The Geneva show car was finished in Stratus White with orange grille ‘lipstick’, side stripes and rear diffuser. The interior was finished in True Teal Leather with an inner seat stripe in orange leather.

Another V12 Vantage S created by Q is the ‘Volcano’. Combining both Storm Black and Volcano Red, the gradiated finish is used across the bonnet and is matched with red tinted carbon fibre louvres. Red tinted Carbon fibre is also used on the front and rear diffusers, as well as rear lamp infills and mirror caps.

The Frankfurt Motor Show Q by Aston Martin V12 Vantage S was inspired by the design, detailing and performance of luxury sports and high tech clothing, featuring flashes of colour set against luxurious Rose Gold detailing. Understated bodywork was paired with satin carbon fibre and flourishes of vibrant yellow. Inside, Titanium Grey semi-aniline metallic leather seats were combined with White Essence feature striping. The statement yellow was then applied to the Piano Black centre console.

The photographs above, was taken soon after the first glimpse of the Vantage on the Aston Martin stand at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1992. This single AM Racing Green car, the second prototype and first with the final spec bodywork was surely the car of the show, but customers had to await many months until deliveries began. As well as having been seen at the 1992 Motor Show, this car appeared on the BBC TV Top Gear programme when Jeremy Clarkson was forbidden from driving what was the only finished car. It is now owned by an enthusiastic collector and was comprehensively restored by Rikki Cann in Essex from 2012 to 2014.

Almost 22 years from it’s first unveiling, DP2055/2 stormed to victory in the V8 class at the AMOC Autumn concours at Sudeley Castle in the Costwolds.

Below are pictures of the first prototype which initially looked more like the standard Virage than a Vantage. The car as it is now is a two seater with a substantial roll cage. I’m reliably informed that when AML sold off the car, it was in a poor state and may have been a non-runner. Since then, the car has been extensively refurbished. The Vantage type front and rear were put there by the next owner, an AM dealer from Norfolk. Power output is estimated at around 600bhp.

The motor show prototype supercharged Vantage, DP2055 pictured alongside 70001, the first production Vantage

Also In the gallery below is another supercharged Vantage prototype that has not been so fortunate as the above cars. For many years now, it is mandatory for all manufacturers to take and example of each new model and perform quite expensive crash testing. Following this, the shell has to kept until production of the model has finished. This crash test prototype was captured in 2000 shortly before it was moved out of the scrap yard behind the Newport Pagnell factory for destruction.

The cost of destroying this car could only be shared between a mere 280 cars over 8 years adding hundreds of pounds to the purchase price of every one. This must go some way to explain why AM can no longer afford to produce vehicles in such tiny numbers in the traditional coach built way.

Aston Martin Vantage prototype DP2055/2 shortly after winning the V8 class at the AMOC Autumn Concours, October 2014

As with the V12 Vantage S coupe, introduced in 2013, the roadster initially had the latest generation Sportshift III hydraulically actuated automated manual transmission fitted as standard. It provides motorsport-style paddle shift changes for optimum performance delivery. The unit, which replaces the six-speed manual gearbox found in the previous V12 Vantage Roadster, is also appreciably lighter – saving 20 kg versus its forebear.

The use of three-stage adaptive damping, allied to three-stage DSC and two-stage ABS, allows the driver to more precisely tailor the car’s dynamic character. ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’ modes provide a broad swathe of dynamic performance that can be tuned to better suit the driver’s requirements. The system also governs the level of power steering assistance offered.

Optimum braking performance is delivered via the specially-created carbon ceramic discs all round, with near-identical brakes to those used on the Vanquish. Meanwhile a whole new lightweight exhaust system – derived from that of Aston Martin’s most expensive and exclusive production model, the One-77 – is wonderfully sonorous.

Unlike the previous V12 Vantage Roadster, which was limited to just 101 examples, the new ‘S’ version does not appear to be a limited or special edition and will no doubt be built in greater numbers. The ‘S’ is also on sale worldwide including the important North American market which was denied the previous offering.

Deliveries of the V12 Vantage S Roadster began in the autumn of 2014.

Then, three years after the limited edition V12 Vantage Roadster Aston Martin re-introduced the manual gearbox to a V12 powered Vantage Roadster

The new seven-speed manual transmission features a classic dog-leg first gear position; an echo from the past that will be welcomed by driving enthusiasts. This dog-leg configuration also ensures the gears used most frequently are located in a double ‘H‘ pattern like that of a conventional 6-speed manual. 

The new manual transmission also features AMSHIFT. The system, which is driver selectable uses clutch, gear position and propshaft sensors, together with finely-tuned programming of the engine management, to mimic the technique of heel-and-toe downshifts; the act of blipping the throttle while braking and changing gear. AMSHIFT also offers the capability of full-throttle upshifts for maximum smoothness and minimal interruption in acceleration.

AMSHIFT can be used in all driving modes, but is especially effective in Sport, with the sharper throttle response and louder exhaust note really emphasising the downshift throttle blip for maximum excitement.

