So what made you fall in love with Astons and when?
Discussion
Reading a 1978 Autocar or Motor article about the V8 saloon, started me off. This then became a strong desire to own one after watching Brewster's Millions (1985). AM ownership first became a reality in 2003 with a DB7. Now have 4 (DB7, DB7VV, V8 saloon and DB9) and couldn't imagine being without an Aston.
Ah this thread might have some sort of therapy for me. Might explain a few things…
Of course the Scottish person with the silver car got me interested, but growing up in Maidstone in the 80s you NEVER saw one. And the yellow pages EVER listed a dealership in Kent. We lived near the library and I would get car books out to read. Sure there were Lambos etc (Cannonball run film too, which all my friends loved and thought Moore’s Aston was slow and boring). There was a V8 we saw in a village near Canterbury once, but that really was it.
I had an addiction but could never scratch the itch
We would often go on holidays around the UK and I would always check the yellow pages. No Aston dealerships in Haworth or Porlock though. Still they eluded me.
May 1989 was when it all changed for me. The local paper mentioned there was to be Astons racing at brands hatch and a club display. I begged, and we eventually went. A very hot Sunday, but more soooo many Astons. I still have the newspaper clipping, and photos from the day.
Later that year the BBC showed the 6h race, with onboard footage from the AMR1 which finished 4th. Now we’re talking! Two sightings in a year!!!
And in 1990, I read my Grandparents yellow pages, and (of course) there was Aston dealerships. And Hyde vale. Which was about 50m off the road we drove through to get from kent to London. All those years and we were driving past a workshop. They had a purple DB5 outside. I didn’t have a camera. Later that year I bought my first book: the Paul Chudecki book on the V8 Astons, including the then new Virage. Top gear also did the road test that year, the VHS of which I have sadly lost which is a shame as the top gear forums don’t recognise its existence. Also, whilst in the garage on bluebell hill buying the September 1990 Fast Lane magazine (Virage road test) a V8 roared past, down the hill. The next year, age 14 I joined the AMOC. Then the addiction could really be satisfied. But of course, it just grew...
Of course the Scottish person with the silver car got me interested, but growing up in Maidstone in the 80s you NEVER saw one. And the yellow pages EVER listed a dealership in Kent. We lived near the library and I would get car books out to read. Sure there were Lambos etc (Cannonball run film too, which all my friends loved and thought Moore’s Aston was slow and boring). There was a V8 we saw in a village near Canterbury once, but that really was it.
I had an addiction but could never scratch the itch
We would often go on holidays around the UK and I would always check the yellow pages. No Aston dealerships in Haworth or Porlock though. Still they eluded me.
May 1989 was when it all changed for me. The local paper mentioned there was to be Astons racing at brands hatch and a club display. I begged, and we eventually went. A very hot Sunday, but more soooo many Astons. I still have the newspaper clipping, and photos from the day.
Later that year the BBC showed the 6h race, with onboard footage from the AMR1 which finished 4th. Now we’re talking! Two sightings in a year!!!
And in 1990, I read my Grandparents yellow pages, and (of course) there was Aston dealerships. And Hyde vale. Which was about 50m off the road we drove through to get from kent to London. All those years and we were driving past a workshop. They had a purple DB5 outside. I didn’t have a camera. Later that year I bought my first book: the Paul Chudecki book on the V8 Astons, including the then new Virage. Top gear also did the road test that year, the VHS of which I have sadly lost which is a shame as the top gear forums don’t recognise its existence. Also, whilst in the garage on bluebell hill buying the September 1990 Fast Lane magazine (Virage road test) a V8 roared past, down the hill. The next year, age 14 I joined the AMOC. Then the addiction could really be satisfied. But of course, it just grew...
Years ago,in the 1970's,when I still had hair.
I had put a deposit down and specced a Pontiac Firebird from the States.
About a week after putting down the deposit I got a phone call from a mate.
He was friendly with a salesman from H.R Owen and he suggested I look at two Astons they had in stock,a DB5 in metallic grey and a DB6 MK2 in Carribean blue.
I was smitten by how cool they looked,both cars were circa £3500.
I decided on the DB6 and spent the following years enjoying the car with my then girlfriend,who I later on married.
So Astons will always have a nostalgic place in my heart,reminding me of many happy memories.
I had put a deposit down and specced a Pontiac Firebird from the States.
About a week after putting down the deposit I got a phone call from a mate.
