V12 vantage official

V12 vantage official

Author
Discussion

BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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Westlondondriver said:
Great colour. Do love a green Aston!
Thanks! We went classic...but with a modern twist!

alscar

3,966 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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BenAstonV12 said:





Edited by BenAstonV12 on Monday 13th March 21:47
Congrats -looks very individual and personal to you which always good to see -any photos of the full back of the car and interior ?

Minglar

1,223 posts

122 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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BenAstonV12 said:










Edited by BenAstonV12 on Monday 13th March 21:47
That looks very good indeed. Certainly a brave combination Ben, but the back story and reasoning for your decision is a great read. Do you have any pictures of the interior too? Very well done and I hope you enjoy your new car.

clap

Best Regards

Minglar

Mr.Tremlini

1,460 posts

100 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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BenAstonV12 said:
A nice historical nod, and fitting story to establish it. I can imagine how the solid block of red at the back may have been a distraction, you`ve done well and it ties together very cleanly. Overall a top spec, and yes, would love to see the interior too!

Mustang Baz

1,632 posts

233 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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Many congratulations on your stunning V12 Ben. And very good to see the positive feedback; my best friend took ownership of his back in September and SCD ran an article on his experiences where his feedback mirrored yours, esp on handling and suspension.

He's also just had this done as I'd concur, the soundtrack is muted. This seems to have addressed it, albeit clearly with a different outcome to a NA engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ldeSqP8BjQ


nathwraith1

367 posts

146 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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Fantastic colour combo that doesn’t sound like it would work on paper.

I agree about the rear boot lid paint infill. Looks rather random on all the V12’s I’ve seen so I would certainly delete it too given the choice.


BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
alscar said:
Congrats -looks very individual and personal to you which always good to see -any photos of the full back of the car and interior ?
Thanks, will post some pics of the back, interior shortly.

BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
Minglar said:
That looks very good indeed. Certainly a brave combination Ben, but the back story and reasoning for your decision is a great read. Do you have any pictures of the interior too? Very well done and I hope you enjoy your new car.

clap

Best Regards

Minglar
Thanks Minglar, yes, for us the backstory and connection to an earlier iconic Aston was part of the joy of speccing the car this way. Will post some interior shots later.

BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
Mr.Tremlini said:
A nice historical nod, and fitting story to establish it. I can imagine how the solid block of red at the back may have been a distraction, you`ve done well and it ties together very cleanly. Overall a top spec, and yes, would love to see the interior too!
Thanks for that Tremlini. In person it's really striking without being too over the top. But you're buying one of the last ever V12 Vantages, seemed a shame not to push the boat out a little! Will post interior pics shortly.

BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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Mustang Baz said:
Many congratulations on your stunning V12 Ben. And very good to see the positive feedback; my best friend took ownership of his back in September and SCD ran an article on his experiences where his feedback mirrored yours, esp on handling and suspension.

He's also just had this done as I'd concur, the soundtrack is muted. This seems to have addressed it, albeit clearly with a different outcome to a NA engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ldeSqP8BjQ
Thanks, yeah, the exhaust note is definitely toned down. I drove a 2017 V12S, manual, and that thing had an amazing engine sound and exhaust note. Even compared to our DBS, which has basically the same engine, the new V12 doesn't sound quite as good. But a part of me thinks, the car in this color spec and with the wing and that fabulous front end is already loud enough! I like the idea of some of it being slightly understated. I'm a bit old skool in preferring not to modify my cars, unless long out of warranty, but I completely get those who have put on a new exhaust for the V12. To be honest, the car as it looks already gets enough attention; speak softly, big stick and all that. Glad your friend is enjoying their car.

BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
nathwraith1 said:
Fantastic colour combo that doesn’t sound like it would work on paper.