It was at the request of the client from Far East Asia that the carrozeria contacted AML with the proposal of a collaborative project. This involved AML supplying complete rolling and running chassis to coachbuilders, Coggiola near Turin, to have them then clothed in unique coachwork with bespoke interiors as styled by Pininfarina.

The very odd and distinguishing feature of the AM3 is a composite nose cone which encompasses the lights and grille. This feature at least will remind you of the rubber bumper MGB GT or a US sportscar with one of those ‘black bra’ things that they have – it’s that odd. The rear lights are behind a full width smoked black panel in the shape of the AM grill.

These pictures appear to have been taken by Pininfarina on the roof of their factory in Italy; the car appears to be on a turntable. Rather oddly, AM3 whilst never officially seen in public was modelled in 1/43 scale by Ban Seng.

It is believed that Pininfarina offered five possible designs to the client, AM1 to AM5, and only design numbers 3 and 4 went on to be produced. It is unlikely that the renderings for AM1, AM2 and AM5 will ever be made public.

These photographs have been kindly provided by Aston Martin Works

The rear lights are again behind a full width black (or perhaps smoked plastic) full width panel similar to that on AM3. AM4 was also featured in the 1998 Autocar article.

In all, three AM4’s were built, all automatics with V600 engine and right hand drive. As with the AM3, they have never been seen in public.

Based on the current V12 Vantage S yet strongly influenced by the race spec V12 Vantage GT3, the GT12 Special Edition boasts a weight saving of at least 100kg over the regular V12 ‘S’ version, and a power boost from 565 bhp to a whisker below the magic 600.

 Almost all the bodywork of the GT12 is unique to the car, only the aluminium doors are common to the regular Vantage, the remainder is mostly made of lightweight carbon fibre. The aerodynamic additions to the car include a unique ‘horseshoe’ bonnet air intake, designed to send air along the side of the car and angled slats both behind the front and ahead of the rear wheels. The rear wing, largest fitted to a road going Aston Martin is actually optional but does provide so much downforce that the road going GT12 has more than the race spec Vantage GT4.

The inside has been well stripped out yet retains some creature comforts such as a fixed sat-nav screen. The seats are lightweight carbon fibre, manually adjusted, the interior has a covering of Alcantara, the door cards are single piece carbon items and the centre console also in carbon fibre has been taken from the Vanquish. This was the first indication that the new centre console would be standard equipment in the entire Vantage range for the 2017 model year.

In standard form, the GT12 weighs 1565 kg, although opting for the lightweight options such as polycarbonate  rear and rear quarter windows and carbon fibre roof can shed another 50kg. During the spring, the GT12 will undertake further testing and calibration, often in the hands of AMR regular, Darren Turner. The AM57 engine is currently producing 592 bhp but perhaps a little more is anticipated. Zero to 60 comes up in 3.5 seconds, 0.2 quicker than the V12 ‘S’ although due to greater downforce and a larger frontal area, top speed drops from 205 to 185 mph.

With production strictly limited to just 100 examples, even with a price around £250,000, virtually all the cars had sold even before the Geneva Show opened. Especially created by ‘Aston Martin Special Projects;’ the GT12’s were delivered to their new owners from the autumn of 2015. As it AML was committed to only building 100 customer cars, a similar lightweight V8 Vantage known as the GT8 was offered from the spring of 2016.

Six examples of the GT12 were built with a colour scheme inspired by the AMR Gulf liveried GTE car, such cars and are unofficially known as the GT12 Gulf Edition.

Why the change of name? Well shortly after the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche threatened a law suit as they believed that they owned the right to the ‘GT3’ name. What is rather odd is that GT3 was the name of an FIA race class and  it was Lotus that first used the term with the Esprit GT3 from 1996 to 1999. Even so, Aston Martin have climbed down and Andy Palmer has given the following statement;-

“Matters have now been resolved and Aston Martin has decided not to waste valuable cash on litigation and instead opted to rename the car the Aston Martin Vantage GT12. To reinforce the message, the Aston Martin Vantage race car will also be known as the GT12 from now on too”

Later variants were badged V8 Vantage which is even more confusing as then should not be confused with the first production V8 Vantage built between 1977 and 1989 or the current Gaydon produced car. Sometimes people also refer to this car as the Vantage S/C, V550 to reflect peak power or also, confusingly sometime V590, which refers to the engine prefix which also allows a distinction from the later v600. Also although many UK cars have Virage Vantage on their V5 document, this term should never be used when describing this model; it tends to upset the owners!

The front view of the Vantage reveals no fewer than six headlights. This trend for excess in the lighting dept was started with the DBS packing four. The Bulldog had five, centrally mounted, whereas the facelift V8 Lagonda was the first to have six. The earlier cars had square headlights (similar to the V8 Zagato) whereas from chassis 70113 they were replaced with round projector type also used on all examples of the V8 Coupe and long chassis V8 Volante. I believe since the square ones are now virtually unobtainable, if cars receive frontal damage affecting the headlamps, they tend to be rebuilt with the later round lights. Those wonderfully juicy grapefruit rear lights were specially designed and tooled for the car. It would have been better if the lights also incorporated a rear reflector instead if it being separate in the bumper, but this would have been too expensive for such a low volume car.

