V8 (Bosch fuel injection)
V8 (Bosch fuel injection)

V8 (Bosch fuel injection)

(1972 - 1973)

Formally known by the AMOC as the Series 2

In April 1972, the DBSV8 was replaced by a car simply known as the Aston Martin V8 or AM V8. Although the company had recently been taken over by Company Developments, work on the revised design had begun under Sir David Brown's ownership. The new look to the V8 was principally to the front of the car with two 7 inch quartz iodine headlamps and black mesh grill. This new front end was first seen on a more radical styling project by William Towns known as MP231, which in addition involved changes to the rear of the car, although this was not adopted.

V8 (Bosch fuel injection)

The AMOC once designated the Bosch f.i V8’s as Series 2, but recently this description has been quietly dropped as it was never used by the factory. The production run of only 288 examples were made between April 1972 and July 1973. AM V8’s built after this time used Weber carburettors and feature larger bonnet scoops.

The V8 engine retained the Bosch fuel injection system from the DBS V8 which accounts for the sophisticated plumbing evident in this photograph. Power output from this engine was quoted as 310-320 bhp with 360 lb/ft of torque. Initially the Bosch mechanical fuel injection was found to be troublesome which has lowered the desirability of the DBSV8 and V8 series 2. This is a pity as the fuel injected cars are the most powerful of the standard V8’s, only eclipsed by the later V8 Vantage; top speed of around 160 mph and zero to 60 mph in under 6 seconds with manual transmission.

Almost all were built for the British market with right hand drive. Left hand drive cars for export are very rare and are often fitted with the less powerful /EE emission control engines. Non at all were sold in the USA as they did not conform to the increasingly strict smog controls.

For easy recognition of the Bosch f.i. cars, the air intake on the bonnet is open and lower in height than the later cars which were fitted with Weber carburettors. Also the panel below the rear window has horizontal louvers cut in to it – later cars have a flat panel with a small rear lip. Cars which feature additional Cibie driving lamps and Vantage style air dams and flip-tails are a non-standard modifications added sometimes many years after the cars were first built.

Something of note – the earliest examples of AMV8’s were fitted with badges with the words ‘David Brown’ and ‘DBS V8’. These were only fitted to use up the badges supply and are were not actually built under Sir David Brown’s ownership of AML Despite the badging, they are not actually DBS V8s at all. Also the Japanese market cars retained the ‘DBSV8’ prefix to the chassis number to ease importation. These cars are not DBS V8 either as Aston Martin was not licenced to use the initials, ‘DB’, which were owned by the David Brown Corporation.

How to identify the AM V8 Bosch fuel injection (AMOC Series 2)

How to identify the AM V8 Bosch fuel injection (AMOC Series 2)

  • Body/Coachwork:
    • 2 door 2+2 coupe
    • Steel platform chassis with handcrafted aluminium alloy body panels
    • Dual 7” quartz-iodine headlamps
  • Interior:
    • Connolly or Bridge or Weir leather interior, optional Parkertex (Draylon)
    • Coolaire air-conditioning system Bucket seats with tilting squabs to allow access to the rear seats
    • Radiomobile radio-stereo 8 track cartridge tape player, four speakers, electric aerial
    • Optional Bosch AM/FM self-seeking radio or Bosch AM/FM stereo self-seeking radio / cartridge player
  • Engine:
    • Front mounted all-alloy 90° V8, 5,340 cc, two-valves-per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts per bank.
    • Engine number prefix V540/ Bore 100 mm. Stroke 85 mm. Compression ratio 9.0 : 1 (8.3 : 1 on /EE engine)
    • Bosch PES 8KL mechanical fuel injection system. Fuel supplied by Bosch OF 602 electric, vane type, pump
    • Maximum power: not quoted at the time but now believed to be upto 320 bhp @ 5,800rpm (250 bhp with /EE engine)
    • Maximum torque: not quoted at the time but now believed to be 360 lb.ft @ 4500 rpm
    • Ignition System: Lucas ‘OPUS’ Mk 2 electronic. 12 volt coil and engine driven Lucas 35D8 distributor Ignition advance/retard system on /EE engine
  • Transmission:
    • Automatic: Chrysler Torqueflite 3 speed automatic
    • Manual: 5 speed ZF. Hydraulically operated 10½” Borg and Beck single dry-plate diaphragm clutch
    • Final drive: Salisbury hypoid bevel with Powr-Lok limited slip differential. Final drive ratio: 3.33 : 1 (manual), 2.88:1 (automatic)
  • Steering:
    • Power assisted Adwest rack and pinion, 2.9 turns lock to lock. Turning circle about 11.58 metres
  • Wheels and tyres:
    • Bolt-on, 5 stud, GKN Kent 15 x 7 ” light alloy wheels
    • Pirelli Cinturato GR70 VR15 radial low profile tyres
  • Suspension:
    • Front: Independent. Unequal transverse wishbones, coil springs and co-axial telescopic shock absorbers with an anti-roll bar
    • Rear: De Dion axle tube located by parallel trailing links and a Watts linkage. Coil springs and double-acting piston shock absorbers
  • Brakes:
    • Front: Girling, ventilated discs; 10.75″ diameter
    • Rear: Girling, Inboard ventilated steel discs, 10.38” diameter Tandem master cylinders and dual vacuum servo assistance
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 4,660 mm
    • Width: 1,829 mm Height: 1,327 mm
    • Wheelbase: 2,610 mm
    • Front track: 1,499 mm
    • Rear track: 1,499 mm
    • Kerb Weight: 1,727 kg
    • Fuel tank capacity: 95.4 litres
  • Performance:
    • Acceleration: 0-60 mph 5.9 seconds (manual)
    • Acceleration:0-100 mph 13.8 seconds (manual)
    • Maximum speed: 162 mph (manual)
  • Price at launch:
    • April 1972: £8,949