A term used since 1950 to identify particular DB2’s with a higher state of engine tune than standard. Probably a derivation of the word ‘Advantage’. It was in fact chosen by an employee of DB called Alan Roberts who shared an office with John Wyer at Feltham. In 1976, the ‘Vantage’ became a high performance model in it’s own right with modifications to more than just the engine. Now it is the model name applied to the smallest Aston Martin, the V8 Vantage and V12 Vantage.