The name ‘Vantage’ had previously been applied to cars with an optional uprated engine beginning with the DB2. There have also been occasional discrete models called Vantage such as the DB4 Vantage and AM Vantage. But the V8 Vantage became a distinct model line in it’s own right and was a significant upgrade of the standard V8 saloon. 

Principle to the huge performance leap of the Vantage was a significant upgrade to the V8 engine which in the contemporary AM V8 was struggling to achieve 300 bhp. The carburettors were changed to the larger 48 IDF Weber which were fitted to revised inlet manifolds. Together with  larger valves, revised exhaust manifolds, revised camshafts and a higher compression ratio, once run-in, the engines were capable of giving 375 to 380 bhp although at the time, the power output was described by AML as ‘adequate’. The chassis was also stiffened with adjustable Koni dampers, shortened springs and a larger front anti-roll bar. Wider 255/60 VR15 Pirelli CN12 tyres were fitted together with spacers to widen the track.

External modifications were aerodynamic in nature. The V8 Vantage was easily distinguished for the standard AM V8  by the front air dam, twin Cibie H4 driving lights within the blanked off grille (cooling air for the radiator being drawn in from beneath the bumper) and a boot lid spoiler at the rear. All of these aerodynamic additions were essential to reduce lift and also drag. Another feature was the use of a sealed bonnet bulge to cover a larger airbox above the down draught carburettors.

The first group of 16 cars have two distinctive and unique features. Firstly, the rear spoiler was added to the car after the body was built. Also, the bonnet bulge opening is sealed with a separate bolt on cover. Sometimes these very early cars are called the ‘Bolt-on’ Vantage. For the remaining 23 V540 Vantage production cars, the spoiler was made integral to the body and the opening in the bonnet bulge was welded shut during manufacture. These later cars are known as ‘flip tail’.

The Oscar India V8 Vantage, offered from October 1978, shared the less pronounced integral spoiler and neater bonnet of the AMV8 Oscar India saloon.

The important car on the left was in fact the second production V8 Vantage, the first sold to a customer (Gordon Procter) and the first ever to be raced in anger at an AMOC race meeting in 1977. Over time, it has lost many of the original features of the early cars. When first built, the car had Perspex covers over the headlights, smaller 5 inch driving lights and bonnet with bolted in cover. The car now runs on non-standard 16 inch Gotti wheels in place of the 15 inch GKN‘s, probably to enable the use of wider, low profile tyres. It’s featured prominently one this page for two very good reasons. Firstly, it was the first Aston Martin I ever drove, but more important than that, is that it’s first owner and subsequent owner became firm friends of mine who I have been truly fortunate to meet through the Aston Martin Owners Club.

An early production V8 Vantage from 1977, one of only four built with the smaller 5 inch driving lights

The term ‘series 1’ is a classification from the AMOC register, strictly speaking, these first examples of the V8 Vantage should be called ‘V540’ as used by the factory – 540 comes from the prefix to the engine number.

The V8 Vantage pages have been written with the kind assistance of Kean Rogers of the Kangaroo Stable. For more detained information, please visit www.v8vantage.com

What is unusual and unique about his particular car is that, unlike many of the PoW cars, it wasn’t painted British Racing or Hunter Green, but originally the lighter metallic Burnham Green. At some time in the 1990’s it was re-painted to a darker green, but during restoration by Works Service, it gone back to the original shade. The condition of the PMoK car is concours right down to the hidden ‘panic buttons’ than a VIP would use to to alert the security forces to an attack.

Mechanically the ‘Oscar India’ V8 Vantage (V540 OI) remained the same as the earlier series 1 (V540) cars although the interior was more luxurious with leather replacing the vinyl on the dash. Wood veneers for the dash and door capping, standard on the V8 saloon, became an option on the Vantage although it was thought at the time that the shiny surface would distract the serious driver. Forty four examples of the V540 OI cars were built between October 1978 and March 1980.

When Motor Magazine tested the V8 Vantage (a V580 model) an incredible 0 to 60mph time of 5.2 seconds was recorded, slightly faster than the same magazine achieved for the original cars.

Further revisions were made to the V8 Vantage in 1980 although these were purely mechanical and the from the exterior, the car remained unchanged. The V580 cars, as they are known at the factory, were the result of a process of standardising engine parts across the AM V8 range. Changes mainly to the head and valves plus a standard piston for all models resulted in a quieter and smoother engine with both better economy and improved mid-range torque.

From 1983, the 7 inch wide GKN wheels on the Vantage were replaced by the 8 inch cross spoke BBS. These were needed to carry the massively wide 275 section Pirelli P7 tyres and the V580BBS cars are easily identified by wider wheel arches, increasing the overall width from 183 cm to 189 cm.

