V12 bonnet fitted to V8 Vantage

[Buster73]

I was wondering if anyone had done this ?

Was it available as a factory order when new or not ?

[Graze01]

Check out http://www.redpants.lol/grey-2007-v8-vantage/

Rich has fitted one to his grey car - looks magic

Graze

[Mako V12V]

I’d of thought cost is the main factor as bonnet dimensions will be the same. I know the official list price for the CF vents only is circa £4500.

[AdamV12V]

Mako V12V said:

I’d of thought cost is the main factor as bonnet dimensions will be the same. I know the official list price for the CF vents only is circa £4500.

Indeed, almost £5400 for the vents alone according to AMbits website - https://astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantage/p... and I suspect that might be +vat.

plus a bonnet at https://astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantage/p... £2400 plus vat, plus fitting and painting at say £1000 and you are looking at over £10k.

[telum01]

The bonnet is the same size, fitment, etc. The V12 bonnet is actually slightly less expensive than the V8 one. However, the vents are very expensive. I have the mesh vents, which are far less expensive than the louvers, but they still have carbon fiber frames so they're still expensive for what many assume is "just" mesh. I think they look better than the louvers, too, since they're less fussy (just my opinion, of course).

So you'll need the bonnet, vent inserts of your choice, a new insulator (it's different than the V8), and the capped nuts for the vents and push pins for the insulator. And you can get a new wings badge fitted at the same time if you want to change that up (I changed mine from the one with green detail to the one with black).



You don't need to get aerocatches for the V12 hood. I have them on my car because of my lightweight bumper beam from Aston Martin Racing - it eliminates the safety catch for the hood, so I needed the aerocatches to replace that lost functionality.



Here's a comparison of the black and green badges.



And I'm happy to facilitate the purchase for anyone that wants to do the conversion With the mesh inserts you're looking at far less than 10k pounds...

Graze01 said:

Check out http://www.redpants.lol/grey-2007-v8-vantage/

Rich has fitted one to his grey car - looks magic

Graze

Thanks!! I added the above pics to that page (I've got soooo much more I need to add to it still).

Edited by telum01 on Sunday 1st October 15:16

[mybrainhurts]

Mako V12V said:

I’d of thought cost is the main factor as bonnet dimensions will be the same. I know the official list price for the CF vents only is circa £4500.

AM in Taking The Piss shocker....

[divetheworld]

Then all you'll need are these-

https://astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantage/p...

https://astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantage/p...

http://www.soundracer.se/?p=98&p2=539

[telum01]

In my defense, I did it for the additional venting
I had originally wanted the GT12 bonnet, but if you want to talk expensive...

[V8V Pete]

divetheworld said:

Then all you'll need are these-

https://astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantage/p...

https://astonmartinbits.com/models/8-V12-Vantage/p...

http://www.soundracer.se/?p=98&p2=539

I wouldn't put a V12 bonnet on my V8 but I'm looking at some original V12V wheels and I already have CF inner door handles (which of course the V12V "copied" off the DBS). Would the wheels be frowned upon as well? Not that I should care what you lot think but just gauging the "rules"

[dalecan]

Could you not just buy the carbon vents and have a body shop put them in?

[dalecan]

Telum, I prefer the look of your vents to the full carbon set.

[telum01]

dalecan said:

Could you not just buy the carbon vents and have a body shop put them in?

You could but the louvers are the expensive part. Plus the V8 and V12 bonnets ave different contours so the louvers might not sit right on a V8 bonnet that's been cut up to fit them.

dalecan said:

Telum, I prefer the look of your vents to the full carbon set.

Thanks! Me too

[Mako V12V]

dalecan said:

Could you not just buy the carbon vents and have a body shop put them in?

Could you just buy a V12V?

[divetheworld]

V8V Pete said:

Not that I should care what you lot think but just gauging the "rules"

Nor should you care. If you love your car, then you should make sure it’s perfect for you. Not enough full card carrying petrol-heads as it is.
We all like particular aspects of other models. Fitting those parts is just part of the personalisation that makes ownership of Aston’s so special. Hell, Q is based on that premise! And let’s face it, stuff like our tail lights and carbon make me the last to be critical of mods.
My personal opinion is when ‘enhance’ becomes ‘pretending to be’, then it’s not so laudable.

Edit.
Forgot to suggest going full mental. If you want venting......
https://astonmartinbits.com/models/13-V12-Zagato/p...

Edited by divetheworld on Monday 2nd October 00:20

[V8V Pete]

divetheworld said:

My personal opinion is when ‘enhance’ becomes ‘pretending to be’, then it’s not so laudable.

Hit the nail on the head there Brent. Very happy to play by that rule.

[Bobajobbob]

I’ve always thought the V12 bonnet louvres were an unfortunate engineering compromise to the aesthetics of the Vantage so never understood why people want to do this to a V8. If I had a V12 I’d be looking for a way to retrofit a V8 bonnet

Of course each to their own.

[dave-the-diver]

Watching the heat haze shimmering above the bonnet vents after even a moderately spirited drive is one of the intangible delights of V12V ownership.

David

[telum01]

dave-the-diver said:

Watching the heat haze shimmering above the bonnet vents after even a moderately spirited drive is one of the intangible delights of V12V ownership.

David

That's what made me want to upgrade to a better-vented hood. After track sessions, or hard driving in general, heat didn't simmer out of my V8 bonnet's vents... it's piped out.

[Jibberingloon]

I love the V12 bonnet on my V8

[Mako V12V]

Just in case some of you are not too aware and from the presentation I had from the chief engineer of the V12 Vantage back in 2011, the V12 Vantage bonnet has a bulge in it to accommodate the V12 engine. The sump also had to be completely redesigned to allow the engine to fit into the space. The air vents in the bonnet are also necessary to enable cooling as the engine really is squeezed into a tight space. The chief engineer also added that some vital micro chips are located just behind the front wing vents turn to ensure they do not melt due to under bonnet temperatures.