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Aston Martin Vantage Volante - Open-Air-Gentlemen-Express

Name: Aston Martin Vantage 1981
Brand: Aston Martin

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Created on July 4, 2012

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

Balz Schreier

Archiv

Bruno von Rotz

Balz Schreier

Archiv

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Aston Martin Vantage Volante (1981) - Volantes with Vantage specification are very rare

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Aston Martin Vantage Volante (1981) - sports car built almost unchanged for over 20 years

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Aston Martin Vantage Volante (1981) - Feel-good package

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Aston Martin Vantage Volante (1981) - sporty and elegant dashboard

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Aston Martin DB 6 (1968) - the predecessor of the DBS

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Aston Martin DBS (1969) - The DBS was presented with a six-cylinder engine

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1970) - Presentation at the Paris Motor Show in 1970

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1970) - visually, the differences to the DBS with six cylinders were minimal

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1970) - Interior and dashboard of an early version - Illustration sales brochure

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1970) - the mighty V8 fills the engine compartment

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1970) - the lightweight aluminum V-8 engine block

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1971) - 170 miles per hour was the manufacturer's claim

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1971) - four-seater coupé with powerful V8 engine

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1972) - aluminum body on sturdy steel structure

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1972) - an elegant appearance, even today

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1972) - classic silhouette

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Aston Martin V8 (1973) - the front changed shape after a few years, the DBS disappeared

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Aston Martin V8 (1974) - "Honey, we're here!"

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Aston Martin V8 (1974) - Dashboard with contemporary sound system

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Aston Martin V8 (1974) - even high speeds want to be enjoyed in an attractive ambience - Interior

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Aston Martin V8 (1974) - it was already just called V8 by then

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Aston Martin V8 (1974) - how to pick up the boss from the plane

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Aston Martin V8 (1975) - the pretty sports car was simply called "V8" in 1975

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1976) - Production - Cutting of the body panels

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1976) - Production - Welding the bodywork

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Aston Martin DBS V8 (1976) - Production - Cylinder heads awaiting installation

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Aston Martin V8 (1976) - still attractive to look at

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Aston Martin V8 (1976) - looks daintier than it is

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977) - with front spoiler and clear hump on the hood

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1978) - looked fast even when stationary

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1978) - Presentation at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1978 - finally an open-top Aston again

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Aston Martin V8 (1978) - after 10 years the shape was still attractive

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1979) - elegant and almost dainty-looking convertible

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1979) - massive-looking hood, all-round visibility not optimal with the roof closed

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Aston Martin V8 (1979) - there must not have been too many red Astons around

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1980) - leaves no doubt about its ample power

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1980) - the Volante was also a pretty car

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1981) - the right choice if you need to get home quickly

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1981) - who could resist

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Aston Martin V8 (1981) - elegance against an impressive backdrop

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1982) - more downforce thanks to front spoiler, fat Pirelli P7 tires

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1982) - Convertible with sea approach

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Aston Martin V8 (1982) - New for the USA; AM Sport Corps

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1983) - bright colors were the exception rather than the rule

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1983) - over 200,000 francs expensive

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1983) - with normal engine and without Vantage equipment

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1983) - fits perfectly in the castle driveway

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Aston Martin V8 (1983) - the changes to the bodywork over time were minimal

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1984) - there was still no end to production in sight

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1984) - not only, but also for lords of the manor

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Aston Martin V8 (1984) - Steering wheel and dashboard of the 84 model

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1985) - the tires became wider and the sidewalls lower

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1985) - all set for the big journey

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Aston Martin V8 (1985) - 20 years of construction could not detract from its elegance

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Aston Martin V8 (1985) - different rims on later models

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Aston Martin V8 (1985) - the Vantage was slightly wider, otherwise the dimensions of the different models are identical

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1986) - left-hand drive model

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Aston Martin V8 (1986) - elegant appearance

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Aston Martin V8 (1986) - interior, steering wheel and dashboard from the 1980s - note the Pioneer RTB

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Aston Martin V8 Volante (1987) - later model - visually almost indistinguishable from its predecessors

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Aston Martin Vantage Zagato (1986) - one of the more angular Zagato creations

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Aston Martin Vantage Zagato (1986) - Sketch of the Zagato model

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Aston Martin Volante Junior (1987) - there was also a suitable miniaturized model for the next generation

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Summary

Between 1969 and 1972, Aston Martin produced a luxury sports car based on the DBS, which was originally launched with a six-cylinder engine and was able to compete with the fastest and best cars of the time. Eight years after its market launch, the more powerful Vantage version was added, and in 1978 a Volante appeared again, eight years after the discontinuation of the open-top DB6. The more discerning could also purchase the Volante with Vantage specification. This report describes the history of the DBS V8 and its successors and shows a vehicle from 1981 in detail, supplemented by many archive photos and seven sales brochures, as well as price lists and a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

It all started with the Aston Martin DBS
Powerful, elaborately built engine
The supercharged Vantage
A convertible again after eight years
More power for the Volante
Luxury, style and endless power
Not for penny-pinchers
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Prince Charles was never officially a product developer at Aston Martin, but when he ordered an Aston Martin Volante with Vantage technology but without the corresponding body attributes in the 1980s, he created a new product that was henceforth called the "Prince of Wales Specification" and was delivered to customers 27 times. It speaks for the Prince's taste to package the lavish technology in the slimmer dress of the "normal" Volante variant. In the late 1960s, Aston Martin realized that it needed a powerful V8 engine to keep up with the competition. This new engine was to be introduced with the Aston Martin DBS, but in 1967 the completely redesigned DBS still had to be presented with the old six-cylinder engine because the new engine was not yet ready. The DBS had a smooth design and was massively wider than its predecessor, the DB6.

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