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Aston
Martin
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April 1972 - 1990
The Aston Martin V8 was released
in April 1972 replacing the DBS V8. Designed by William Towns,
the model was a makeover of the DBS with the key change to the
frontal design. The model carried over the Tadek Marek 5340cc
V8 from the DBS V8, with the replacement for the DBS six cylinder
model being a separate model called the Aston Martin Vantage.
The model had a long life with multiple revisions both mechanic
and cosmetic keeping the model up to date whilst Aston Martin
survived bankruptcy and changes of ownership.
The first model is the V8 (Bosch
fuel injection) and has been referred to as the Aston Martin
V8 Series 2 (the DBS V8 being the Series 1). 288 of this series
were built but due to mechanical problems with the fuel injection
system, the V8 (Weber Carburettor) model was introduced in July
1973 (Referred to as the Series 3). Visual changes to the model
include the larger air intake and bonnet bulge, removal of the
louvres under the rear windscreen and a small lip added to the
boot lid. 967 were built. The first V8 Vantage model, a significant
upgrade over the standard V8, was released in February 1977.
Known as the Series 1, bolt-on or flip-tail, it featured mechanical
and aerodynamic upgrades such as the blanked off grille, sealed
bonnet bulge and bootlid spoiler.
The V8 (Oscar India) (also referred
to as the V540 and V580 models or Series 4) was introduced in
October 1978. Visual changes to the model included a closed
bonnet scoop, a neat integral rear spoiler, and many had twin
Cibie driving lamps and fog lamps installed. BBS cross spoke
wheels replaced the GKN wheels as standard in 1983. 352 of the
series were built up to its conclusion in January 1986. In June
1978, the Volante convertible was introduced, with the Oscar
India updates before the coupé was released. 656 of the
V8 Volante Series 1 were built. The V8 Vantage (Oscar India)
(or Series 2 or V540 OI, V580 and V580 BBS) was released at
the same time with a neater integrated spoiler and a smoother
closed bonnet bulge. It's only difference with the standard
model was the large front air dam, blanked off grille and badges.
The V8 (Weber electronic fuel
injection, V585 efi) or Series 5 was introduced in January 1986
and is recognised by the flat bonnet as a bonnet bulge was no
longer needed. The Volante Series 2 was introduced at the same
time. This was to be the last series of the model with the coupé
and Volante concluding in 1989 with 405 and 245 built respectively.
The V8 Vantage X-Pack (or Series 3 or V580X) was released at
the same time however retained the carburettors to give top-of-the-range
performance. A V8 Vantage Volante was also released in 1986,
a convertible with the Vantage's mechanical performance though
with some distinct looks including a huge front air dam, extra
wide wheel arches, flared sills and a large flip tail. A total
of 109 V8 Vantage Volantes were made.
James Bond returned
to Aston Martin in The Living Daylights (1987) driving
an Aston Martin V8 Vantage/Volante filled with lots of gadgets.
A total of 2360
V8s and 458 V8 Vantages were built from 1972 to 1990. In effect,
the model was replaced by the Aston Martin Virage introduced
in 1988.
V8
(Bosch fuel injection)
(also known as Series
2) (April 1972 - July 1973)
- V8,
5.3L V8, saloon, 239kW@5800rpm, 488Nm@4500rpm, £8,949
V8
(Weber Carburettor)
(also known
as Series
3) (July 1973 - October
1978)
- V8,
5.3L V8, saloon, 209-224kW@6000rpm, 434Nm@3000rpm, £9,593
- V8 Vantage,
5.3L V8, convertible, 280kW@5800rpm, 515Nm@4000rpm, £20,000
(from February 1977)
V8
(Oscar India)
(also known
as Series
4 or V540 or V580) (October
1978 - January 1986)
- V8,
5.3L V8, saloon, 228kW@5000rpm, 475Nm@3000rpm
- V8 Volante,
5.3L V8, convertible, 228kW@5000rpm, 475Nm@3000rpm (from June
1978)
- V8 Vantage,
5.3L V8, saloon, 280kW@5800rpm, 515Nm@4000rpm, £25,998
V8
(Weber electronic fuel injection, V585 efi)
(also known
as Series
5) (January 1986 - 1989)
- V8,
5.3L V8, saloon, 235kW@5000rpm, 468Nm@3500rpm, £55,000
- V8 Volante,
5.3L V8, convertible, 235kW@5000rpm, 468Nm@3500rpm, £68,500
- V8 Vantage ,
5.3L V8, saloon, 306kW@6000rpm, 536Nm@5100rpm, £63,500
- V8 Vantage Volante,
5.3L V8, convertible, 306kW@6000rpm, 536Nm@5100rpm, £80,000
V8
(Bosch fuel injection)
The cumberland grey Series 4 Aston Martin
V8 marked a return to the world of James Bond for Aston
Martin in the movie The Living Daylights (1987).
A Vantage and a Volante were used in the movie, although
the film depicted that the convertible in the early part
of the film was 'winterised' turning into the coupé.
Another thing noted is that the Volante's looks were toned
down to look closer to the basic model, and option that
was available to customers at the time. Bond's extra equipment
included:
Two forward-firing missiles
hidden behind each of the front lights.
Heads up display for use with missiles
Lasers in the wheel spinners
Outrigger
Tyre spikes
Rocket booster
Radio scanner
Bullet-proof glass
Self-destruct
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at
the London Film Museum in 2015 |
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