He was friendly with a salesman from H.R Owen and he suggested I look at two Astons they had in stock,a DB5 in metallic grey and a DB6 MK2 in Carribean blue.
I was smitten by how cool they looked,both cars were circa £3500.
I decided on the DB6 and spent the following years enjoying the car with my then girlfriend,who I later on married.
So Astons will always have a nostalgic place in my heart,reminding me of many happy memories.
As a kid growing up in the 80's and obsessed with cars I was aware of Aston but no more than any other car.
In 1993 at the age of 15, Clarkson did a review of the then supercharged vantage and I was hooked. Not only was it the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, it had buttons on the seats!! Pretty remarkable to me!
I still remember and sometime still use today, the line Clarkson used to describe it's sound, 'despite an impressive sound system, on full pelt the engine has the ability to make it sound like someone's else's personal stereo on a bus', brilliant!
My manual DB9 is very different and doesn't really make me think of the Vantage, but I'll always have a soft spot for one
John
In 1993 at the age of 15, Clarkson did a review of the then supercharged vantage and I was hooked. Not only was it the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, it had buttons on the seats!! Pretty remarkable to me!
I still remember and sometime still use today, the line Clarkson used to describe it's sound, 'despite an impressive sound system, on full pelt the engine has the ability to make it sound like someone's else's personal stereo on a bus', brilliant!
My manual DB9 is very different and doesn't really make me think of the Vantage, but I'll always have a soft spot for one
John
avinalarf said:
Years ago,in the 1970's,when I still had hair.
I had put a deposit down and specced a Pontiac Firebird from the States.
About a week after putting down the deposit I got a phone call from a mate.
He was friendly with a salesman from H.R Owen and he suggested I look at two Astons they had in stock,a DB5 in metallic grey and a DB6 MK2 in Carribean blue.
I was smitten by how cool they looked,both cars were circa £3500.
I decided on the DB6 and spent the following years enjoying the car with my then girlfriend,who I later on married.
So Astons will always have a nostalgic place in my heart,reminding me of many happy memories.
Awwww. that's nice!I had put a deposit down and specced a Pontiac Firebird from the States.
About a week after putting down the deposit I got a phone call from a mate.
He was friendly with a salesman from H.R Owen and he suggested I look at two Astons they had in stock,a DB5 in metallic grey and a DB6 MK2 in Carribean blue.
I was smitten by how cool they looked,both cars were circa £3500.
I decided on the DB6 and spent the following years enjoying the car with my then girlfriend,who I later on married.
So Astons will always have a nostalgic place in my heart,reminding me of many happy memories.
As far as dealerships goes, our local rich man's emporium was Reg Vardy near Sunderland. For a long while until the 90s it was a multi-marque dealership until Ferrari started getting stroppy about being sold alongside competition. So in 1982 you could walk around and see gorgeous new Astons, Lagonda, Lotus, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Bentley and even Scimitars I think.
Around that time Aston did a "roadshow" whih also brought along the Bulldog - utter heaven. As a callow 14 year old it was scarcely believable to be able to sit in and play with it (I noticed even then the exhausts getting hot enough to bubble the paint on the valance!).
Promised myself a DB4,5 or S, which always seemed twice as much as I could afford, but sort of gave up eventually. Indeed my family have expressed some surprise at my "new" DB9, saying they had never heard me talking of any burning desire for an Aston. As for many years there seemed as much chance of buying an Apollo moon rocket it wasn't really worth mentioning.
Around that time Aston did a "roadshow" whih also brought along the Bulldog - utter heaven. As a callow 14 year old it was scarcely believable to be able to sit in and play with it (I noticed even then the exhausts getting hot enough to bubble the paint on the valance!).
Promised myself a DB4,5 or S, which always seemed twice as much as I could afford, but sort of gave up eventually. Indeed my family have expressed some surprise at my "new" DB9, saying they had never heard me talking of any burning desire for an Aston. As for many years there seemed as much chance of buying an Apollo moon rocket it wasn't really worth mentioning.
Dreams nearly always become a reality if your prepared to work hard for it all.
Ive been lucky enough so far to be able to own all the cars on my wish list with my Aston being the latest acquisition which ive had for 3 years now. Don't think I will part with her for a long time yet to come albeit I do have one more car on my list which I would love to own but they are very seldom now found in MINT condition and I would not buy one if it were not so but my Aston will do me for now.
My love and the wanting to own an Aston Martin came from the James Bond 007 films with Sean Connery and that awesome DB5 which is my all time dream Aston to own. Lottery win needed now though to buy one.
