Good things come to those who wait
Discussion
I've not quite got my head around the fact that pick up is now just two days away ! Detail complete, PPF complete, wheels & exhaust fitted, tracker subscription filled in, exhaust override switch fitted, nuberplates fitted......it's ready. It's not registered until Saturday so I couldn't collect earlier even if I wanted to, but at least I know there are no possible delays
I enjoyed briefly meeting a couple of forum members this week when I managed to tie in a meeting down South with selling my spare wheels & rear blade, so it's just the original exhaust to sell now and a handful of small goodies still to come from Gaydon
So I guess it's time to share a few more spec details. Those reading the thread will already know the exciting news that we all have special extended glass switches ! ;-)
Staying on the theme of common features for our three cars, we all said very early on that we wanted GT8/12 CF doorcards, which at the time we started talking about them, we hadn't seen on any other car, although since then Spitfire and indeed a handful of the AMR cars have been specced with them, as have a couple of non AMR late production V12 Q coupes
I noticed that the AMR Rapide & Vantage Pro showcars at Geneva had different stitching on the armrests, to match AMR stitching on the seats, so we requested the same on our cars - basically the standard stitch on the CF doorcard armrests is a triple line of parallel stitching but the AMR showcars had 2 lines that start one distance apart then widen to a different distance. It's actually for me, these very small details that I take more pleasure in than some of the more obvious ones.
Ian then came up with the most excellent and incredibly useful idea of zip up bags on the front of the lightweight seats. Again, to others perhaps not one of the most obvious or exciting features, but actually one of the most important. When the lightweight seats were first introduced on Vantage, they had a slim (non-zip) pouch on the front. Around the time of V12VS, this was changed to a deeper zip up bag, but I don't think it lasted more than a couple of years, before being dropped for no seat pocket at all. As we have the CF doorcards, we lose the long door pockets altogether. Our manual gearsticks mean we lose the open tray in the middle that SS cars have. We all tour our cars regularly, so storage is important. Q have in their language, 're-introduced' obsidian zip up storage bags to the fronts of our lightweight seats
It was Graham I think who then brought up the CF centre plate. That's the section behind the gearstick, in front of the armrest. On the AMR cars it's in piano black. As we have full CF doorcards, plus as standard on AMR cars, CF waterfall and gearstick surround, it would be the only piano black section in our cars. We all knew from past experience that Piano black scratches easily and is a nightmare to keep free from dust. Graham (or possibly Ian ?) knew it was a Q option to have all in CF and Graham had ordered it retrospectively on his last roadster, but not one any of us had seen on many cars at all. So that was the next item to order for all our cars - far from cheap, but very important to us
The fact we had three heads working together on this, with one idea from one person leading to a related idea from the next person, really helped get our perfect spec
Ok, that's more than enough for now !
I enjoyed briefly meeting a couple of forum members this week when I managed to tie in a meeting down South with selling my spare wheels & rear blade, so it's just the original exhaust to sell now and a handful of small goodies still to come from Gaydon
So I guess it's time to share a few more spec details. Those reading the thread will already know the exciting news that we all have special extended glass switches ! ;-)
Staying on the theme of common features for our three cars, we all said very early on that we wanted GT8/12 CF doorcards, which at the time we started talking about them, we hadn't seen on any other car, although since then Spitfire and indeed a handful of the AMR cars have been specced with them, as have a couple of non AMR late production V12 Q coupes
I noticed that the AMR Rapide & Vantage Pro showcars at Geneva had different stitching on the armrests, to match AMR stitching on the seats, so we requested the same on our cars - basically the standard stitch on the CF doorcard armrests is a triple line of parallel stitching but the AMR showcars had 2 lines that start one distance apart then widen to a different distance. It's actually for me, these very small details that I take more pleasure in than some of the more obvious ones.
Ian then came up with the most excellent and incredibly useful idea of zip up bags on the front of the lightweight seats. Again, to others perhaps not one of the most obvious or exciting features, but actually one of the most important. When the lightweight seats were first introduced on Vantage, they had a slim (non-zip) pouch on the front. Around the time of V12VS, this was changed to a deeper zip up bag, but I don't think it lasted more than a couple of years, before being dropped for no seat pocket at all. As we have the CF doorcards, we lose the long door pockets altogether. Our manual gearsticks mean we lose the open tray in the middle that SS cars have. We all tour our cars regularly, so storage is important. Q have in their language, 're-introduced' obsidian zip up storage bags to the fronts of our lightweight seats
It was Graham I think who then brought up the CF centre plate. That's the section behind the gearstick, in front of the armrest. On the AMR cars it's in piano black. As we have full CF doorcards, plus as standard on AMR cars, CF waterfall and gearstick surround, it would be the only piano black section in our cars. We all knew from past experience that Piano black scratches easily and is a nightmare to keep free from dust. Graham (or possibly Ian ?) knew it was a Q option to have all in CF and Graham had ordered it retrospectively on his last roadster, but not one any of us had seen on many cars at all. So that was the next item to order for all our cars - far from cheap, but very important to us
The fact we had three heads working together on this, with one idea from one person leading to a related idea from the next person, really helped get our perfect spec
Ok, that's more than enough for now !
Hugely jealous Jonby and can’t wait to see the pictures of your completed AMR - and then more of what we had done with Q will become apparent.
I have to say that I have hated the PB finish on Aston’s with a passion. It wasn’t to bad on the coupes we had but the dust that collects inside when you drive with the roof down and is impossible to keep looking good. I guess the answer is to have it protected by PPF but on both our V12VR and the current Flugplatz car we had the whole of the inside in CF. So much better and easy to keep looking fantastic.
