1988 Aston Martin V8

Aston Martin resurrected the 'Vantage' name in 1977, having been previously applied to high-power versions of the DB six-cylinder cars. The name had laid dormant since the V8's arrival back in 1969. The V8 was a heavier car than its six-cylinder predecessor, and the V8 engine had suffered as emissions legislation became even more strangulating. The arrival of the Vantage dispelled any worries that Aston Martin's traditional performance image might be lost.

The Vantage offered a tuned version of the existing 5,340cc engine with a quartet of 48mm Weber carburetors rather than the standard 42mm units. Valves and ports were enlarged and the camshafts changed, helping horsepower rise to around 375 bhp. Chassis changes were minimal apart from the adoption of bigger ventilated discs all round and low-profile Pirelli tires. Distinguishable features from the standard product included a blocked-off bonnet scoop, blanked air intake, front chin spoiler, and lip on the boot lid.

In 1978, the Volante convertible was introduced, but it was not until 1986 that it became available to Vantage specification, which by this time horsepower had risen to 400 bhp. Along with the Vantage engine, other notable changes were flared wheel arches, boot spoiler (something the Volante had previously lacked), and extended front spoiler. Fiberglass extensions replaced the chromed sill overs. In this guise, it claimed to be the world's fastest convertible when it was launched at the October 1986 Birmingham Motor Show, all the more so when it came with the optional 432 horsepower 'X-Pack' (580X) engine. The reworked 5340cc 'quad cam' V8 had four 48mm Weber carburetors, Cosworth pistons, Nimrod racing-type cylinder heads, larger inlet ports, and higher lift camshafts. A 'big-bore' after-market option was also available from Aston Martin Works Service, which featured 50mm carburetors (instead of the standard X-Pack 48mm ones) and a straight-through exhaust system that combined to give a thumping 432bhp (this was the same setup as found in the limited-edition V8 Zagato). Another part of the X-Pack package was 16-inch Ronal split-rim wheels with 255/50 Goodyear Eagle tires.

Approximately 167 examples of the V8 Vantage Volante were completed by the end of production in December of 1989. Of these, around 58 left-hand drive cars were exported (mostly to the United States) and fitted with the less powerful fuel-injected V8 engine. Around 14 of these left-hand drive cars had automatic transmissions. 137 X-Pack derivatives were made all told.

The V8 Vantage had a top speed of around 170 mph, putting it in the supercar league of the period. The engine was shared with the Lagonda, but with several modifications that allowed it to produce more horsepower than its sibling. Zero-to-sixty mph took 5.3 seconds which was slightly faster than the Ferrari Daytona.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019