Ive been lucky enough so far to be able to own all the cars on my wish list with my Aston being the latest acquisition which ive had for 3 years now. Don't think I will part with her for a long time yet to come albeit I do have one more car on my list which I would love to own but they are very seldom now found in MINT condition and I would not buy one if it were not so but my Aston will do me for now.
My love and the wanting to own an Aston Martin came from the James Bond 007 films with Sean Connery and that awesome DB5 which is my all time dream Aston to own. Lottery win needed now though to buy one.
For me the gold finger db5 was etched into my memory from watching the film at an early age. But it was Boys Own adventure stuff with gadgets and ejector seats. Not so much Aston as a brand. The car was clearly something special, beautiful, but it was already a classic by the time I was watching those films.
Astons in the 80s seemed too dated for me. The original vanquish started to change my view, with its graceful curves and aggressive look, and it showcased the direction for the future. But for me Its the Gaydon era cars. They were now cool, modern, stylish, and the cars were the best looking out there. But most of all they were clearly classic pieces of design not just following trends or gimmicks. But it was Casino Royal/quantum of solace and the DBS that had me hooked. Funny how things go full circle, and it shows how important the Bond franchise can be for Aston for the next generation of potential Aston owners.
A decade later and I have my first Aston, a DB9, and my job is closely connected to the brand and its future.
Astons in the 80s seemed too dated for me. The original vanquish started to change my view, with its graceful curves and aggressive look, and it showcased the direction for the future. But for me Its the Gaydon era cars. They were now cool, modern, stylish, and the cars were the best looking out there. But most of all they were clearly classic pieces of design not just following trends or gimmicks. But it was Casino Royal/quantum of solace and the DBS that had me hooked. Funny how things go full circle, and it shows how important the Bond franchise can be for Aston for the next generation of potential Aston owners.
A decade later and I have my first Aston, a DB9, and my job is closely connected to the brand and its future.
Of course Bond's DB5 started it all, but It was the V8 in Vantage spec in the 80's that really grabbed my attention. Quickest 0-100 production car at the time - 13 seconds if I recall. Then later, after seeing the DB9 vs train on Top Gear I knew in my heart then that one of these dream cars was within reach.if we could get our business to fly. Since, I've owned a Vantage V8, V12, DBS, DB7, Vanquish and now a V12S it occurs to me that I've never actually owned any of the cars that inspired me in the first place. Fail.
Little Donkey said:
Of course Bond's DB5 started it all, but It was the V8 in Vantage spec in the 80's that really grabbed my attention. Quickest 0-100 production car at the time - 13 seconds if I recall. Then later, after seeing the DB9 vs train on Top Gear I knew in my heart then that one of these dream cars was within reach.if we could get our business to fly. Since, I've owned a Vantage V8, V12, DBS, DB7, Vanquish and now a V12S it occurs to me that I've never actually owned any of the cars that inspired me in the first place. Fail.
Ye Tosser.......Ill use this thread as a timely means of introduction..At circa 10 years of age I remember seeing and then hearing a Vantage X pack start up at a mini rugby tournament in Bath. Aston then released the Virage Vantage and a Clarkson video (unleashed on cars) on repeat in my teens featuring the same compounded the desire further. A trip to Earls Court at 16 with some all access Aston passes saw me on the stand sat in the V600 Le Mans and I can pinpoint that exact moment in time that I truly fell in love.
Into my 20's and the fascination of the marque continued further with the arrival of a classic into the old mans stable, being the first Aston I had the pleasure of driving. Into my 30's an invite to works with him (and plenty of others from here) saw me out for a spin in a new Vanquish, after an extensive tour of the heritage centre. After Burghley last summer it was clear that at some stage I had to own an Aston Martin, my fate well and truly sealed.
Fast forward to yesterday and that dream became a reality, rather sooner than anticipated after a test drive of a gleaming black Vantage. The week until next Saturday when I collect my first Aston Martin after 25 odd years is going to be tough!
Into my 20's and the fascination of the marque continued further with the arrival of a classic into the old mans stable, being the first Aston I had the pleasure of driving. Into my 30's an invite to works with him (and plenty of others from here) saw me out for a spin in a new Vanquish, after an extensive tour of the heritage centre. After Burghley last summer it was clear that at some stage I had to own an Aston Martin, my fate well and truly sealed.
