Aston Martin V8 Vantage: Сипаттама және тарихы

See also Aston Martin V8 Vantage (disambiguation) for other models sharing this name

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a British grand tourer, a higher performance version of the Aston Martin V8. It was hailed at its 1977 introduction as "Britain's First Supercar" for its top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for increased output. Straight line performance was the best of the day, with acceleration from 0– in 5.3 seconds, one tenth of a second quicker than the Ferrari Daytona.

The first series equipped with four 48IDF2/100 Weber carburetors produced (estimated) at 5800 rpm and at 4500 rpm of torque, and series specific details such as a blanked bonnet vent and a separate rear spoiler. 38 of these were built (plus 13 "Cosmetics" for the US). The Oscar India (for 1 October, the date of introduction) version, introduced in late 1978, featured an integrated tea tray spoiler and smoother bonnet bulge. Inside, a black leather covered dash replaced the previous walnut. The wooden dashboard did find its way back into the Vantage during the eighties, giving a more luxurious appearance. The Oscar India version also received a slight increase in power, to
304 Series 2 Vantage coupés were built – including 131 X Packs – and 192 Volantes (in spite of only having been officially introduced in 1986, near the end of production). Of the 'Cosmetic' Vantage (for the US Swiss and Japanese markets, with fuel injection instead of Weber carburettors), 14 Series 2 coupés and 56 Volantes were built.

A Vantage Volante convertible version was also produced between 1986 and 1989. Six mechanically similar cars had been built earlier to special order, but it was not regularly available until then. The production version featured an even deeper front spoiler than fitted to the Vantage, even wider wheel arches, and extended side skirts. The Vantage Volante also had a rear spoiler, which the regular Volante did not feature. In total, 166 Vantage Volantes were built, with the last ones leaving the factory in December 1989. In 1987 Charles, Prince of Wales took delivery of a Vantage Volante, but at his request without the production car's wider wheelarches, front air dam and side skirts. This became known as the 'Prince of Wales Spec' (or PoW) and around another 26 such cars were built by the factory. These are now generally considered the most desirable of all the 1970s/80s V8 models. Combined with the PoW cars, 192 Vantage Volantes were built.

The V8 Zagato is a limited edition version of the V8 Vantage with a body by the coachbuilder Zagato. The design was an angular modern interpretation of the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato of the 1960s. The Zagato is powered by a version of the Vantage's V8 engine with twin choke Weber carburettors. The coupé was first unveiled at the 1986 Geneva Motor Show, and 52 examples of the coupé and 37 of the convertible were built between 1986 and 1990.

In the James Bond parody Johnny English Strikes Again, Johnny English drives an Aston Martin V8 Vantage similar to the one used by James Bond, though it is coloured red, less modified, and was provided by Rowan Atkinson, who had purchased it six months before filming started.