GT8 - future status?

[monaco1981]

I have become obsessed with the GT8 recently having seen one in the flesh in Bath. The prices seem to be below list for a good example with a few available. Do we think it will be a long term classic or is it just another, albeit very good, v8 Vantage. Lots of bespoke features and only 150 made, but a fair other specials available for the vantage (GT12,AMR etc).

[cayman-black]

100% future classic!

[nickv8]

Just taking a guess as to the priority the major UK variants (road cars) of the previous Vantage will be considered as "classics"...

1. V600
2. GT12 Roadster (there was only one)
3. V12 Zagato (2011)
4. GT12
5. GT8
6. Spitfire 80 (V12 Cambridge AM dealer special)
7. V12 AMR Roadster
8. V12 AMR
9. V8 AMR
10. V12VS
11. 6 speed V12 manual
12. V8VS / N430
13. N400
14. N420
15. V8 4.3 Prodrive
16. V8 4.7 (pre-2012.25)
17. V8 4.3

I don't think there will be much between manual or Sportshift in 10 years. Roadsters are likely to become disproportionately more sought after.

Anybody else?

And then they will all be scrapped and crushed as we're forced to buy milk floats

[hornbaek]

cayman-black said:

100% future classic!

I think it is very risky declaring anything a “future classic” these days. Who knows where all this is going to end for the ICE cars. I feel we are pretty doomed. So if you like it buy it and drive it but don’t think that you will get even half your money back when coming to sell it. The GT8 is a great car with a big flaw. It is too loud for most circuits which seriously hampers its usability.

Regarding the list of “desirability” above you might be right, but I feel that there are far too many variants and only us anoraks know the difference between all the models. In the future “classics” will be those cars that have a particular shape or form rather than performance measures and will probably be deemed as art from a previous period. Performance will be irrelevant when you cannot use these cars let alone keep them roadworthy due to emissions. Exempts for maybe the top 3 or 4 of your list none of the others is worth more than list price today.

Edited by hornbaek on Monday 7th January 13:38

Edited by hornbaek on Monday 7th January 13:40

Edited by hornbaek on Monday 7th January 13:43

[AMVSVNick]

hornbaek said:

I think it is very risky declaring anything a “future classic” these days. Who knows where all this is going to end for the ICE cars. I feel we are pretty doomed. So if you like it buy it and drive it but don’t think that you will get even half your money back when coming to sell it. The GT8 is a great car with a big flaw. It is too loud for most circuits which seriously hampers its usability.

Regarding the list of “desirability” above you might be right, but I feel that there are far too many variants and only us anoraks know the difference between all the models. In the future “classics” will be those cars that have a particular shape or form rather than performance measures and will probably be deemed as art from a previous period. Performance will be irrelevant when you cannot use these cars let alone keep them roadworthy due to emissions. Exempts for maybe the top 3 or 4 of your list none of the others is worth more than list price today.

100% agree which is why I got rid of my "future classic" and went with something I could enjoy and not worry about its "future" status.

[monaco1981]

Wow, thanks for the info. There are a lot of variants of the vantage.

I agree that at some point these cars will be confined to museums or the scrap heap. I guess it comes down to living for the moment and driving them whilst we still can. I have driven my 570s like a stole it for over 2k miles this christmas (in all conditions), apparently it is only worth about 50p now (according to Mclaren ascot).

[cayman-black]

50p i surprised they even spoke to you when you mentioned selling!

[Buster73]

Never liked them when they came out , still don’t now.

Same with the AMR versions , both are trying to be something that AM doesn’t represent.

Imho.

[Jon39]

monaco1981 said:

Wow, thanks for the info. There are a lot of variants of the vantage.

There were 29 Limited / Special Editions of the Vantage (2005 to 2018)

I think there are still some new examples of the V8 Vantage AMR for sale at main dealers.
Announced in June 2017, Limited Edition of 200 cars (163 Coupes and 43 Roadsters). Not fully subscribed, but the stated number were built, and the remaining cars became dealer stock.