In the gallery below are examples of the 94 V580BBS cars, although these cars have the Ronal cross spoked more usually associated with the later examples of the Vantage (V580X). How can we tell they are pre X-pack 2 cars? The indicator repeater is on the front of the wing, just behind the headlight; in most cases, the X-pack cars have a square repeater behind the front wheel.

The V8 Vantage pages have been written with the kind assistance of Kean Rogers of the Kangaroo Stable. For more detained information, please visit www.v8vantage.com

In January 1986, the AM V8, Volante and Lagonda received the Weber electronic fuel injection system to replace the carburettors in an effort to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.   Yet the Vantage continued to be fitted with the four twin-choke, down draught Weber carburettors. The fuel injection technology of the time could not have provided sufficient power expected of the highest performance car of the range. First produced in early 1986, the final series of the V8 Vantage were fitted with the same 580X engine as previewed in the V8 Vantage Zagato and the X-pack was born.

First view of the X-pack was in the autumn of 1986 at the Birmingham Motor Show. This particularly early example of the X-pack in Chichester Blue still has the front indicator repeaters in mounted in front of the wheels, later cars had these repositioned behind. The wheels, now 16 inch in diameter were of a spilt rim design were made by Compomotive were fitted with 255/50 Goodyear Eagle tyres.

After problems with the original Compomotive wheels, splitting when hitting kerbs, AML initially switched to similar styles by manufacturers OZ Ceres or MSW (see left). Soon after, they then switched to the exceptionally beautiful Ronal with it’s concealed wheel nuts (right). Unfortunately the Ronal wheel is now long out of production and consequently they are of considerable value. A ‘look-a-like’ Ronal is now available from AM Heritage Dealers and is seen on many other AM V8’s as well as Vantages.

The heart of the series 3 V8 Vantage – the V580X (sometimes called X-pack) specification engine. Changes to the previous version include four 48mm Weber carburettors, Cosworth pistons, larger inlet ports and higher lift camshafts. With the air pumps needed to meet EEC emission regulations, peak power is in the range of 410 to 420 bhp. With an optional conversion from Works Service, which included big bore airbox and manifolds, straight through pipes at the back and the carbs meticulously opened upto 50mm, power was increased to 432bhp.

Here is a particularly unusual and probably unique V8 Vantage. This example was built not only without blanking plate over the grille but also lacking the huge front air dam. It could almost be referred to as ‘‘Prince of wales’ specification.

An example of a series 3 V8 Vantage together with a V8 Vantage Volante POW, photographed during early Spring 2001 at Nicholas Mee’s London showroom.

Between March 1977 and December 1989, the V8 Vantage was the only British member of the Supercar club. It may have weighed as much as a house (about 1800 kg actually) but could see off the skimpy Ferrari 512BB and Testarossa plus the Lamborghini Countach with aplomb and carry an extra two passengers.

The V8 Vantage pages have been written with the kind assistance of Kean Rogers of the Kangaroo Stable. For more detained information, please visit v8vantage.com

The 58 left hand drive examples were all exported, principally to the USA. Of these cars, 47 had automatic transmission and only 11 had the 5 speed manual transmission. Some of these cars will have had their engines uprated to full Vantage specification and also, it is possible to have the rubber bumpers changed to chrome – although this is quite costly as it needs some extensive modifications to front and rear coachwork.  The cars are a very rare site in the UK and Europe.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante cosmetic spec V585, an unusual car that features the fuel injected V585 engine with European spec bumpers

Although this car has European chrome bumpers, it can be seen that this car also has a flat bonnet indicating the non-Vantage tuned 585EFI engine. Although it impossible to be sure, this car could have been subsequently exported to Switzerland or Japan.

Photograph above courtesy of Aston Martin Lagonda

This car is, at least for the moment, exactly as it left the factory – complete with rubber bumpers and 585EFI engine. The owner, who sent me these pictures, is keen to point out that the bumpers are in the process of being switched to the more traditional chrome type which is more involved than you may think. I am told that it is the only 585EFI Vantage saloon built for the North American market.

These cars are not counted within the 27 true PoW cars – and it has been explained to me like this. The V8 Vantage Volantes chassis numbers usually start with V8V….., and true PoW cars start with V8C….. So, you could say that PoW cars started out as V8 Volantes and then had the performance upgrades added during production. Whereas, the flip-tail cars started out as V8 Vantage Volantes but had many of the overt styling features of the car deleted during production. Well that’s how I understand it anyway.

These ‘flip-tail’ Vantage Volantes are also sometimes referred to as the ‘Ecurie Ecosse’ cars. The first two of three cars were built for the McCaig brothers; their Ecurie Ecosse Racing Team was a feature of the Aston Martin AMR1 Group C sportscar in 1989.

