Aston Martin V8

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Aston Martin V8 was a manufactured by Aston Martin in the UK sports car that was produced in the period 1969-1990. The most common model was a coupé ( Saloon ); later, a sporty version appeared with the name Vantage and shortly thereafter, finally a convertible under the name Volante. In addition, the Aston Martin V8 was the basis for some special models.

Model history of the saloon

The precursor: Aston Martin DBS and DBS V8

The Aston Martin V8 is due to the Aston Martin DBS, which debuted in 1967 at the Paris Motor Show, and shortly thereafter went on sale. The car, which was a completely new body was designed as the successor to the Aston Martin DB6. In fact, he solved the older model from not immediate; Both cars were produced until 1970 rather side by side. The design of the Aston Martin DBS was by the Englishman William Towns.

The planning of the company's management originally provided the DBS equip from the beginning with a new eight-cylinder engine. This idea, however, could not be realized because the engine in development since 1965 could not be accommodated in the time available for mass production. Therefore, the DBS was initially offered only with the six-cylinder engine of the Aston Martin DB6. The eight-cylinder was only in 1969 ready for use; it was installed in the unchanged body of the DBS. The new model was designated the Aston Martin DBS V8. It was produced until 1972 parallel to the six-cylinder DBS. Until 1972 created 402 copies of the DBS V8.

During the year 1972 had David Brown, former owner of Aston Martin to sell his shares to Company Developments. The company's new owners held on to the imported models from Aston Martin. The only change occurred with respect to the front end: while the produced under David Brown models possessed four twin headlights and a chrome grill, had the car after the Brown era (initially) only two large single headlights. Moreover, the new owners wanted to continue any reference to David Browns avoid work and took an immediate renaming of the current models: from the Aston Martin DBS V8 became the Aston Martin V8, and the former Aston Martin DBS with six-cylinder engine was named the Aston Martin Vantage. This naming was confusing insofar as the designation Vantage was previously reserved for the uprated models of the house, which is not exactly was the case in this particular case. Next source of confusion is the fact that some years later the uprated version of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage in turn received the additional designation.

The Aston Martin V8 Series

Overall, Aston Martin presented five series of V8 Saloon ago. One goes back to the Aston Martin Owners Club breakdown of the individual series evaluates the Aston produced under David Brown's aegis Martin DBS V8 as series 1 models produced under Company Developments and their successors then include the series 2 to 5

Series 2

The series produced 1972-1973 2 of the Aston Martin V8 - basically the first series to bear this name - differed from the DBS V8 solely by the deviating designed front end. Technically, nothing changed: The eight-cylinder engine was taken as he was. This also included the problematic fuel injection. As before, the transmission was either by a manual five-speed transmission from ZF that was rarely ordered, or by a three -speed automatic transmission from Chrysler.

Series 3

In August 1973, the Series 3 was presented. The cars were given with regard to the behavior of a modified exhaust Fuel system: Now, four dual downdraft carburetor Weber were used; they were more reliable than the previous fuel injection. Externally drew the series 3 by a significantly enlarged air scoop on the hood, which was due to the complex carburetor. In addition, some minor technical changes were made. The conversion of the mixture preparation had a positive effect on the driving behavior. In particular, the acceleration was smooth and without interruptions; the date to verzeichnende bucking when accelerating accounted for completely.

In October 1974, the first Aston Martin V8 was approved in the United States. Shortly before that, the company was working closely managed with the carburetor manufacturer Weber, to meet the U.S. emission values . However, the hoped-for increase in sales did not materialize: the first oil crisis, the United States had captured so large, fuel- intensive vehicles were no longer easy to sell.

In the summer of 1975 tested the German trade journal auto motor und sport an Aston Martin V8 with automatic transmission. The performance fell from the perspective of the tester disappointing. They found a maximum speed of 234 km / h

Series 4 Oscar India

The fourth series was introduced in October 1978. This data bank is internally and also brand aficionados commonly referred to as Oscar India, a description of the letters O and I, in turn, for October - Introduction or - stands for October - Introduced - according to other sources. The series 4 had the first time on an extensive wood paneling of the dashboard as well as a redesigned massive center console. There were some minor technical modifications. The Oscar India is now the most sought after by far version of the Aston Martin V8 Saloon. It was produced until 1985.

