Most highly spec'd VH Vantage?
Discussion
Following this Instagram post - https://www.instagram.com/p/C2sRgZYKsHH/ - it got me thinking: what was the most highly spec'd — and by extension most costly — VH Vantage produced? I am excluding the special run V12 Zagato, GT12, GT8, V600 and AMR Pro models.
Recently, there have been auctions for striking colour Aston Martin collections, but I don't think that individually, these examples aren't as special as some. Eye-catching, but more by paint and leather colour choice rather than additional customisation.
Whereas Jekyll is unique and cost the original owner a pretty penny, I very much doubt it was the most costly to produce. Apart from the fluted interior seats and headlining, most of the options would have been available if you twisted the dealer's arm sufficiently, such as a wood waterfall facia or paint choice. It was based on the AMR run-out model, so that increased the price, but they made 100 V12 AMR's, so it's not unique.
The "three amigos" V12 AMR roadsters are all wonderful in their sentimental detail, but I don't think these qualify either.
Instead, I will put these two examples forward:
I found this Romans advert for it - https://www.romansinternational.com/used/cars/asto...
I'm not sure of the date of the advert, but I do recall around 2018(?) this car passing between a few dealers and it lingering. It is definitely unique. The paint alone would have been very wallet-wilting. But it's also loaded with many of the Q carbon options including the GT8/GT12 Door Cards (which Jekyll is not imbued with, thankfully in my opinion for a GT car). From the carbon rush, it is only missing the wing, dive planes and side skirts in carbon. But it does have the Performance Pack fitted bringing the power up to nigh on 600bhp.
The full spec from Romans advert is as follows, even if it falsely claims, I think, to be an AMR model (the wishful thinking extending from the optional AMR alloys being fitted?)...
I only came across this very under-the-radar example last year for the first time and had a wonderful chat with the owner. You have to open the doors to appreciate the craftsmanship before you can understand how special this car is. There are no real clues from the outside.
Inspired by an Omega watch, it has a closer relationship to a Zagato or Vanquish S on the interior than the humble Vantage. Uniformly faded blue tinted carbon fibre on the door cards and waterfall match specially stitched seats and headlining. Custom-made dials behind a machined facia reflect the jewel-like perfection of the waterfall centre console controls. (The design of these later found their way into the V600 "Dreadnaughts".)
In a way, this example is closely related to my V12 AMR. They were both delivered in the same month. The reason this V12 Vantage S was the last to be completed (after the "last of the line" AMR's) is that the interior took 2 years to complete!
At the time of delivery, Aston Martin even recorded a video about the creation of this car:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bcletzue9377h09/Aston%20...
However, the joy of Aston Martin is that many users hide from public scrutiny. Nobody really knew about the creation of Jekyll, which is equally unique, until it was put on the market 3 years after its creation. What else hides out there?
More photos of these two examples here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/s3w75klubf8a1c04scl...
Recently, there have been auctions for striking colour Aston Martin collections, but I don't think that individually, these examples aren't as special as some. Eye-catching, but more by paint and leather colour choice rather than additional customisation.
Whereas Jekyll is unique and cost the original owner a pretty penny, I very much doubt it was the most costly to produce. Apart from the fluted interior seats and headlining, most of the options would have been available if you twisted the dealer's arm sufficiently, such as a wood waterfall facia or paint choice. It was based on the AMR run-out model, so that increased the price, but they made 100 V12 AMR's, so it's not unique.
The "three amigos" V12 AMR roadsters are all wonderful in their sentimental detail, but I don't think these qualify either.
Instead, I will put these two examples forward:
1. The V12 S in Amethyst Red Satin Paint
I found this Romans advert for it - https://www.romansinternational.com/used/cars/asto...
I'm not sure of the date of the advert, but I do recall around 2018(?) this car passing between a few dealers and it lingering. It is definitely unique. The paint alone would have been very wallet-wilting. But it's also loaded with many of the Q carbon options including the GT8/GT12 Door Cards (which Jekyll is not imbued with, thankfully in my opinion for a GT car). From the carbon rush, it is only missing the wing, dive planes and side skirts in carbon. But it does have the Performance Pack fitted bringing the power up to nigh on 600bhp.
The full spec from Romans advert is as follows, even if it falsely claims, I think, to be an AMR model (the wishful thinking extending from the optional AMR alloys being fitted?)...
- 19" AMR Lightweight Satin Black Alloy Wheels
- Q Amethyst Red Satin Paint
- 600BHP Power & Exhaust Upgrade
- 1000W Bang & Olufsen Beosound Audio
- Carbon Fibre Lightweight Seats
- Carbon Fibre Hood Louvre
- Carbon Fibre Fascia Trim
- Carbon Fibre Gear Shift Surround
- Carbon Fibre Front Grille
- Carbon Fibre Side Strakes
- Q Carbon Fibre Roof Panel
- Q GT8/GT12 Door Cards
- Q Carbon Fibre Mirror Caps
- Q Bespoke Gaiters
- Q Bespoke Interior Trim Split
- Q Black Anodised Interior
- Q Centre Plate
- Q Sill Plaques
- Q Machined Carbon Fibre Wings Badge
- Aston Martin Wings Headrest Embroidery
- Assortment Package
- Deep Purple Embroidery
- Deep Purple Stitching
- Phantom Grey Alcantara Headliner
- Phantom Grey Heavyweight Carpets
- Front Parking Sensors
- Reversing Camera
- Dark Anodised Brake Calipers
- Glass Switches
- Black Textured Tailpipe Finisher
2. The Omega V12 S
I only came across this very under-the-radar example last year for the first time and had a wonderful chat with the owner. You have to open the doors to appreciate the craftsmanship before you can understand how special this car is. There are no real clues from the outside.
