Aston Martin AM V-8
Discussion
I Adore these 1970s Astons.
Imagine my absolute delight @ seeing this 73 parked up yesterday as I rode past, so I swung around and was able to park the R1 right next to it and have a good look.
It’s a November 73 registered one. Auto box sadly ( as most V-8s were ) the navy blue interior and navy blue pleated head lining were very original and unworn, suggesting a fairly low miles car.
Suprised @ how much leg room there was in the rear.
For a “ Luxury car of its era though, its interior, did seem a bit bland, in comparison to say a Series 3 Interceptor. But personally, I hate dark interiors in cars, red leather would have looked amazing !!
Paintwork was average, couple of dents in the roof and the drivers door and other bits, were the wrong colour match, tires looked ancient as well, but what a nice, useable example it looked.
Would loved to have chatted to the owner. The plate does the car no justice, how ever.
Hard to get my head around the fact that this V-8 would probably make £80 grand.
No way do I see them worth this kind of money, but I really would like one of these.
I can recall like yesterday, my Late Dad telling me one Saturday morning, in 1974, how he had had a “ high speed tear up “ in his silver 71 V-12 E Type, with someone in an AM V-8. The Aston was a fraction quicker @ the very top end, but he couldn’t shake off the E Type.
Just 288 AM V-8s, built from May 1972 until July 1973, were fitted with Bosch fuel injection, with the first 34 cars being badged as “ DBS V-8 “ however, the injection system proved unreliable.
This example is a Series 3 AM V-8 with Webber carbs. Note the lip @ the base of the rear screen ( instead of the louvers of the earlier cars )
It is believed that it’s engine produced 310 hp, enabling the Autobox cars to hit 60 in 6.1 seconds. The manual is reputed to hit 60 in 5.7 seconds.
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 14:04
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Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 14:16
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 14:20
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 15:58
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 15:59
Edited by neutral 3 on Thursday 27th August 23:56
Was only talking to my dad a few hours ago about his old cars, including a Blue AMV8 with fuel injection which I believe was quite rare, probably because it was so dam un-reliable.
I loved that car, being around 11 at the time, the noise was wonderful. He told me that whilst traveling in the rain down the M1 once, with Mum on board, the passenger window went down all on its own, Q mum holding a brolly by the window, however as the speed crept up, the brolly eventually got sucked out!
I loved that car, being around 11 at the time, the noise was wonderful. He told me that whilst traveling in the rain down the M1 once, with Mum on board, the passenger window went down all on its own, Q mum holding a brolly by the window, however as the speed crept up, the brolly eventually got sucked out!
Mark A S said:
Was only talking to my dad a few hours ago about his old cars, including a Blue AMV8 with fuel injection which I believe was quite rare, probably because it was so dam un-reliable.
I loved that car, being around 11 at the time, the noise was wonderful. He told me that whilst traveling in the rain down the M1 once, with Mum on board, the passenger window went down all on its own, Q mum holding a brolly by the window, however as the speed crept up, the brolly eventually got sucked out!
Nice story ! I loved that car, being around 11 at the time, the noise was wonderful. He told me that whilst traveling in the rain down the M1 once, with Mum on board, the passenger window went down all on its own, Q mum holding a brolly by the window, however as the speed crept up, the brolly eventually got sucked out!
The early V-8s were injected, but the system was unreliable ( and probably not suited to auto gear boxes ) so Aston ditched it ( for 1973 I think ) for carbs. A pal had a white ( originally Gold V-8 ) M registered, from memory, in circa 1984. A rear brake disc, cost him £185 quid, back then !
Yertis said:
The fuel injection in these Aston Martins was Bosch, not the excellent and reliable Lucas system used in Maseratis, D-Type Jags, and BRM racing cars. (And Triumphs)
The Lucas system on the TR5’s were known to often be unreliable. There’s a thread running at the moment that mentions it too. I can only talk about the experience my Dad had.At the time of the DBS V8 launch, aston were offering cars with a choice of SU, Weber carbs or AE brico electonic fuel injection.
For the V8 they chose Bosch mechanical fuel injection. I had a DBS V8 with it.
It made for a very powerful car, but it was hard to set up properly and required maintence. The webber carbs they replaced it with were more more tolerent of poor maintenance (and more people know how to tune them). Aston went back to electronic fuel injection, a Weber-Marelli system this time , in the mid 80s for all but the vantage engine.
But the Bosch fuel injection, when set up properly made for a very fast Aston. And fine with the Auto box.
For the V8 they chose Bosch mechanical fuel injection. I had a DBS V8 with it.
It made for a very powerful car, but it was hard to set up properly and required maintence. The webber carbs they replaced it with were more more tolerent of poor maintenance (and more people know how to tune them). Aston went back to electronic fuel injection, a Weber-Marelli system this time , in the mid 80s for all but the vantage engine.
But the Bosch fuel injection, when set up properly made for a very fast Aston. And fine with the Auto box.
neutral 3 said:
Hard to get my head around the fact that this V-8 would probably make £80 grand or more.
No way do I see them worth this kind of money, but I really would like one of these.
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 14:04
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 14:15
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 14:16
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 14:20
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 15:58
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 24th August 15:59
My favourite car as a child, heavily influenced by OHMSS and The Pursuaders. For that reason I've always wanted one. Couldn't afford when they were £50k and now I have £50k they are 150.
For me it must be an early quad headlight manual. I'll compromise on colour although Bahama Yellow or that olive colour would be perfect.
I think there was a thread not long ago of a chap who sold one years ago and recently bought and restored another, including converting to manual and reversing an oscar india rear end.
For me it must be an early quad headlight manual. I'll compromise on colour although Bahama Yellow or that olive colour would be perfect.
I think there was a thread not long ago of a chap who sold one years ago and recently bought and restored another, including converting to manual and reversing an oscar india rear end.
vpr said:
With a 0-60 in a claimed 5.7 it was quite a bit quicker than an E. in theory.
Innes Ireland was a paid development driver for Aston when he was an F1 corespondant, and he used the DB6, S and S V8 to tour.One time he got into a race with an e-type. He catches it up, and timing things nicely, overtakes the e, letting the driver know he was chaging from 4th into top!
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