Edition #NINETEEN
In it for the Long Haul
(This update was previously sent out to our email subscribers. To receive updates the moment they happen, subscribe here.)
Happy Friday! Two and a half months since our last update, things have been ticking along over here. It’s worth mentioning that - should you find yourself itching for a more regular stream of communication - our Instagram account @shorelinebespoke is gearing up to provide content on a regular basis. And of course, you can always email or message us with any specific questions you have.
So, what’s new? In summary, we are back in R&D mode while continuing to lay the groundwork for the investment that will carry us through delivery of the first production vehicles at the end of 2026. If that sounds quick… it is!
Our updates begin with the prototype getting transported to the SF Bay Area for some clean-up ahead of a private investor event, which will take place early next year. I’ve been “rallying the troops” for that event, tapping into our incredible northern California car community. Within a 50-mile radius of Sonoma Raceway are some of the most sophisticated enthusiasts and prominent collectors in the world. The car lineup at this year’s Velocity Invitational was proof of that!
I’m so proud of the support we have received from this community who are quickly becoming a core part of our story. The private nature of our investment offering means we legally cannot share much, but it goes without saying this is a hugely critical time period for the company. That means a lot of excitement and a healthy dose of stress… More to follow soon!
I’ve been putting a lot of time into refining our pitch, leaning into my experience of doing just that for my former UK-based startup. A key element of pitching involves gaining investors’ trust in our ability to develop, manufacture, sell, and service cars for our future customers. One area of our business strategy that required more flushing out was the sales and registration process for our target markets. A significant amount of research over the last few months has culminated in a thorough registration strategy beginning with US customers. This strategy was developed with input from the individual who will oversee registration for all of our California-based customer cars. He has over a decade of experience registering low-volume bespoke vehicles and has processed over 400 vehicles in that time! We are also in the process of expanding our network with a select group of dealers who have passionate and qualified buyers. Doing so increases our access to potential customers while simultaneously ensuring they are cared for at a local level by someone they trust.
Next up: powertrain updates! I am proud to share that we have reached a preliminary agreement with an extremely reputable firm to ensure we deliver on our lofty powertrain targets and performance figures: Ed Pink Racing Engines. If that name sounds vaguely familiar, it may be because EPRE has built every Singer Porsche 911 Classic and Turbo engine. They’ve also played a key role in the 1000+ hp V8 of a certain similarly named multi-million dollar hypercar. All of this is to say that when I entered the engine build room I was a little lost for words. Shortly after picking my jaw up off the floor for the first time, I had to do so once more when I was shown a billet aluminum engine that EPRE made specifically to showcase their skills at the annual industry show PRI. It’s currently being revealed as I type this. Have a look for yourself:
I’ve saved the biggest update for last… a name change for our car! We had always envisioned our first production vehicle at home on California’s beautiful, twisting coastal roads. The name Laguna came from the car’s design ethos: a vehicle that could be driven on an early Sunday morning to catch the sunrise at Laguna Beach, and then up the coast to be thrashed on track at Laguna Seca. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who thought Laguna was a great name for a car. A certain someone (that would be me) was not appropriately diligent when performing the initial trademark search to confirm the name was available for use. It is, as it turns out, taken by a company called Vanderhall. They produced a three-wheel vehicle called the Laguna from 2016 to 2018 and they still own the trademark as it applies to vehicles. Suddenly, we were faced with the realization that our car needed a new name. I don’t know if you’ve ever seriously tried to name a car (RoadRacer 9000 has a ring to it) before but I wouldn’t call it easy. It had to be simple, evocative, and memorable. It should indicate a certain identity to anyone with motorsport knowledge, particularly the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. And so, after exhausting dozens of potential options, Laguna became…
And now, it’s back to the behind-the-scenes work. In addition to resuming R&D we are continuing to track within our network towards the private investor event. In the meantime, you can visit our website to learn more about our vision for Shoreline Bespoke, reach out, and shop for apparel. By subscribing to this newsletter, you’ll be the first to know about vehicle updates, future reveals, apparel releases and more… stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Spencer Beckman
Co-Founder & CEO