Inspired by an Omega watch, it has a closer relationship to a Zagato or Vanquish S on the interior than the humble Vantage. Uniformly faded blue tinted carbon fibre on the door cards and waterfall match specially stitched seats and headlining. Custom-made dials behind a machined facia reflect the jewel-like perfection of the waterfall centre console controls. (The design of these later found their way into the V600 "Dreadnaughts".)
In a way, this example is closely related to my V12 AMR. They were both delivered in the same month. The reason this V12 Vantage S was the last to be completed (after the "last of the line" AMR's) is that the interior took 2 years to complete!
At the time of delivery, Aston Martin even recorded a video about the creation of this car:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bcletzue9377h09/Aston%20...
However, the joy of Aston Martin is that many users hide from public scrutiny. Nobody really knew about the creation of Jekyll, which is equally unique, until it was put on the market 3 years after its creation. What else hides out there?
More photos of these two examples here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/s3w75klubf8a1c04scl...
Edited by nickv12 on Tuesday 30th January 18:13
Edited by nickv12 on Tuesday 30th January 19:06
alscar said:
Q pricing if money unimportant or not a factor is in some cases still eye watering.
Sometimes it appears just made up as they go along !
That said if challenged they will negotiate.
I love it when a buyer goes so deep into spec'ing a car. It's all too easy to just pick a new stock car off the forecourt or spend 20 mins ticking some boxes. But spending months on the smallest of details makes it such a personal and special journey. I doubt I'll ever have that delight, but I love seeing others dive into the deep end.Sometimes it appears just made up as they go along !
That said if challenged they will negotiate.
nickv12 said:
I love it when a buyer goes so deep into spec'ing a car. It's all too easy to just pick a new stock car off the forecourt or spend 20 mins ticking some boxes. But spending months on the smallest of details makes it such a personal and special journey. I doubt I'll ever have that delight, but I love seeing others dive into the deep end.
Couldn’t agree more. Aston make it so easy to lose track of any budget ( if applicable ) especially if you get to the factory to spec it !
I’ve done it twice ( V12S and GT8 ) and made sure I’d done a lot of homework first on prices as very definitely had a maximum figure in mind.
nickv12 said:
I am not envious in the slightest 
Which was your favourite to spec and why?
I guess the GT8 because it was already limited and at that time not so easy to get one and also the fact that I had Aston Martin Works do some additional work on it prior to collection. Which was your favourite to spec and why?
Working with Q for some bits was interesting particularly on paint and prices but we got there in the end.
The whole experience of buying the GT8 was also pretty memorable from the initial viewing onwards.
AM produced renderings of my final chosen spec and I got Andy Palmer to sign them following a meeting with him by chance at the factory.
But I thoroughly enjoyed speccing the V12S too as although that was my second Aston the first I bought off the showroom floor so had no ability to do anything other than pay for it.
alscar said:
I guess the GT8 because it was already limited and at that time not so easy to get one and also the fact that I had Aston Martin Works do some additional work on it prior to collection.
Working with Q for some bits was interesting particularly on paint and prices but we got there in the end.
The whole experience of buying the GT8 was also pretty memorable from the initial viewing onwards.
AM produced renderings of my final chosen spec and I got Andy Palmer to sign them following a meeting with him by chance at the factory.
But I thoroughly enjoyed speccing the V12S too as although that was my second Aston the first I bought off the showroom floor so had no ability to do anything other than pay for it.
You're a lucky boy Working with Q for some bits was interesting particularly on paint and prices but we got there in the end.
The whole experience of buying the GT8 was also pretty memorable from the initial viewing onwards.
AM produced renderings of my final chosen spec and I got Andy Palmer to sign them following a meeting with him by chance at the factory.
But I thoroughly enjoyed speccing the V12S too as although that was my second Aston the first I bought off the showroom floor so had no ability to do anything other than pay for it.
I never buy new cars (regardless of type) as I must have lived my former lives in Yorkshire or Scotland. But I do get tempted...
GT3ZZZ said:
This was the spec sheet on my 2018 V12VS. It was spec'd by AM Cambridge and registered by them in Spring 2018 when it didn't sell. I was the first private owner in Autumn 2018. Now gone...
Wow! Carbon is a costly element 
Interesting to see how much of a bargain the lightweight seats were. I thought they were more.
Mine is relatively light on carbon bits, with the money spent by the generous original owner on this lot:
Yours edges mine for total build cost. But I realise now how much of a (relative!) bargain the V12 AMR edition was with the Performance Pack included.
Please can you post some snaps of yours, exterior and interior? Would be grateful to see
nickv12 said:
Please can you post some snaps of yours, exterior and interior? Would be grateful to see
I added a few more bits after purchase, notably the red belts that were only an option on Vanquish from new. There were a couple of great guys at Cambridge who tracked down the OEM supplier and got mine sent off and re-webbed complete with original Aston labelling. Anyway, a few pics:
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