1987 Aston Martin V8

Production of the Aston Martin V8 lasted from 1969 through 1989 with 4,021 examples built. They served as a replacement for the outgoing DB6 model and since the engine was not ready by the time of its introduction, the company released the DBS with the straight-six Vantage engine from the DB6. The Tadek Marek-designed V8 was ready two years later, and Aston Martin introduced the DBS V8. After the demise of the straight-six Vantage in 1973, the DBS V8 became the Aston Martin V8.

In January of 1986, at the New York International Auto Show, Aston Martin introduced the Series 5 with fuel injection. Since the Weber/Marelli system was more compact and required less space than the previous carburetors, the hood bulge was virtually eliminated. By the time production came to a close in 1989, a total of 405 Series 5 cars had been built.

The 1987 Aston Martin V8 bodystyles included a fastback coupe, a convertible coupe, and a coupe built by Zagato. The Vantage specification was also available, which increased horsepower to over 400 horsepower. The base dual-overhead-camshaft V8 displaced 325.9 cubic-inches and delivered around 310 horsepower. The engine was a ZF five-speed manual unit or a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic. The body was constructed from aluminum with steel floor and inner panels resting on a platform frame. Pricing in the U.S. began at around $127,000 and rose to nearly $168,000 for the Convertible Coupe with the Vantage specification.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2019