Ours is still up at the factory “offline testing” so probably still a few weeks away. Just as well we are off on holiday which will help take my mind off where it is and what is happening
Hopefully when we get back it will be at the dealership and close(r) to delivery.
An absolutely fabulous process to go through with Jonby and Graham and they came up with some brilliant ideas I doubt I would have thought of if I had done it alone. Really can’t wait to see our cars together and finished. Should make a nice photo opportunity
As they say good things come to those who wait
I have to say that I have hated the PB finish on Aston’s with a passion. It wasn’t to bad on the coupes we had but the dust that collects inside when you drive with the roof down and is impossible to keep looking good. I guess the answer is to have it protected by PPF but on both our V12VR and the current Flugplatz car we had the whole of the inside in CF. So much better and easy to keep looking fantastic.
Ours is still up at the factory “offline testing” so probably still a few weeks away. Just as well we are off on holiday which will help take my mind off where it is and what is happening
Hopefully when we get back it will be at the dealership and close(r) to delivery.An absolutely fabulous process to go through with Jonby and Graham and they came up with some brilliant ideas I doubt I would have thought of if I had done it alone. Really can’t wait to see our cars together and finished. Should make a nice photo opportunity
As they say good things come to those who wait
Looks like I'm last to the party again ! My car is showing as still in build but I have some pretty concrete proof its possibly further advanced than that and my dealer believes it might be with him next week . Its been a magnificent journey being part of our group of 3 and also part of other AMR owners journeys - many highs many lows but what and adventure. I will post pictures once the car is physical and I'm sure most people will look at it without realising just how many hours have we have all inputted to the finished cars .Most of the ideas and discussions came to fruition but some didn't for one reason ( normally cost) or another . I haven't seen one AMR car that I've not liked and at no stage have I thought should I cancel and wait for New Vantage . Perhaps that's a testament to just how good current Vantage is ( and that's not knocking new Vantage ) . A few more days, possibly weeks, but as already mentioned good things come to those that wait.
callevascm said:
I absolutely agree about pb, it is nightmare and one of the aspects of my car I really do like is the cf central console. Looking forward to seeing your photographs, really impressed by your determination and patience to get so much of the detail right. 
I think with Vantage, having had one (or more) before is really helpful in getting the spec just right - it's those little things that you only learn from living with the car, to get right the next timeHaving said that, the downside to having multiple Vantages is when they remove items from the standard features list, such as the metal fuel cap, if you've been used to it on a previous car it would seem a let down to not have it on your next car whereas if I'd never had it to start with, I'm sure I wouldn't miss it !
jonby said:
It does indeed look good and very individual - not sure I've seen chopped carbon on a Vantage before ?
thank you. It is the only one... well there is another waterfall which BigRy is eluding too, but it is also in my possession, so unless I buy a SS car there shall only be one! Slightly different button layout not requiring the higher up hazard light. Looks nice in my office! Really looking forward to seeing the photos of all 3 of these cars.
A great topic about special cars.
You certainly go into very minute detail for your specs.
I am looking forward to seeing more photos.
You might have already mentioned this, but are you having rear wings, or is that not appropriate for Roadsters?
With your close relationships with Gaydon, do you know, or will they announce, when the last Vantage is being built?
It ought to be marked as a special moment.
I don't think AML keep the last example of each model. After all, they are not in the museum business.
Upperworks said:
jonby said:
It does indeed look good and very individual - not sure I've seen chopped carbon on a Vantage before ?
thank you. It is the only one... well there is another waterfall which BigRy is eluding too, but it is also in my possession, so unless I buy a SS car there shall only be one! Slightly different button layout not requiring the higher up hazard light. Looks nice in my office! Really looking forward to seeing the photos of all 3 of these cars.
I see you have also opted for the contemporary instrument binnacle, as I did with Kermit. I do think it looks so much more sporty than the std instrument binnacle.
If you don't mind me asking how much did Q charge you for the contemporary instruments? (Mine was foc, due to a little mixup, which was resolved to with this to my complete satisfaction), so I never found out what the cost should have been.
Also if you don't mind, how much was the chopped carbon full facia with black rotaries?
Jon39 said:
A great topic about special cars.
You certainly go into very minute detail for your specs.
I am looking forward to seeing more photos.
You might have already mentioned this, but are you having rear wings, or is that not appropriate for Roadsters?
With your close relationships with Gaydon, do you know, or will they announce, when the last Vantage is being built?
It ought to be marked as a special moment.
I don't think AML keep the last example of each model. After all, they are not in the museum business.
We did think about the rear wings for a nanosecond before deciding it would make the cars look a bit cartoon like. Opening the boot would have been interesting! Even if we had wanted them I doubt whether Aston would have let us. The Area kit was designed for the coupe, not the roadster so would have doubtless caused issues for them.You certainly go into very minute detail for your specs.
I am looking forward to seeing more photos.
You might have already mentioned this, but are you having rear wings, or is that not appropriate for Roadsters?
With your close relationships with Gaydon, do you know, or will they announce, when the last Vantage is being built?
It ought to be marked as a special moment.
I don't think AML keep the last example of each model. After all, they are not in the museum business.
As for when the current Vantage production stops I don’t think they work to a specific date but it must becoming to an end soon as they need to focus on the new Vantage. I think I read somewhere that the last car built is photographed when completed surrounded by the production staff. Not sure if it is true but it would be great if it was.
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