Background

Announced in April 1972, the AM V8 is an extensively modified version of the DBS V8 which was announced in September 1969. Externally, the grill was entirely new, no longer sweeping across the complete front but now tailored between the head lamps reminiscent of the earlier six cylinder models such as the DB3S. The engine, was by then the well tried and tested all alloy V8 designed by Tadek Marek that had made it's first appearance in January 1967 at the Racing Car Show in London and raced by Lola in their Type 70 Mk III GT. The AM V8 series III was introduced in London, August 1973. The important mechanical difference was the replacement of the Bosch fuel injection system by four twin-choke down draught Weber carburettors, which produced a notably smother performance at low engine speeds with greater flexibility. To accommodate the carburettors, the bonnet bulge had to be deepened slightly and it was continued as a low bulge, to the trailing edge. Improvements were also made to water, oil and automatic transmission cooling and a new insulation material was used for the engine bulkhead and under the bonnet. There are detailed improvements inside the car, revised front seats; passenger's door locked, electrically, from driver's side; revised switches: fuses below the glove compartment; larger ashtray; fuel tank redesigned to increase luggage space. The Autocar road test (September 6th 1973) gave 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 6.2 seconds and a maximum 146 m.p.h. for an automatic.