The V12 version was a Limited Edition of 100 cars, which was oversubscribed.

[AMVSVNick]

Jon39 said:

The V12 version was a Limited Edition of 100 cars, which was oversubscribed.

Yet they can't shift Rob's car which seems bizarre.

[Fil.FM]

monaco1981 said:

I have become obsessed with the GT8 recently having seen one in the flesh in Bath. The prices seem to be below list for a good example with a few available. Do we think it will be a long term classic or is it just another, albeit very good, v8 Vantage. Lots of bespoke features and only 150 made, but a fair other specials available for the vantage (GT12,AMR etc).

As an owner of both a 4.7 and a GT8 (both Manuals), I would highlight some factors to consider to you, they might have a weight on future (relative) values:

1) Following/fan-base: The GT8, in spite of its very limited run, has quite a relevant following of young people <30 yrs old. A very recent GT8-initiative I opened on Instagram could be seen as a proof of that (see @Gt8.club). I think the GT8 has lots of upside in this area here, too. Most people haven't got the chance to properly see the car closely enough, let alone drive it. As more GT8s are in the hands of true aficionados, it will be seen more by the petrolheads' community. In comparison, the "base" Vantage goes almost unnoticed by <30yrs old people when you attend car-events nowadays.

2) Carbon Fibre, Wide-bodied and Wide-track: Consider there are ONLY approx 270 Vantage Aston-Martin ever made with these features (ex-Vantage Zagato). The Wide-body is quite an iconic, visually very evident, feature and has a strong link to modern-GT Racing cars. Carbon fibre is a very exotic material and you would typically associate its use to Supercars. Again, very different features to the "base" Vantages and Vantage AMR (as a fun fact, we realised that the GT8's rear axle is actually wider than the GT12's)

3) Feedback from "supercar/hypercar-collectors" who own a GT8: Within the GT8 Club there are quite a lot of people with access to a large pool of super/hyper-cars. There is a lot of love for the GT8 shared by them, a LOT. Quite telling. We have also a member with both a matching spec GT12 / GT8. He finds the GT8 the more usable of the two. The one that gives more engagement. The one that he would go for a proper drive with, if he had to choose.

4) Aston and Racing - I see the strengthening link between Aston and Motorsport activities one of the biggest potential for the GT8. Not to mention the Valkyrie effect on the brand.


We could go on and on, discussing the technical aspects. To cut it short, the GT8 is considered the last truly special Vantage V8. The one that comes with very different features (to the eyes, to the hears and to the driving feel) vs. the base car. The one that you identify more closely connected with the Vantage Le Mans car, the one that still had an Aston engine, an interior feel that is 100% Aston (as opposed to MB), and a Manual gearbox...and the one that doesn't cost GBP 1mm. to get!


Note: I would not mix AMR cars with GT12/8 , not in the same category, albeit the price point would tempt you to compare them.

Edited by Fil.FM on Monday 7th January 15:24

Edited by Fil.FM on Monday 7th January 15:44

Edited by Fil.FM on Monday 7th January 21:19

[monaco1981]

Fil.FM said:

monaco1981 said:

I have become obsessed with the GT8 recently having seen one in the flesh in Bath. The prices seem to be below list for a good example with a few available. Do we think it will be a long term classic or is it just another, albeit very good, v8 Vantage. Lots of bespoke features and only 150 made, but a fair other specials available for the vantage (GT12,AMR etc).

thanks for the insight. I think I need to go for a drive in one. Miss the manual box and sound from my gt4 but now I have a 570s (track pack) I want something at least as special if not more.


As an owner of both a 4.7 and a GT8 (both Manuals), I would highlight some factors to consider to you, they might have a weight on future (relative) values:

1) Following/fan-base: The GT8, in spite of its very limited run, has quite a relevant following of young people <30 yrs old. A very recent GT8-initiative I opened on Instagram could be seen as a proof of that (see @Gt8.club). I think the GT8 has lots of upside in this area here, too. Most people haven't got the chance to properly see the car closely enough, let alone drive it. As more GT8s are in the hands of true aficionados, it will be seen more by the petrolheads' community. In comparison, the "base" Vantage goes almost unnoticed by <30yrs old people when you attend car-events nowadays.