Series 5

The last series of the Aston Martin V8 was produced from 1985 to 1989. The most significant change was the introduction of electronic fuel injection, which replaced the previously used (four) double carburetors Weber. Externally, the car received voluminous bumpers, also the ground clearance was raised slightly. In the tailgate now a spoiler was integrated, a feature that had been previously reserved to Vantage models. In addition, the Motorhaubenaufwölbung disappeared because of the modified engine.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage

As an uprated version of the V8 was from February 1977, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage on offer. A modified mixture preparation by voluminous carburetor and larger intake valves ensured that the power of the engine on first 279 kW ( 380 hp) and later - in 1986 - to 294 kW ( 400 hp) increase. Finally, there was in the 1980s still a very highly compressed version of the engine that made 318 kW ( 432 hp). The top speed was thus 265-275 km / h The torque was so high that the Torqueflite automatic reached its limits. Therefore, the Vantage models were ( with one exception) comes exclusively with a manual five-speed transmission from ZF Friedrichshafen.

Externally, the Vantage was through deep front apron to recognize a fully enclosed radiator grille with recessed auxiliary lights, widened wheel arches and an integrated into the tailgate spoiler. These changes resulted supposedly cause the air resistance of the Vantage was 10 percent lower than that of the simple saloon.

The Aston Martin V8 Volante

In February 1978, after nearly a decade interruption an open Aston Martin, who received the traditional name Volante. The car was elegant, but not yet twist resistant by quickly. More than 227 km / h could not be reached in the automatic version.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante: In October 1986, therefore, an uprated version, connecting the body of the convertible with the enhanced technology of the Vantage appeared. The vehicle was with 294 kW (400 hp ) is sufficiently fast. The factory got this model, the body modifications of the Vantage, ie the flares and spoilers. The car was a child of his time, but met with the striking appearance of not to everyone's taste. Prince Charles, has been a lover of the brand was getting a Volante with the drive system (and the power) of the Vantage manufacture which had a conventional, unmodified cabriolet body. Following this, Aston Martin put on a small series appropriately equipped models, which were known as Vantage Volante Prince of Wales. From this version created 20 copies; today they are popular collector's items.

Aston Martin V8 Volante

Aston Martin V8 Volante Cockpit

Aston Martin V8 Volante with open ...

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Special models

Based on the Aston Martin V8 some special models that have been offered some factory incurred were partly designed by freelance designers:

Between 1974 and 1976, Aston Martin introduced an extended, four-door version of the V8 ago. The hatchback was sold under the name Aston Martin Lagonda. A total of only seven units were built. The Aston Martin Lagonda shortly after S2 also presented based on the technology of the V8, but had a distinct wedge-shaped body.

Between 1986 and 1988 originated in small number of the Aston Martin V8 Zagato, an initially offered only as a coupe special model with an independent, quite eye-catching body by Zagato, which was built in Milan. With some delay an open version with the suffix Volante was offered. The Zagato versions were the most expensive Aston Martins of their time.

In two specimens presented in 1971 and 1973, the British body shop Ogle design that had previously been working for Reliant primarily a sensational, wedge-shaped designed coupe called Ogle Special Sotheby ago.

On the technology of the V8 finally also based the Aston Martin Bulldog, a wedge-shaped designed mid-engined coupe with gullwing doors, which was introduced in 1980 and produced in a single copy.

Production figures

The production figures for the different series were as follows:

DBS V8: 402
V8 Saloon Series 2: 288
V8 Saloon Series 3: 967
V8 Saloon Series 4: 352
V8 Saloon Series 5: 405
V8 Volante Series 1: 656
V8 Volante Series 2: 245
V8 Vantage Series 1: 38 13 U.S. models
V8 Vantage Series 2: 304 14 U.S. models
V8 Vantage Volante: 192 56 U.S. models
V8 Vantage Zagato / Vantage Volante Zagato: 89

Trivia

The vehicle was known. Well as the James Bond film The Living Daylights in 1987

Competitors

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