The following video may not be a treat for the eyes – I’ll admit that straight off the bat. That may seem strange, as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful in a forcefully brutal way; the kind of car that just looks like it’s up to no good despite its high society status.
Nor is it a video that really shows off the blunt force trauma of its sub-six second 0-60mph time and its thunderous 170mph top speed; you do get to see a lot of well weathered asphalt. Don't click away just yet.
And neither do you get to see the beating heart of the operation, the powerhouse X-Pack-equipped V8 that produces in advance of 410bhp and 395b ft of torque thanks to Cosworth pistons, enlarged inlet ports, four 48mm Weber carbs and a smattering of further tweaks. We also won’t be able to tell you if it's had the extra tasty Aston Works Service conversion, which provided a big bore exhaust, 50mm carbs, straight-through exhausts and 430bhp. Bear with us, we’re getting to the point.
What this video provides is an absolute treat for the ears as Bruntingthorpe reverberates to one of the most soulful, heart-yearning and addictive V8 roars the world has ever heard. While Italian V8s fizz at the higher reaches of the rev band and American V8s burble with full-on might, the eight-cylinder concerto under that muscular bonnet delivers it’s mighty roar with a refined acoustic blast akin to the London Symphony Orchestra in full-on brass section overload. It really is a treat for the ears. And just when you think it’s over, you can hear it again, and again, and again.
Now having heard that, of course you want one. A brief dig in our ads reveals this 1989 car that’s had a lot spent on it to keep it in tip-top condition – nearly £44,000 in fact. It’s had some tasteful upgrades to the handling and all-important rustproofing.
Alternatively, there’s this example. The car dates back to 1981 and was restored in the Nineties, and was fitted with the X-Pack engine later in its life, and has done just 6000 miles on it, with sub-80k on the clock in total.
Or if you prefer to experience that V8 roar with the hindrance of a roof, then this drop-top car should fit the bill; some might say the Vantage bodykit is a bit too OTT on the convertible but with the foot buried you won’t hear any of the snide comments anyway, you’ll be bathing in that V8 delight. This particular car has an interesting tale to tell, you can read more here.
However, do you want the absolute daddy of V8 Vantages, replete with celebrity ownership? Well how about this 7.0-litre, 500bhp brute that was the place where Elton John parked his behind. Have you checked last night’s Euromillions numbers?
But what if you fancy some Vantage action but without quite as much cash involved? This DB7 Vantage V12 has four more cylinders, 184mph top speed, 5.1 seconds to 60mph, 420bhp and a manual gearbox. It is also less than £30,000 – around the same price as an expensively optioned Golf GTI.
Sounds great to us.