploding British auto industry. Worth noting the delay in gifting the Rolls was caused by a strike!
Valued now at just under £1 million, the Phantom VI was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. Naturally, most of the coachwork was done by Mulliner Park Ward.
The queen’s Bentleys — three feet longer, 10 inches taller, and six inches wider than a standard Bentley Arnage — were also used for the occasion. Powered by a twin-turbocharged, 6.75-litre V8 Engine that has been modified from Bentley’s Arnage R version to produce 400bhp, it's capable of 130mph. The cars are also equipped with broad coach doors that open to the rear almost 90 degrees.
And what do William and Kate use as their everyday cars? It's understood Wills has an Audi S4 (great choice) while Kate drives an Audi A3.
CLICK HERE to see our HD video of the Royals' Aston Martin
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Jim McGill