Aston Martin V8

Aston Martin V8
1973 Aston Martin V8 coupé
Overview
ManufacturerAston Martin
Production1969–1989
4,021 built[1]
(incl. Vantage & Volante)
AssemblyNewport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
DesignerWilliam Towns
Body and chassis
ClassGrand tourer
Body style2-door coupe
2-door convertible
LayoutFR layout
RelatedAston Martin DBS
Aston Martin RHAM/1
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
Powertrain
Engine5.3 L V8
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,610 mm (102.8 in)[2]
Length4,585 mm (180.5 in)[2]
Width1,830 mm (72.0 in)[2]
Height1,330 mm (52.4 in)[2]
Kerb weight1,820 kg (4,010 lb)[2](approx)
Chronology
PredecessorAston Martin DBS V8 (1969–1972)
SuccessorAston Martin Virage

The Aston Martin V8 is a grand tourer manufactured by Aston Martin in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1989. As with all traditional Aston Martins, it was entirely handbuilt – with each car requiring 1,200 man-hours to finish.[4]

Aston Martin were looking to replace the DB6 model and had designed a larger, more modern looking car. The engine was not ready, however, so in 1967 the company released the DBS with the straight-six Vantage engine from the DB6. Two years later, Tadek Marek's V8 was ready, and Aston released the DBS V8. With the demise of the straight-six Vantage in 1973, the DBS V8, now restyled and called simply the Aston Martin V8, became the company's mainstream car for nearly two decades. It was eventually retired in favour of the Virage in 1989.

  1. ^ Edwards, Robert (2004). Aston Martin. Sparkford: Haynes Publishing. p. 123. ISBN 1-84425-014-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Autotest: Aston Martin DBS V8". Autocar. Vol. 134, no. 3928. 8 July 1971. pp. 7–11.
  3. ^ "AMV8 1972 to 1989". Heritage. Aston Martin. Archived from the original on 18 December 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  4. ^ Koch, Jeff (March 2012). "Buyer's Guide: 1977–1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage". Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. 7 (7). Bennington, VT: Hemmings Motor News: 81. ISSN 1555-6867.