As Walkinshaw was keen on a V12, it was only sensible that the basis for this was the familiar Jaguar unit. Ever since the 1980’s TWR has been building and racing the engine in the XJ-S and Group C XJR Le Mans cars as well as their rather special JaguarSport road cars. The resulting engine is best described as a detuned race unit rather than a simply modified regular Jaguar item. Bored out to 6.4 litres it was fitted with unique ‘fast-road’ 24 valve twin overhead cam heads and a Zytec engine management system.The result is a claimed output of 475 bhp and 470 lb.ft. of torque all through  a six speed manual gearbox as used on the Corvette and appropriately, the supercharged V8 Vantage. The car has as you should expect uprated suspension and braking with wheels significantly wider than the regular i6.

Ian Callum’s updates to the shape didn’t involve changes to the metal but consisted of a revised lower air dam at the front, new rear skirt, new sills and small wheel arch extensions. Also added was an attractive rear wing that would be an attractive addition to any DB7.

Although the V12 DB7 was initially conceived as the personal car for the boss and to showcase for the talents of TWR as a special engineering company, the company must have hoped that Ford, owners of both Aston Martin and Jaguar would adopt the car for the much anticipated Vantage. Sadly this was not to be since Ford had earmarked a V12 of their own design for the higher performance Vantage derivative. The unique car was used for a few years by Tom but was eventually sold off when the financial situation at TWR deteriorated and it disappeared into a private collection, hidden from view. 

The car was photographed at the 2016 London Classic Car Show on the stand of Aston Martin specialist, Oselli, and we are grateful them for assisting with the photographs.

The Heritage Edition cars were the first AM6 Vantage to wear the racing aero kit, comprising of carbon fibre rear wing, dive planes and extended front splitter to increase downforce by 194 kg at 190 mph.

The standard UK price for the car started at £174,000 but certain liveries require a royalty payment which pushed them higher. The DBR9 Gulf car is the most expensive at £189,000. The edition was limited to 60 cars overall and it is believed the DBR9 was the most popular. Aston Martin Heritage Trust believes that the AMR1 and Razor Blade cars remain unique.

AMR1 (1989)

The AMR1 Heritage Car is finished in Club Sport White with Union Jack graphics, front to back centre stripe in blue with Mobil 1 style logos. The AMR1 was announced in August 1987 and the successor to the Nimrod, a joint venture between Aston Martin and Ecurie Ecosse and built to FISA Group C regulations. The car was powered by a 4-valve per cylinder mid-mounted V8 engine and had an advanced kevlar/carbon-fibre monocoque chassis.

Aston Martin Vantage AM6 Heritage Racing Edition in AMR1 colours.

Razor Blade (1923)

Developed by Bamford and Martin to be the first car to exceed 100 mph, it been subsequently claimed that the Razor Blade is indeed the narrowest racing car in the world. The Razor Blade car was finished in Spirit Silver with green graphics, which emulate the polished body and green painted chassis of the original 1923 car.

Aston Martin Vantage (AM6) Heritage Racing Edition – Razor Blade

Ulster (1934-35)

The Ulster team cars of 1934 and 1935and 5 in their striking Italian Racing Red paint, paid homage to one of Aston Martin’s most influential car designers – the Italian, Augustus Ceasare Bertelli. Bertelli’s cars saw much success, coming 3rd overall at Le Mans, winning its class, and finishing 4th in the RAC Tourist Trophy race. The cars are widely regarded as the pinnacle of pre-war racing cars. The Heritage Racing Edition cars were painted in Suffolk Red with white graphics and ‘Aston Martin’ written on the side gills in a delightful hand painted script as used before the second world war.

Aston Martin Vantage (AM6) Heritage Racing Edition – Ulster

DB3S (1953-56)

The Works DB3S was undoubtedly the quintessential 1950s sports racer and raced in period by by Stirling Moss, Carrol Shelby, Roy Salvadori, Reg Parnell, Peter Colins and many many more. The Heritage Edition car was finished in traditional Almond Green with contrasting yellow graphics and lipstick.

Aston Martin Vantage (AM6) Heritage Racing Edition – DB3S

DBR9 (1995-1998)

Getting more up to date with the famous Works DBR9 in Gulf livery, a highlight of Le Mans during the late 2000s. Successful in both 2007 and 2008 in the GT1 class, the car never looked better than in the iconic Gulf livery. The Heritage Racing edition cars were finished in Porsche Gulf Blue with contrasting orange graphics, lipstick and front to back centre stripe.

Aston Martin Vantage (AM6) Heritage Racing Edition – DBR9

Vantage GTE (AM6) (2018-2021)

The road car equivalent of the then current Works GTE cars finished in the AMR livery of Lime Essence with Stirling Green front to back centre stripe and orange graphics. Together with the standard fit aero package, the car closely follows the race car look.

Aston Martin Vantage (AM6) Heritage Racing Edition – GTE



Shortly after the 2021 AMHT Festival, the car was purchased by the first private owner: some the proceeds of the sale went to fund the AMHT.

Of the 6 cars, only 3 were built featuring a full GT4 Aerodynamics Kit that includes a carbon fibre front splitter and rear carbon fibre wing. Information held by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust shows that one example was built left-hand drive for the US market with the five remaining cars built right-hand drive for the UK market.

Although each car was bespoke, it is believed that the price of each was around £250,000.

Standard specification that we believe is common to all the Q CEO Editions includes

Carbon Roof, side vents and body pack
Carbon GT4 Bonnet
Quicksilver CEO Exhaust for Q Division

The car shown here is finished in Midnight Blue with Q graphics in silver.

No Time To Die was eventually around the world in September 2021 and featured no fewer than four iconic Aston Martin sports cars: the iconic DB5; the classic Aston Martin V8; the brand’s latest super GT, DBS Superleggera; and the exceptional Aston Martin Valhalla – the company’s forthcoming mid-engined hypercar.

The first of the two models is the Vantage 007 Edition, inspired by the original Aston Martin V8 which made its 007 debut in The Living Daylights in 1987 and also features in No Time to Die. The movie sees James Bond uncover the car from his personal lock-up in London.

Building on the formidable sporting style and aggressive performance of the regular Vantage, the new car featured unique exterior styling treatments led by a bespoke mesh grille with chrome bezel that references the look of the brand’s classic V8. Further styling details include a dashed yellow diffuser inspired by the hazard stripes on the film car’s rockets. The Vantage 007 Edition can even be delivered with a set of The Living Daylights inspired limited edition skis and ski rack – referencing the ‘winterised’ V8 saloon from the film.

The car was painted Cumberland Grey, whilst the interior trim is all-Obsidian Black leather with fluted seats and dark chrome with 007 branding applied on the centre console of cars equipped with a manual gearbox. The sun visors of all the cars will carried another subtle film reference in the shape of an embroidered radio station frequency – 96.60 (FM) – which 007 buffs will know was the Russian police frequency Bond used to aid his escape in The Living Daylights.The carbon fibre seat backs and, in a particularly detailed nod to the 1980s film, the outline of cello ‘f holes’ inspired by the memorable cello chase scene featuring James Bond (Timothy Dalton) and Kara Milovy (Maryam D’Abo).

The driver can indulge themselves further with the laser-etched gadget plaque that references the various weapons and devices seen on the original film car. These included a rocket motor, missiles, lasers, a targeting display and ski outriggers. Cross hairs etched onto the car’s paddle shift gear levers allude to the missile guidance system seen in the film, too. Available with either 7 speed manual or 8 speed Touchtronic transmission, the only options were graphics delete and Carbon brake rotors.