2) Carbon Fibre, Wide-bodied and Wide-track: Consider there are approx than 270 Vantage Aston-Martin ever made with these features (ex-Vantage Zagato). The Wide-body is quite an iconic, visually very evident, feature and has a strong link to modern-GT Racing cars. Carbon fibre is a very exotic material and you would typically associate its use to Supercars. Again, very different features to the "base" Vantages and Vantage AMR (as a fun fact, we realised that the GT8's rear axle is actually wider than the GT12's)

3) Feedback from "supercar/hypercar-collectors" who own a GT8: Within the GT8 Club there are quite a lot of people with access to a large pool of super/hyper-cars. There is a lot of love for the GT8 shared by them, a LOT. Quite telling. We have also a member with both a matching spec GT12 / GT8. He finds the GT8 the more usable of the two. The one that gives more engagement. The one that he would go for a proper drive with, if he had to choose.

4) Aston and Racing - I see the strengthening link between Aston and Motorsport activities one of the biggest potential for the GT8. Not to mention the Valkyrie effect on the brand.


We could go on and on, discussing the technical aspects. To cut it short, the GT8 is considered the last truly special Vantage V8. The one that comes with very different features (to the eyes, to the hears and to the driving feel) vs. the base car. The one that you identify more closely connected with the Vantage Le Mans car, the one that still had an Aston engine, an interior feel that is 100% Aston (as opposed to MB), and a Manual gearbox...and the one that doesn't cost GBP 1mm. to get!


Note: I would not mix AMR cars with GT12/8 , not in the same category, albeit the price point would tempt you to do so.

Edited by Fil.FM on Monday 7th January 15:24

Edited by Fil.FM on Monday 7th January 15:44

[Fil.FM]

Buster73 said:

Never liked them when they came out , still don’t now.

Same with the AMR versions , both are trying to be something that AM doesn’t represent.

Imho.

The statement on this plate would suggest something different..

[AdamV12AMR]

AMVSVNick said:

Jon39 said:

The V12 version was a Limited Edition of 100 cars, which was oversubscribed.

Yet they can't shift Rob's car which seems bizarre.

Without wishing to offend anyone, I think it's because the halo scheme on a Roadster just doesn't work.

In any of these "which cars will be worth more" discussions, there's a tendency to defend our own choices. So, as an owner of a non-halo AMR Roadster, you'd rightly say "well you would say that!"

The relationship between Aston Martin Racing (ostensibly Prodrive) and the AMR models is tenuous at best and, as Fil has said, the GT8/12 have a more direct connection (certainly visually) to the GT racecars. Aston tried to compensate for this by offering the AMR halo scheme (at a £7k premium), lightweight wheels that mimic those on the AMR Pro Vantage, and the aero package.

Given there's never been a Vantage Roadster racecar, and you can't put the aero pack on an AMR Roadster, for me, a Halo AMR Roadster almost reinforces the 'stickers and stripes special' criticism of the AMR cars. It's everything the car shouldn't have been.

Having said all of that, IMO, a V12 AMR Coupe in halo with full aero looks the absolute nuts. As per the one Works have for sale:
https://preowned.astonmartin.com/preowned-cars/720...

And one drawback on the GT8/12 road cars is that you could never get a V12 manual widebody (except the one-off GT12R in Switzerland). This is where the AMR will always have something special, as well being the last series-produced Vantage model.

Anyway, as Hornbaek said, it's all academic anyway. By the time any of these cars have followed a traditional Aston depreciation-appreciation curve (that tends to take 30 years), we won't be allowed to drive them, find anywhere to fuel them and the teens of today who may be in a financial position to afford one will be whizzing around in their automated pods by then!

Edited by AdamV12AMR on Tuesday 8th January 12:48