V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80

[Y100]

Simon Lane said:

LordBretSinclair said:

Am I the only who totally non-plussed by this ?????

Am I missing something, I'm a bit stumped on the Aston Martin/Spitfire connection, sorry guys but to me, as nice as the car is, this is just another one of these "limited edition" gimmicks to shift a few more cars.

Ready to be shot down in flames (pun intended !!!! )

Duxford is just 5 miles away from AM Cambridge so there is a local connection. Spitfires fly over the dealership every day in the summer months. It was the first operational Spitfire base in the RAF. Aston Martin have many links to aviation in their history including building parts & engines. Victor Gauntlett, former owner of AM owned a Spitfire. The V12 Vantage S has a large capacity, normally aspirated engine in a light aluminium frame, just like the Spitfire. The event cost and donation stretch well into 6 figures and we have had to build this into the cost along with a huge amount of Q content. A normal spec V12 Vantage S Coupe retails at around £160k. At £180k the car & package is great value and everything on the spec, including the accessories is included so no need to pay extra for a jacket. You get one anyway. All part of the FUN. The delivery time is being driven by the event as the Spitfires stop flying in November and do not resume until April. A lot of creative people have put a lot of thought and effort into this project AND there is actually a good cause being supported here so it would be great if the forum could support it too? Its easy to be cynical and of course its about selling cars, that is what keeps AM and its dealers in business, but maybe AM Cambridge are just a good bunch of people trying to do something different?

My two penneth; His Lordship does pose a fair question and I think Simon in his reply duly acknowledges the commercial aspect. Equally and I think convincingly, Simon does provide ample justification for the slightly eyebrow raising price.

As a potential owner, I think this very limited edition Vantage V12S has enormous appeal. The idea of combining in some way the building of Supermarine Spitfires with Aston Martin cars, two thoroughly British machine manufacturing icons just has to be a winner.

[V8Staffie]

I get the concept, the link and for me personally if I was not getting a GT8 manual I would be interested.
When I look at the amazing event recently at Burghley and the buzz and looks on people's faces as the various planes went over that's the hook for me. To commercially link a major event like the 80th birthday with a special edition car shows the power of the brand and the direction of flight the company is on. I hope it sells but I do get the raft of specials hitting the market at the moment in all marques. A bubble is forming and hope article 50 is not the prick!
The value is relative to your own expectations over the standard car I read it and it ticks my boxes. The donation is a nice gesture and fresh off the back of Burghley one I fully support. I have had a lot of banter with people anti GT8 and the cost over the standard. I can see their point but it's my money and it represents value to me and yes there were 3 options I did not tick.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sharing RAF Wittering 100th birthday where I got some great pictures of my Vantage V12 S roadster with Harrier Jump Jets met some amazing people who loved the aviation AM link.

The medication is kicking in but remember opinions are like aholes everyone's got one it's the beauty of life it would be boring other wise........
Those that know me will hopefully get the pop at me with the last comment

[Simon Lane]

Cracking editorial piece from PH. Well done folks. http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/ast...

[DB9VolanteDriver]

BaronVonVaderham said:

LordBretSinclair said:

Am I the only who totally non-plussed by this ?????

Am I missing something, I'm a bit stumped on the Aston Martin/Spitfire connection, sorry guys but to me, as nice as the car is, this is just another one of these "limited edition" gimmicks to shift a few more cars.

Ready to be shot down in flames (pun intended !!!! )

Nope, it's as tragic as the whole bond thing. Manufactured faux-exclusivity. Cheapens the car and the brand.

Quite the opposite. Connecting Aston to Bond and to Spitfire is great for the brand. Perhaps you'd prefer to connect it to Mata Hari and Fokker Triplane?

