MODEL HISTORY

Aston Martin's line of V8 models can trace it roots to 1969 and the launch of the William Towns-designed DBS V8. That car subsequently morphed into the V8 and progressed through various incarnations, all of which featured Tadek Marek's enduring 5.3-litre V8 engine.

The styling was subtly tweaked along the way, while mechanical changes included a switch from fuel injection to less-troublesome Weber carburettors for the 1973 Series 3. After just about surviving a period of economic turmoil in the mid-1970s, Aston Martin took until 1978 to introduce the Series 4, which would be known as the 'Oscar India' model and lasted until the launch of the fuel-injected Series 5 in 1986.

A Vantage model was added in 1977 and offered supercar levels of performance in a luxuriously appointed, old-school British design. In fact, when Car magazine ran a 1984 group test, a Vantage proved to be faster from 0-100mph than the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, Porsche 911 Turbo and Lamborghini Countach.

The X Pack variant was launched at the 1986 British Motor Show and included upgraded cylinder heads and internals, plus a quartet of Weber carburettors, helping to boost the power output to well over 400bhp. The ultimate specification, however, could be obtained by asking Aston Martin to enlarge the 5.3-litre Vantage X Pack to a monstrous 6.3 litres.

During the mid-1980s, the V8 model helped to rekindle the relationship between Aston Martin and legendary Italian design house Zagato, the two companies having first worked together on the iconic 1960 DB4 GT Zagato. The V8 Zagato was announced in 1985 and finally unveiled a year later, when its angular, muscular lines attracting a flurry of orders.

Zagato handcrafted the aluminium body panels in Italy and also redesigned the interior, and the brochure called the car 'the supreme expression of the art of high performance'. It stated that only 50 would be built, but total production reached 52 coupes and 39 Volante convertibles between 1986 and 1990.

ENQUIRE NOW

Name *

Email Address *

Please provide any additional details for your enquiry

Phone *

Tick Box
Please tick this box if don't want us to use your information

Send Message

Please do not fill in this field.