Tuesday 1st July 2014

Aston Martin Vantage: Spotted

Aston-AMG will mean more forced induction Astons. Previous ones were quite special!

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A browse through the classifieds for the old Aston V8 Vantage came about after driving the N430 recently. Everything about that car felt slightly old fashioned in the nicest way possible; the gearbox needed a firm hand, the engine needed revs and the whole car needed some compromise compared to its newer rivals. I loved it.

Exhaust pipe/car size mismatch

Of course comparing the old V8 Vantage with a new one dynamically would be stupid. But there's so much else to the classic Aston experience that appeals. Sat ensconced in all that wood and leather as a huge mountain of torque powers you along, cruising with that huge V8 registering hardly any revs and actually enjoying corners far more than expected in a car so large. It promises to be memorable. Too often driving just becomes about reaching a destination and there's little danger of forgetting the journey in a V8 Vantage.

Moreover, this is something of a hero car from my youth. Yes, the Diablos and F1 and F50s were on the wall but there was something so exciting about the old Aston. I was amazed that something so gigantic and luxurious could be so fast (0-100mph in about 10.5 seconds if I remember correctly. Doesn't really seems that notable anymore, does it?) and I loved how it looked. Not conventionally pretty but so imposing and unlike anything else. Some elements of the Vantages design actually look quite awkward (see how high the rear sits and those comically undersized exhaust pipes) but it exudes confidence and aggression. It's in stark contrast to the very pretty cars that followed but no less captivating.

Still immaculate in here

It would have been nice to find a V600 but their exceptional rarity means they are seldom offered. This V550, in green with Parchment/Forest Green is probably one of the nicest you'll find though, with lots recently spent on it, low miles and a lovely colour combo. Surely Aston Martin Works can up it to V600 spec if asked nicely enough too.

At £140K the Vantage is not a cheap way into a classic Aston when a plain old Virage is £100K less. But the Vantage is so much better, and it seems unlikely that it will hit the ridiculous prices of early DB cars. It's still quicker than a new V8 too. Cool car.

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ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE
Engine: 5,340cc twin-supercharged V8
Gearbox: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 558@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 550@4,000rpm
MPG: Few
CO2: You're kidding
Year registered: 1997
Recorded mileage: 19,245
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £139,995

See the original advert here.

[Car Diff]

558 horses in 1997 - oof!

[Dave Hedgehog]

i love these, such a dirty sound as well

[WokkaWokka]

My mates Dad had one of these growing up along with a 67 corvette (Kept under a tarp), a CL430 and Testarossa. His wife had a Merc SL oh and I seem to remember some huge american (GMC or buick) off-roader too.

I seem him bobbing about in his Rolls Royce Phantom from time to time.

My Dad used to say he had more money than sense!

[anonymous-user]

Strong. A personal favourite.

[JuniorD]

Vantages of this vintage and their predecessors piss all over the modern day versions.

[vsonix]

^ agreed. The new ones are all too 'samey' somehow. This looks unique.

[RacingBlue]

Love it - a proper Aston

[bakerstreet]

Amazing looking car. I had a poster of one on my wall as a teenager

[howardhughes]

"(0-100mph in about 10.5 seconds if I remember correctly. Doesn't really seems that notable anymore, does it?"

Are you serious??? I think even by today's standards that's bloody quick.

[dc2rr07]

Car Diff said:

558 horses in 1997 - oof!

and 550lb of Torque

[n90acc]

My personal favorite car of all time. a 500 or v600 in BRG with cream leather would be top of my lottery list - don't know why, it just been that was since I was about 7 (coincidentally - 1997) For me, its just got everything.

[Axionknight]

The noise these things make...... Such a dirty, dirty noise!

[mrpushrod]

I remember receiving 'Jeremy Clarkson - Unleashed on Cars' on VHS back in the 90s and falling in love with the Vantage. It was obscenly fast for the level of luxury it offered and could be coaxed sideways with what looked like relative ease. It's a blunt instrument and not at all beautiful like we're used to these days but it's still my favourite recent Aston by far.

[BarbaricAvatar]

Still love it. Better in every way than the modern V8 Vantage.

[Actus Reus]

I might be way out, but didn't they use one of these to set some sort of record for the longest tyre marks left from a burnout and managed something like 97m of rubber laid down? I may have made that up though.

[BelfastBoy]

mrpushrod said:

I remember receiving 'Jeremy Clarkson - Unleashed on Cars' on VHS back in the 90s and falling in love with the Vantage. It was obscenly fast for the level of luxury it offered and could be coaxed sideways with what looked like relative ease. It's a blunt instrument and not at all beautiful like we're used to these days but it's still my favourite recent Aston by far.

Is that the one where he drag raced the Aston against a Lambo Diablo and the Vantage won?

[Z28DUNC]

Gentlemans muscle car. Awesome.

550 bhp was massive horsepower when this came out. I was in my teens and it was my favourite car.

I wonder what difference the V600 spec made to the performance? Whens 550bhp not enough!

Didn't Jay Kay and Tiff drive this and 550 Maranello on Top gear?

[LewisR]

The title says "V8 Vantage" but the car was only ever known as the Aston Martin Vantage.

The later V8 Vantage of 2005 onward didn't really do the name justice.

[Krikkit]

They always had me at twin and supercharged. Gorgeous.

[CampDavid]

Price new was closer to £187,000 than £87,000