[Bincenzo]

I do struggle to understand why people appear to be perpetually negative about limited editions and anything that strays from the norm. Aston has long had an association with aviation and will continue to do so in the future I'm sure. The Spitfire edition will be a very welcome addition to an Aston/Aviation enthusiast and had I the money, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Equally, I get that some are not interested in aviation and will have the corresponding lack of interest........but berating the brand for injecting an additional dimension to AM ownership confuses me. Still, each to their own etc.

[BaronVonVaderham]

I deleted my post as I realise I was just being a grumpy git.

It's a stunning car, (especially like the colour) and will no doubt be an unforgettable experience for the lucky 8.

[RobDown]

Bincenzo said:

I do struggle to understand why people appear to be perpetually negative about limited editions and anything that strays from the norm. Aston has long had an association with aviation and will continue to do so in the future I'm sure. The Spitfire edition will be a very welcome addition to an Aston/Aviation enthusiast and had I the money, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Equally, I get that some are not interested in aviation and will have the corresponding lack of interest........but berating the brand for injecting an additional dimension to AM ownership confuses me. Still, each to their own etc.

+1

[avinalarf]

Bincenzo said:

I do struggle to understand why people appear to be perpetually negative about limited editions and anything that strays from the norm. Aston has long had an association with aviation and will continue to do so in the future I'm sure. The Spitfire edition will be a very welcome addition to an Aston/Aviation enthusiast and had I the money, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Equally, I get that some are not interested in aviation and will have the corresponding lack of interest........but berating the brand for injecting an additional dimension to AM ownership confuses me. Still, each to their own etc.

+1
Jolly good post,old chap........,apposite.......,literate.......chocks away.

[Simon Lane]

Thanks for all the support on here its really appreciated. 5 of the cars are now sold so hopefully with all the exposure in the press since the launch yesterday the others will go in the coming days and we can look forward to building them. We are arranging a factory tour for all 8 owners to see the cars being built in September and they will receive a presentation on designing the car and get to meet 2 amazing WW2 combat veteran Spitfire pilots courtesy of the RAF BF. Here are a few more images for you - this is the rotary control for the Sat Nav

[Simon Lane]

......and this is the actual 'Duxford Green' colour sample we had made over a Kestral Tan leather sample - picture was taken in natural light

[sirdavid]

Simon Lane said:

5 of the cars are now sold

Congratulations, Simon. Wonderful to see a dealer like AM Cambridge doing something special. The "Remove Before Use" strap and the Roundel button are particularly nice touches, I think.

How would you say Duxford Green compares with other greens such as Pentland, Buckingham, etc?

[Simon Lane]

It is darker than both of them. We actually have a very nice Pentland Green DB9 Volante in stock now so have compared the sample. I asked the Q team to come up with a Green that was so dark you could be forgiven for thinking it was black. I think it will look amazing can't want to see them on the production line!

[james-witton]

Were you not just a little bit tempted to add a splash of brown - camouflage type?

Fantastic idea by the way. Congratulations

[Simon Lane]

james-witton said:

Were you not just a little bit tempted to add a splash of brown - camouflage type?

Fantastic idea by the way. Congratulations

Hi James. At the very beginning of the planning back in February we discussed this, but we wanted to the keep the car very cool and understated. The brown is on the inside. No matter what we did with camo it had a whiff of some unfortunate vinyl wraps - totally the opposite of what this is all about. The art of Spitfire 80 is in the detail - it doesn't have to shout.

[cayman-black]

That sample does not look green at all.
Five sold already , well done.

[Beefmeister]

cayman-black said:

That sample does not look green at all.
Five sold already , well done.

Indeed, just shows the difference between natural light and being lit in a studio.

[SS972]

A the Sttugart dealership

[Octavarium]

SS972 said:

A the Sttugart dealership

Oh dear

[Bobajobbob]

For what it is worth I think the car looks fantastic.

[Buster73]

Bobajobbob said:

For what it is worth I think the car looks fantastic.

Not my cup of tea to be honest but hats off to anyone who is prepared to buy it or pay for it to be wrapped like that.