The massive 362 mm diameter ventilated discs and four piston AP Racing callipers fitted to the front of the Vantage were at the time, the largest fitted to a road car. They have their work cut out stopping car weighing in at 1990 kg.

The sumptuous yet functional interior of a Vantage, was much improved from the Virage including the replacement of the VIC computer with three, then four analogue dials. The keen eyed amongst you will see that the car illustrated below is an automatic. The factory only built the car with a six speed manual box, the small number of automatics have often been converted at Works Service.

Changes to the Virage based body may be extensive, but that’s nothing compared to the engine. Here we have a 5340cc V8 with not one but twin Eaton superchargers. With 550 bhp and 550 lb ft of torque, this was, at the time, the most powerful production powerplant in the world. In V600 form, as unveiled late in 1998, and additional 50bhp became available. With all this power, you now want to know “how fast”. Is 186 mph and 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds enough? – well these are AML’s ‘official’ figures, although in testing, I believe a figure of almost 200mph was recorded. In its day, it was the the fastest Aston Martin road car ever. I was very fortunate to ride in a works Vantage in 1998, easily the fastest car I have ever been a passenger – including a Dodge Viper.

Cars from 70173 (plus 71) lost the Citroen CX sourced door mirrors and gained a newer Jaguar version; these cars also had a greatly revised exhaust system with transverse rear silencers. Cars with chassis number 70198 and above (inc 70194 received the flush Mondeo sourced door handles with integral keyholes, and an improved cooling system

By February 1998, production had topped the 200 mark during five years of production and by the time production ended, a mere 239 ‘standard’ examples had been produced – a very exclusive motorcar indeed. The remaining 40 supercharged Vantage coupes built during 1999 and 2000 were the Le Mans special editions. Once production of the handbuilt V8 ended in late 2000, the days of heavyweight coachbuilt Astons were over for good.

A 1997 Suffolk Red supercharged V8 Vantage with many of it’s brothers, part of the AMHT display at the 2016 AMOC Concours, IWM Duxford

As well as an uprated engine, other modifications available for the car are numerous and include ultra lightweight hollow spoke magnesium Dymag wheels, giant brake discs with circumferential cooling grooves plus AP racing callipers, stack digital instruments and reworked suspension with Eibach springs, adjustable Koni’s and a stiffer anti-roll bar. Many cars also have a five speed close ratio manual transmission although it is possible to see V600’s with automatic transmission.

Central to the V600 is this, the most powerful Aston Martin road car engine of all time until it was toppled by the One-77. Essentially, this final version of the Tadek Marek V8 features performance engineering of the charge air intake cooling system, increased boost pressure and a big bore sports exhaust, described by AML as ‘Super Sport’. The engine bottom left was auctioned at the AML/Bonhams auction in 2003 and reached £16,000 plus buyers premium. This represented not only a fraction of the cost of the engine but a fraction of the conversion cost too.

So far as is known, Aston Martin Works have converted in excess of 80 engines to V600 spec including regular V8 Vantage, Special Series Cars, Vantage Le Mans and Special Edition Vantage Volantes. That said, Works have also stated that only 9 standard V8 Vantages were made V600 immediately after first registration. Even now, Works are still able and capable to upgrade any supercharged Vantage to V600 spec, 16 years after the modification was first introduced.

The blue car below, S600BHP / AML1, is the development and press car, photographed at the Factory and during the AMOC Le Mans tour 1999.

Supercharged Vangtages at the 2016 AMOC Spring concours at IWM Duxford

The first example, #55 shown above (GT12AMV) is unique of the five as the light blue paint is metallic Mako Blue rather than sold Porsche Gulf Blue of the other 4 cars. It also has an exposed carbon fibre roof panel, the other four are believed to have painted roof panels. It was photographed at W-One, the Aston Martin showroom in London’s Park Lane in Jaunary 2016.

Another of the 5 Gulf cars, this time with the more conventional solid blue paint, photographed at the 2016 Aston Martin Festival in Burleigh, Lincolnshire.

At the AMOC 40th anniversary  meeting at Le Mans, June 1999, the first V8 Vantage Le Mans was displayed alongside the winning DBR1 from the 1959 race. The remaining 39 cars were built between December 1999 and October 2000.

Some of the features of the V8 Vantage Le Mans are

• 1999MY V8 Vantage 
• V590 engine, often but not always uprated to V600 specification
• ZF six speed manual transmission, often modified to 5 speed
• V600 spec brake package with ventilated and grooved discs and 6 pot callipers (front) and 4 pot rear
• 5 spoke magnesium alloy hollow spoke Dymag wheels with centre caps
• Blanked radiator with twin openings
• Bonnet cooling ducts
• Redesigned wing vents with a resemblance to those on the DBR1
• Machined alloy fuel filler cars
• Brushed aluminium facias on most cars

In addition, each car came with a map of Northern France to assist owners visiting the famous circuit, and a leather and sterling  silver key fob.

Limited to only 40 examples, the V8 Vantage Le Mans came with a price tag approaching a quarter of a million pounds.  For a picture gallery of all the examples of the Le Mans, try V8 Vantage.com.

The special features of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Le Mans