This ex-McCaig ‘Ecurie Ecosse’ Vantage Volante POW initially featured a blanked off grille, although this has recently been replaced with a black mesh type (one picture above was taken outside the AML factory offices in Newport Pagnell)

Another flip-tail POW cars, with contrasting stainless steel mess grille, photographed in 1999 at the Coys Historic Festival, Silverstone. The car is finished in Brunswick Green with green leather upholstery piped in red.

The main photograph is an outstanding V8 Vantage Volante was photographed during to preparation for the 1999 Parade des Pilotes at Le Mans. The crackle finish black cylinder heads indicate a Factory original (Works Service) 6.3 litre engine conversion. In this case, the engine is tuned to provide 470bhp with 479lb/ft torque at 2,750 rpm (i.e. set up for maximum acceleration). As with many other cars on this site, the owner is a visitor to this site and has kindly provided additional information.

In the gallery is an example of a later series 2 BBS Vantage but fitted with an RSW 7.0 litre conversion based on the 580 X-pack engine. The 7.0 litre usually have the cam covers painted in a green crackle finish. Also cars sometimes have badges with a logo ‘SEV8N’. Although this car is a V580 BBS example, it currently has Ronal wheels, more typical of the X-pack V8 Vantage.

Also in the gallery is an example of a V8 Volante with an RSW 7.0 litre conversion, this time tuned to suit the automatic gearbox. The RSW engine is also available with fuel injection – an example is shown on the V8 Vantage Zagato page.  Needless to say, if you were to take advantage of any engine performance enhancement, you would be wise to consider the suspension, brake and cooling upgrades also available.

More recently, RSW have also introduced a 5.7 litre conversion for the AMV8.

So, at the start of the film, we see our hero, played for the first time by Timothy Dalton, driving ‘B549 WUU’ a V8 Volante with Cumberland Grey coachwork and upholstered in black leather. This car was in fact the personal transport of Victor Gauntlett, the Chairman of AML. This car, even without visiting Q branch, was a bit special as it was ‘claimed’ that it came with a Vantage engine which might have been a bit of a fib. I eventually saw this particular V8 at the AMOC Horsfall race meeting in 2007, participating in the 007 track parade. During the film, and whilst in Volante form, the V8 did not display any particular ‘special features’.

A little later, we again see the Volante, this time in Q’s workshop, where it appears to be receiving a hardtop. The script describes the car as being ‘winterised’. The result is a V8 Saloon; an Oscar India car that you are expected to believe is the Volante with a closed roof – this is of course impossible – but hey, it’s only a film. In reality, the factory used a pair of second-hand V8’s which were refurbished and modified for filming the stunt work in the mountains of Austria although much of the plot was set in Czechoslovakia. They do have visible ‘Vantage’ badges, but these I guess were fitted as they would have been seen on the Volante; to all intents and purposes, the car was an ‘Oscar India’ V8 and not a Vantage as is often said.

Below are also some B+W press pictures that were released by the producers of the Bond film in 1987. Clearly, the Jet booster is a working effect. Notice that once the front tyre was blown off, the wheel has a metal disc which indicates that the skis couldn’t actually support the heavy V8.

Just like the DB5 before it, the V8 had many gadgets

• Jet engine booster rocket, behind the rear number plate
• Ice tyres with spikes emerging through the treads by compressed air
• Retractable outriggers for use on snow and ice, which emerge from the sills
• A pair of heat seeking missiles concealed behind the fog lights
• Laser beams built into the front hubcaps
• Heads-up display form targeting the missiles
• Police band scanner radio
• Self destruct system – thankfully only a fibreglass replica was exploded in the film

Such were the demands of parts for the filming, there was apparently a shortage of bumpers and windscreens at the factory for a short while afterwards.  The V8 Saloon is still, I believe, jointly owned by AM and Eon Productions, and is occasionally displayed at public events. I have been able to photograph the car at 1986 British Motor Show, 1998 Coys Historic Festival, Silverstone, 2005 AMOC St. Georges Day Windsor event in 2005 and the 2013 Aston Martin Centenary Celebration, Kensington Palace. I believe a engineless fibreglass special fx replica from the film also still exists which features some actual operating effects.

But remember that the number plate was the same on all the cars used during filming. The actual number officially stayed on the Volante until 2000 when the car went overseas. Subsequently the registration number was purchased and can now be seen on another V8 Saloon, also finished in the correct shade of Cumberland Gray with matching black leather. Not an original 007 car, but a very convincing replica/recreation how ever you want to see it. The car is illustrated here when it was photographed on a visit to the Aston Martin factory at Newport Pagnell in 2004. Perhaps the only obvious difference to the real thing are the new AM Heritage ‘Ronal like’ wheels instead of the BBS cross spokes seen in the film.

This car really looks the part, a real head turner