Hopefully we can be excused for seeing 'six bespoke models celebrate Aston Martin Works' 60th anniversary' in a press release and becoming rather excited. This is Aston Works after all, the people who undertake manual conversions on the
old Vanquish
and the place to go if your Aston requires some optimisation.
Heater controls from pistons. Whatever next?
Unfortunately, the release also mentions 'unique colour and trim treatments' plus the fact the Vanquishes are being built with
Q by Aston Martin
. It's style rather than substance to mark the occasion, put simply. And to think 600hp would have tied in so nicely with a 60th anniversary.
There will however be just six models of the Vanquish, offered in both coupe and Volante forms. We're told each of the six cars is subtly different but with each 'tailored to reflect one of the six decades being celebrated'. So the paint and trim is unique but so also are the 'bespoke rotaries around the major controls'.
Each is cast from the metal of a piston used in an Aston engine from that period. Really. The decision has divided the PH office; some of us think it's really cool and others perceive it as tragically naff. The six cars and engines used are the DB 2/4 Mk II saloon (1955-65), DB5 (65-75), the V8 coupe (75-85), the V8 Vantage X-pack (85-95), V8 Vantage Supercharged (95-2005) and the original Vanquish (2005-2015). Just in case you forget which model yours is, there's a date inscription on the central dial. This car is the, er, Vanquish Vanquish limited edition, as shown by the 2005-2015 written inside.
Those wheels are on all of 'em...
Though each Anniversary Vanquish will be unique, there are certain features common to all. The yellow side strakes and wheels, for example... More discreet identifiers can be found with the new Aston Works 60th Anniversary logo and the black/white seat centre panels.
The Anniversary Vanquish is mechanically identical to the standard car, now of course in MY15 specification with 573hp and the eight-speed ZF auto. According to Aston Works Commercial Director Paul Spires it has "already taken a number of orders from collectors" on the new car. If you are after one, the price is available on application from Aston Works. Natch.