I agree about the rear boot lid paint infill. Looks rather random on all the V12’s I’ve seen so I would certainly delete it too given the choice.
Thanks, yeah, was quite nervous ahead of the reveal. It would have been a very, very expensive mistake if we'd got the colour combo wrong but we worked with some great folks at Aston who knew what they were doing and helped us to realise our vision for the car, selecting the right green with the right amount of a certain red etc. We also got lucky by taking a later delivery that we could see some of the earlier cars and make adjustments before we locked in a final build. Almost deleted the lipstick at the front to keep it more conservative and went back and forth on smoked rear lights or not, but in the end you have to go with how you want your car to look, how it makes you feel and worry less about what others think or future resale. None of these cars are worth the money we pay, from a use value standpoint, so we can get lost in external validation and metrics. It's a frigging cool, overpriced, but fun piece of moving artwork that makes a noise and brings a smile to my face and approving nods from people seeing it. And, as Clarkson once famously said, Well, It's an Aston Martin Vantage, with a V12 engine, So what do you think it's going to be like? Just happy and privileged to own a small piece of automotive history.

alscar

3,966 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
BenAstonV12 said:
Thanks, yeah, was quite nervous ahead of the reveal. It would have been a very, very expensive mistake if we'd got the colour combo wrong but we worked with some great folks at Aston who knew what they were doing and helped us to realise our vision for the car, selecting the right green with the right amount of a certain red etc. We also got lucky by taking a later delivery that we could see some of the earlier cars and make adjustments before we locked in a final build. Almost deleted the lipstick at the front to keep it more conservative and went back and forth on smoked rear lights or not, but in the end you have to go with how you want your car to look, how it makes you feel and worry less about what others think or future resale. None of these cars are worth the money we pay, from a use value standpoint, so we can get lost in external validation and metrics. It's a frigging cool, overpriced, but fun piece of moving artwork that makes a noise and brings a smile to my face and approving nods from people seeing it. And, as Clarkson once famously said, Well, It's an Aston Martin Vantage, with a V12 engine, So what do you think it's going to be like? Just happy and privileged to own a small piece of automotive history.
Very well said.

Minglar

1,223 posts

122 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
BenAstonV12 said:
nathwraith1 said:
Fantastic colour combo that doesn’t sound like it would work on paper.

I agree about the rear boot lid paint infill. Looks rather random on all the V12’s I’ve seen so I would certainly delete it too given the choice.
Thanks, yeah, was quite nervous ahead of the reveal. It would have been a very, very expensive mistake if we'd got the colour combo wrong but we worked with some great folks at Aston who knew what they were doing and helped us to realise our vision for the car, selecting the right green with the right amount of a certain red etc. We also got lucky by taking a later delivery that we could see some of the earlier cars and make adjustments before we locked in a final build. Almost deleted the lipstick at the front to keep it more conservative and went back and forth on smoked rear lights or not, but in the end you have to go with how you want your car to look, how it makes you feel and worry less about what others think or future resale. None of these cars are worth the money we pay, from a use value standpoint, so we can get lost in external validation and metrics. It's a frigging cool, overpriced, but fun piece of moving artwork that makes a noise and brings a smile to my face and approving nods from people seeing it. And, as Clarkson once famously said, Well, It's an Aston Martin Vantage, with a V12 engine, So what do you think it's going to be like? Just happy and privileged to own a small piece of automotive history.
I really do wish that PH could introduce a “like” function in a similar fashion to Facebook or Instagram, because this post would no doubt get many many “thumbs up” on here. Amid all the doom and gloom it’s refreshing to read such a positive post that must resonate with many in this forum. Very well said Ben.

Best Regards

Minglar

TeddS

118 posts

21 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
Minglar said:
BenAstonV12 said:
nathwraith1 said:
Fantastic colour combo that doesn’t sound like it would work on paper.

I agree about the rear boot lid paint infill. Looks rather random on all the V12’s I’ve seen so I would certainly delete it too given the choice.
Thanks, yeah, was quite nervous ahead of the reveal. It would have been a very, very expensive mistake if we'd got the colour combo wrong but we worked with some great folks at Aston who knew what they were doing and helped us to realise our vision for the car, selecting the right green with the right amount of a certain red etc. We also got lucky by taking a later delivery that we could see some of the earlier cars and make adjustments before we locked in a final build. Almost deleted the lipstick at the front to keep it more conservative and went back and forth on smoked rear lights or not, but in the end you have to go with how you want your car to look, how it makes you feel and worry less about what others think or future resale. None of these cars are worth the money we pay, from a use value standpoint, so we can get lost in external validation and metrics. It's a frigging cool, overpriced, but fun piece of moving artwork that makes a noise and brings a smile to my face and approving nods from people seeing it. And, as Clarkson once famously said, Well, It's an Aston Martin Vantage, with a V12 engine, So what do you think it's going to be like? Just happy and privileged to own a small piece of automotive history.
I really do wish that PH could introduce a “like” function in a similar fashion to Facebook or Instagram, because this post would no doubt get many many “thumbs up” on here. Amid all the doom and gloom it’s refreshing to read such a positive post that must resonate with many in this forum. Very well said Ben.

