Background

The Vantage Volante was released at the October 1986 Motor Show, held at the NEC. Vantage engines had already been fitted in some Volante’s but it was the modified coachwork inspired by a car built for the Brunei Royal Family, with the flares to the wheel arches continuing along the sills and boot spoiler that distinguished the Vantage Volante. Mechanicals are the same as the V8 Vantage and benefit from experiences in Zagato development. Carburettors are retained and engines delivering 400 b.h.p. with options available up to 432 b.h.p. Wheels are 16” in diameter with low profile tyres. The model remained in production until 1989; approximately 167 were built of which just 78 were right hand drive. A combination of two models individually summarised below and over leaf.

THE V8 VANTAGE The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was announced on the 18th February 1977. Revised camshafts, air-box, larger inlet valves and carburettors, new inlet manifolds and different plugs, claimed to provide an increase in power of 40% and 10% more torque. The same ZF 5 speed manual transmission as in the V8 saloon became standard equipment, although a number of cars have been fitted with Torqueflite automatic transmission. As the Vantage is a development of the standard V8 series III saloon, aerodynamic improvements were necessary to cope with the increased power out put. These included a rear tail spoiler, a deep front air dam below the front bumper, blanked off radiator and bonnet air scoop. Koni dampers were fitted and the suspension stiffened, with a larger anti-roll bar. In their April 1978 road test, even Motor Sport had to agree that it was the fastest accelerating production car in the world. The series II Vantage was introduced in October 1978 at the same time as the V8 series IV or “Oscar India” saloon (“Oscar India” = October Introduction) became available and shares the same changes in body styling, including a discreet integral rear spoiler. Slightly wider Wheel arches are evident and carburettor bonnet bulge with the dummy air intake now permanently closed at the front. Internally, a leather head lining, burr walnut dash board (except the first 20 or so cars which retained the Black dash-board) and door cappings are fitted. A road test by Motor magazine, April 25th 1981, produced a 0-60 M.P.H. time of 5.2 seconds. The series III Vantage made its debut at the 1986 Motor Show staged at The National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham, England. It features revised bodywork, 16” wheels and an optional 400 b.h.p. X-pack engine.

THE V8 VOLANTE Announced on 21st June 1978 the V8 Volante was built to satisfy the persistent demands for new open four seater cars, as demonstrated by the escalation in prices of used Aston Martin drop-head coupés, particularly in the United States. Its specification follows the contemporary V8 saloon series IV (Oscar India) announced four months later, sharing revised rear body lines, bonnet (the carburettor bulge with dummy air scope now closed at front), burr walnut dash board and door cappings. The convertible hood is fully lined and power operated. 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 first V8 Volante was road tested by Motor Magazine on the 3rd of March 1979, when 0-60 M.P.H. in 7.7 seconds and a maximum 150 M.P.H. were recorded. All production until March 1981 (save the prototype) was exported to North America, with home and continental European markets following thereafter. In 1983, the Volante shared a number of detailed improvements with series IV saloon such as, revised heating & ventilation controls and BBS alloy wheels. The V8 Volante series II was introduced in January 1986 and again shares the same improvements as the V8 Series V saloon with revised bonnet lines due to the adoption of Weber fuel injection. Production amounted to approximately 438 series I, between June 1978 & January 1986, and only 245 Series II between January 1986 and October 1989, total 683. However, I am of the opinion that the majority would have been for export and therefore the used U.K. market remains under supplied.