Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack: Spotted

The ultimate version of the most macho Aston. Are you man enough?

Doesn't this just look brilliantly cool? The V8s that replaced the original DBS are a little forgotten now, lost in the monstrous V8 Vantages of the 1990s and the newer V8s from 2005. It's not the first Aston V8 Vantage you think of, basically, which seems rather a shame.

Stick this up your Emotion Control Unit

The spec for this particular car is just perfect. It's reputedly the last one every built, a point we'll return too. But whatever, the Velvet Green paint and black leather is a classy combo, and having a manual is the discerning PHer's choice. The X-Pack is the ultimate of these Vantages too (if the Zagato is discounted) and very rare; apparently just 95 RHD cars were ever produced at Newport Pagnell.

It's an old fashioned Aston Martin of the very best kind. There's wood, leather, a big V8 and more machismo than can possibly be acceptable in 2014. It won't feel especially modern to drive but can you imagine turning up anywhere in this?

As the last ever Vantage, this car was registered in 1991 despite the last cars being built in 1989. Selling a car that was quite an old design when new can't have been easy, let alone when it had been replaced! Though that's a significant milestone for this particular range, it will be interesting to see how potential buyers view it. Arguably the later Vantages that ended with the V550/V600 are more important in Aston's history as they represented the last of the breed and weren't directly replaced. Let's see.

'Old school cool' in one picture

This X-Pack isn't the only POA Vantage on PH. This 1976 car has had a recent overhaul and a similarly low mileage (31,889 against 24,000 for the X-Pack) so it would be interesting to see how they compare. This 'truly exceptional' yellow V8 is a perhaps even better, and is a manual where the 1976 Vantage is an auto. Given this 65,000-mile car is £69,950, the POA examples probably can't be far off £100K now.

The advert describes the X-Pack Vantage as 'unmissable opportunity to any collector or driver'. Its provenance and low miles perhaps make it more appealing to the former customer rather than latter. Doesn't stop us wanting to have a quick go nonetheless.

ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE X-PACK
Engine: 5,340cc V8
Transmission: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 400 (or so)@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 397@5,100rpm
MPG: Shouldn't that be GPM?
CO2: Many
Year registered: 1991
Recorded miles: 24,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: POA