fullbore : issue 13 - The Seen

FEATURE : WIDE BOYFULLBORE1990s V8 ASTONSConfused by ‘90s Aston Martins?Too many names beginning with ‘V’?You’re not alone, but we can help.VirageDesigned by John Heffernan and KenGreenley, the Virage coupé madeits debut at the 1988 BirminghamMotorshow and close to 400 wereproduced until 1995. Developed inconjunction with Callaway Engineeringin the US, the 5,340cc V8 was fitted with16-valve cylinder heads for the betterbreathing required to overcome powerlosses from catalytic converters. Able torun on unleaded fuel, the Weber-injected330bhp Virage could run to 155mph,but 1993 saw the 465bhp 6.3-litreMk. II introduced which could dash to60mph in 5.2 secs and hit 174mph. 235convertible Virage Volantes were alsoproduced from 1992 to 1996.Vantage/V8 VantageUnveiled at the 1992 BirminghamMotorshow, the new Vantage boremore than a passing resemblance tothe Virage, but the only panels sharedwith the Virage were the door and roofskins. Additionally, this Vantage hadtwo clusters of three headlamps, eachbehind a single heated lens, while thegrille design was also new. With twinEaton superchargers, its 5,340cc V8 made550bhp – good for 0-60 in 4.6 secs and186mph. Later examples were badged‘V8 Vantage’ and 288 were built beforeproduction ended in 1999.V8 CoupéIntroduced at the 1996 Geneva Salon, theV8 Coupé inherited much from the Virageand V8 Vantage. Powered by a naturallyaspirated5,340cc engine and equippedwith a 4-speed auto transmission asstandard, the V8 Coupé made a moremanageable 349bhp which translatedto 0-60 in 5.9 secs and a top speed of‘over 155mph’. The V8 Coupé’s bodyworkis similar to the Vantage’s but featuresdriving lamps in a less aggressive frontskirt and less pronounced wheel archesover thinner-spoked, alloy wheels. 101Coupés were built up until 1999, alongwith a 200mm longer-wheelbase V8Volante version from 1997.Vantage V600Armed with 50bhp more superchargedhorsepower than the standard V8Vantage, the £234,000 ‘Works PreparedDriving Dynamics V600 Vantage’ wasproduced from 1998-2000. Thoughtechnically a factory conversion ratherthan a specific model in its own right,the 1,990kg V600 made 600bhp alongwith 600lb/ft of torque and merged atraditional walnut, Wilton and Connollyinterior with a catalogue of high-techperformance parts including hollowspokedDymag magnesium wheels,giant grooved discs with AP Racingcalipers, Stack digital instrumentationand upgraded Eibach/Koni suspension.Performance figures were 0-60mph in3.9 secs, 0-100 in 9.9, 0-160 in 28.7 and a200mph max.V8 Vantage Le MansJust forty Le Mans versions of the V600were built in 1999-2000 to commemoratethe 40th anniversary of Aston Martin’svictory at Le Mans. With either 550 or600 horsepower these cars featuredan even bigger front spoiler, a largelyblanked-off upper front intake, bonnetcooling ducts, DBR1-style vents on eachside, Le Mans badging and directionsto the Sarthe circuit in the ownershandbook. The V600/Le Mans Vantagesmarked the final incarnation of the30-year old Tadek Marek-designed V8,and four decades of Newport PagnellcoachbuiltAston Martins.1990s V8 Aston Martins in stock,see page 19 »10