V8 Vantage, Zagato Mule « Aston Martins.com

V8 Vantage, Zagato Mule

(1978 / 1985)

This car, V8/11967/RCAV, an early V540 V8 Vantage in Florida Blue, was purchased by the first owner in Summer of 1978 and received the registration number, VNK360S. Sadly, the car had overheating problems and was purchased back by the factory from the unhappy owner. The factory initially used VINky as a factory demonstrator and press car before in was passed to the Engineering Department for their use in testing developments for the AMV8. Towards the end of it’s life with AML, VINky became the test-bed for the V8 Vantage Zagato, otherwise known as a ‘mule’.

V8 Vantage, Zagato Mule

Although the exterior remained as standard, the interior of the car was stripped of excess weight. This involved the removal of most of the interior trim, the rear seats were ditched as was the spare wheel. A smaller, lighter fuel tank was fitted, heating and air-con removed and the side glass replied by lighter Perspex. All this with the intention of dropping the weight to about 1600kg, the same as the upcoming V8 Zagato. A special development engine, a forerunner to the upcoming X-pack V8 was fitted giving peak power of 437 bhp at 6,250 rpm, together with a low ratio differential allowed the dash from 0 to 60 mph without the need to change gear out of 1st gear. The mule was as quick as a V8 Zagato and was and still is probably the fastest standard bodied V8 Vantage ever.

The Zagato Mule was initially photographed whilst on display at the 1999 40th Anniversary meeting at Donington Park and then racing during a similar meeting at the same venue in 2000. The only visible external changes to this unique car are the Zagato style Speedline wheels and the NACA cooling ducts on the bonnet.

A former owner of the Zagato mule has written an interesting article on his web site, V8Vantage.com. V8Vantage.com have also kindly provided the black and white period images from 1987 taken by Roger Stowers, AML historian and photographer.