Fast forward to yesterday and that dream became a reality, rather sooner than anticipated after a test drive of a gleaming black Vantage. The week until next Saturday when I collect my first Aston Martin after 25 odd years is going to be tough!
35 years ago I wrote a letter, in my very best English, and blagged a trip to Newport Pagnell under the guise of a school project for me and a mate. There was no school project but there were loads of V8's being formed out of aluminium by hand. I got to sit in the Vantage V8 (it just had to have the extra two headlamps for me...) and met a chap that got to put his name on a plaque on the engine; soooo cool!. I also met a lovely lady that was stitching the leather by hand in an incredibly aromatic area! So it all formed a connection and made the marque a bit more special. And yesterday I was cleaning the leather in my very own after a fabulous blast in it that exercised the V12 and after delighting in its handling and balance and its stunning good looks. Lucky boys 
CharlieB said:
Ill use this thread as a timely means of introduction..At circa 10 years of age I remember seeing and then hearing a Vantage X pack start up at a mini rugby tournament in Bath. Aston then released the Virage Vantage and a Clarkson video (unleashed on cars) on repeat in my teens featuring the same compounded the desire further. A trip to Earls Court at 16 with some all access Aston passes saw me on the stand sat in the V600 Le Mans and I can pinpoint that exact moment in time that I truly fell in love.
Into my 20's and the fascination of the marque continued further with the arrival of a classic into the old mans stable, being the first Aston I had the pleasure of driving. Into my 30's an invite to works with him (and plenty of others from here) saw me out for a spin in a new Vanquish, after an extensive tour of the heritage centre. After Burghley last summer it was clear that at some stage I had to own an Aston Martin, my fate well and truly sealed.
Fast forward to yesterday and that dream became a reality, rather sooner than anticipated after a test drive of a gleaming black Vantage. The week until next Saturday when I collect my first Aston Martin after 25 odd years is going to be tough!
Congrats Charlie, but you (and Rich) know the rules; pictures please!Into my 20's and the fascination of the marque continued further with the arrival of a classic into the old mans stable, being the first Aston I had the pleasure of driving. Into my 30's an invite to works with him (and plenty of others from here) saw me out for a spin in a new Vanquish, after an extensive tour of the heritage centre. After Burghley last summer it was clear that at some stage I had to own an Aston Martin, my fate well and truly sealed.
Fast forward to yesterday and that dream became a reality, rather sooner than anticipated after a test drive of a gleaming black Vantage. The week until next Saturday when I collect my first Aston Martin after 25 odd years is going to be tough!
V12JDC said:
As a kid growing up in the 80's and obsessed with cars I was aware of Aston but no more than any other car.
In 1993 at the age of 15, Clarkson did a review of the then supercharged vantage and I was hooked. Not only was it the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, it had buttons on the seats!! Pretty remarkable to me!
I still remember and sometime still use today, the line Clarkson used to describe it's sound, 'despite an impressive sound system, on full pelt the engine has the ability to make it sound like someone's else's personal stereo on a bus', brilliant!
My manual DB9 is very different and doesn't really make me think of the Vantage, but I'll always have a soft spot for one
John
This is me. I was given a book on cars by my late uncle in 1977 and remember two cars - one was the Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer and the other was the two-ton super lorry that was the V8 Vantage. My friends always talked about the Dancing Donkey, so I stuck out for the Aston Martin. Spool forward to 1993 when Top Gear ran a feature that started at the Geneva Motorshow where AML launched the DB7. JC - "... but don't for one minute that spells an end for Aston's more famous home at Newport Pagnell. It has a new car all of its own to make". Cue Pink Floyd's Welcome to the Machine and the introduction of The Vantage.In 1993 at the age of 15, Clarkson did a review of the then supercharged vantage and I was hooked. Not only was it the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, it had buttons on the seats!! Pretty remarkable to me!
I still remember and sometime still use today, the line Clarkson used to describe it's sound, 'despite an impressive sound system, on full pelt the engine has the ability to make it sound like someone's else's personal stereo on a bus', brilliant!
My manual DB9 is very different and doesn't really make me think of the Vantage, but I'll always have a soft spot for one
John
I had this episode on VHS and watched it religiously for years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q39KiKg-GY
Five years ago the very car came up for sale. Several pennies later and it's back to how it was as I remember it as my video pin-up. This is the Bullock (named because it's the forerunner of the Le Mans - the Vantage with the bull nostril nose - and also after the other video pin-up of the time, Ms Sandra).
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