Best Regards

Minglar
Couldn't agree more! Very well said!

nickv12

1,342 posts

82 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
BenAstonV12 said:
Thanks,

Yeah, as you can imagine, we went back and forth on the colour, between going bold (almost went Gulf Blue/orange) or keeping it more traditional with some neutral colors like silver/grey. In the end we decided to pay homage to my partner's uncle's car, an amazing DB4 GT that he had for years and raced until he recently sold it. Jim Clark apparently raced it too. It was a classic British racing green but with red decals rather than the traditional Aston lime green, apparently so it could be differentiated from the other Astons when racing at night. Once we decided on that nod to the past we looked at different greens. Goodwood green would have been closest to the colour of the original DB4 but it's a bit too flat. And the new British Racing Greens are great but felt too modern, too light in tone, so we went for Buckinghamshire green as it's a more traditional green but with some metallic fleck. We then matched the red decals though going for full red wheels would have been too much so we got a Q request in for a pin stripe on the wheels, that I think nicely ties together the rest of the red lines when you look from the side. (Plus it kinda matches our GT3 too). On the back we deleted that extra colour bar that cars with the front 'lipstick' all have. We saw some of the early cars and we really didn't like how much extra color was on the back. Danger with going with green and red, if you over do it you've basically designed a Christmas tree with wheels. So we got another Q request in to keep the front lipstick but delete the rear graphic which was a great decision in the end. So glad we did that. Plus we colour matched the rear wing. Another Q request but it makes such a difference to help the visual flow at the rear of the car so that the wing feels more integrated into the car's lines rather than being an unnecessary distraction. A few folks on here said they'd delete the wing but IMHO that's the wrong way to go for what this car was meant to be and its differentiation, with the beautiful wing, compared to the standard Vantage and even the F1's wing. Colour matching the center of the rear wing helps, I think, to overcome some of concerns about the wing's visual fit with the lines of the car. In the end, given the history of the Vantage V12, I think we got the balance between racing heritage and a modern interpretation of that just about right. But each to their own, I'm sure every new owner has reasons for their choices which make sense to them.
Some photos of the original DB4 GT that inspired our car attached.
I admired the choice beforehand, but with that backstory, you win the automotive internet for the day beer

DB4DM

928 posts

122 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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17TVX is quite a famous and well known DB4GT, was Essex Racing Stable when new and indeed driven by Jim Clark in the 1960 1000km of Paris at Montlhery. Retired due to valve failure. In 1961 it was driven by Roy Salvadori and Innes Ireland among others. Dave Preece raced it in the mid to late 70s with some success before the car went to the US around 1983-4 where Jim F had much success at Lime Rock and elsewhere

There was a sister car 18TVX also Essex Racing Stable, also raced in period

Edited by DB4DM on Tuesday 14th March 19:52

BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
said:
Yes, that's the car. It has an amazing history. Yes, it was James ('Jim') Freeman who was the owner until recently. My partner would go with him around America when he raced it. He was her dad's best friend, so technically not her biological uncle, but she called him Uncle Jim. She has amazing stories about the track days in that car across America, so when she had the chance to spec her own Aston, we went with what you see today. I think he's well into his 80s now, no longer racing, and a guy from Silicon Valley offered him F*ck You money for the DB4 - so he took the deal. Can't blame him for that. If someone offers us the same 40 years from now, if we're still alive, we'll probably say yes too! ;-)

Edited by BenAstonV12 on Tuesday 14th March 20:19

geresey

388 posts

122 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
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BenAstonV12 said:










Edited by BenAstonV12 on Monday 13th March 21:47
Lovely colour and really like the red highlights too, especially the wheels

CSK1

1,598 posts

123 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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Great story Ben! Lovely spec and I like the history mirroring the DB4GT.
Enjoy the car! Wishing you many happy (s)miles!

BenAstonV12

105 posts

24 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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alscar said:
Very well said.
Thanks....