It’s not only Scots singer Susan Boyle who dreamed a dream. Her brother Gerry planned to create 250 jobs in Dundee producing a luxury car.
Mr Boyle has an agreement with the American owners of Excalibur to start manufacturing the head-turning vehicle again.
The legendary vehicle has been owned by the likes of Dean Martin, Tony Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Mr Boyle identified Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) in Dundee as his preferred site.
He said its close proximity to Dundee Airport was appealing as he anticipated high net worth people from around the world travelling by private jets to inspect their vehicles.
The bespoke Burlington Excalibur cars will carry a price tag of £295,000.
‘Too airy fairy, too incredible’
But despite a meeting with MSIP chiefs last summer, Mr Boyle said he wasn’t given an answer.
He has now found an alternative production site in Scotland.
Mr Boyle said: “We sent a detailed business plan but we’ve heard nothing since then.
“It’s not for us to chase them. I would have thought what we were proposing and the people we had involved would have caught their attention. I’m bewildered.
“I can’t speculate why there were no further meetings or dialogue.
“I’m wondering if it was just too airy fairy for them, too incredible.”
Burlington Excalibur luxury car plans go ahead – but not in Dundee
Mr Boyle said his plans to resurrect the Excalibur cars is supported by a group of businessmen worth billions.
His plans for the Burlington brand include a malt whisky and television station.
He said a Scottish site for production on the cars to start will be announced in February. The cars are made to order.
“The price puts them out of reach of most people but you have to plan for the future,” Mr Boyle said.
“If we are deluged with orders from around the world, you really have to have a site up your sleeve and that’s why Dundee was so attractive.
“If someone from Dundee came and said ‘look guys, sorry about this, can we get round the table and discuss it’ then of course we’d discuss that.
“The door’s not closed – we’ll talk to anyone.
“I have people in Dubai and Los Angeles saying they want to be dealers. There’s a lot of excitement in America that Excalibur cars are coming back.
“We haven’t started taking orders but there’s a lot of excitement.”
The Excalibur vehicle was styled after the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK by Brooks Stevens for Studebaker.
The vehicle has featured in the films Prizzi’s Honor, Ruthless People and Crocodile Dundee 2.
MSIP considering other tenants
MSIP, on the site of the former Michelin factory, is finding tenants to replace the 850 jobs lost when tyre production stopped.
Colin McIlraith, chief operating officer at MSIP, said Mr Boyle’s application didn’t meet the site’s aims.
He said: “All enquiries we receive regarding locating at MSIP are considered against set criteria.
“This includes alignment with our focus on sustainable mobility and decarbonisation.
“Unfortunately, this particular enquiry did not meet those set criteria and is therefore not one we are progressing.
“We have a steady stream of enquiries from companies that are interested in becoming tenants at MSIP. Naturally these enquiries are confidential by nature.”
