Aston Martin AMR1 was a Group C formula racing car developed in 1989. At the time of the end of the 1989 season, Protech was already beginning development of the Aston Martin AMR2 for 1990. Combining the chassis of the AMR1, the newer and more powerful 6.3L V8, and an evolved body design, the Aston Martin AMR2 was promised to be faster in a straight line then the Aston Martin AMR1, a problem which had greatly hindered it at Le Mans. However Protech became bankrupt and was forced to close in February 1990 before the Aston Martin AMR2 could be completed, and with plans for an all-new Aston Martin AMR3 already in place. Aston Martin to dropped of motor racing due to the economic instability of the company at the time. It would be the last racing car produced by Aston Martin for fifteen years until the launch of the Aston Martin DBR9 in 2005.
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The Aston Martin DBRS9 is a racing car built by Prodrive for Aston Martin. The Aston Martin DBRS9 features several modifications to the standard DB9, including a full roll-cage, carbon fiber body panels in order to drop weight by 480 kg (1058 lb), as well as tuning to the 6.0L V12 engine to bring output up to 550 hp (410 kW). While the DBR9 is meant to be for large teams participating in international motorsport, specifically in the FIA GT Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Aston Martin DBRS9 is intended to be bought by smaller racing teams participating in smaller national GT series, like Speed World Challenge and the FIA GT3 European Championship, as well as owners who wish to use it for track days.
Aston Martin DBS V12 is a high performance sports car. Aston Martin has used the DBS name once before on their 1967-72 grand tourer coupe. The modern car replaces the Vanquish S as the flagship of the marque. The Aston Martin DBS V12 was first seen in the 2006 film Casino Royale. It was officially unveiled at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance sporting a brand new exterior color, a graphite gray with a blue tint which has been dubbed ‘Casino Ice’. The two seater coupe (as opposed to the 2+2 DB9 which the car is based on) has a bonded aluminium chassis made of lightweight magnesium alloy, carbon fibre composite and aluminium. It is the first production Aston Martin to make extensive use of carbon-fibre body panels. Power comes from the heavily revised handmade 6.0 litre V12 engine from the DBR9 racing car, tuned to deliver 510 bhp (380 kW) at 6500 rpm and 420 lb·ft (569 N·m) of torque at 5750 rpm. The Aston Martin DBS V12 power plant features a new by-pass air intake port that opens above 5500 rpm to boost engine breathing as well as re-profiled air inlet ports that further improve airflow into the combustion chamber. A curb weight of 3750 pounds (1695 kg), combined with the 510 bhp (380 kW) V12 help the DBS accelerate 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h).
The V8 Zagato model Aston Martin was a GT car of the 1980s. Just 50 examples each of the coupe and convertible were to be built between 1986 and 1990. The coupe was first unveiled at the 1986 Geneva Motor Show and orders were quickly taken despite only showing the drawing of the car. The decision to build the later convertible was controversial – all 50 coupes had already been purchased at the height of the supercar speculation market, and the convertibles were to remain more desirable than their predecessors. The Aston Martin V8 Zagato, as the name suggests, was based on the Aston Martin V8, but with a body by the famed Zagato coachbuilder. The design was an angular modern interpretation of the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato of the 1960s. The squared-off grille was especially controversial. The Aston Martin V8 Zagato was powered by a 430 hp (321 kW) V8 engine with twin-choke Weber carburettors. The all-alloy car could hit 300 km/h (186 mph). It was a luxurious car, with a price tag of US$156,600 at the time but with the high rarity and being released at the supercar price boom of 1987 to 1990, by the end of the decade, the car was changing hands for £450,000. The later convertible sold for $171,000. With a genuine 432 hp engine and a top speed of 183 mph, this car was tough to beat.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed at its 1977 introduction as “Britain’s First Supercar” for its 170 mph (274 km/h) top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but the it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for increased output. Straight-line performance was the best of the day, with acceleration from 0–60 mph (0–100 km/h) in 5.3 seconds, one-tenth of a second quicker than the Ferrari Daytona. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage name had previously been used on a number of high-performance versions of Aston Martin cars, but this was a separate model. Although based on the Aston Martin V8, numerous detail changes added up to a unique driving experience. One of the most noticeable features was the closed-off hood bulge rather than the open scoop found on the normal V8. The grille area was also closed off, with twin driving lights inserted and a spoiler added to the bootlid. The 1986-1989 580X V8 Vantage was more of a mechanical update. 16-inch (406-mm) wheels were now fitted, as was the more powerful V8 from the limited-edition V8 Zagato. Cosmetic Vantages were built for the United States market – they lacked the powerful Aston Martin V8 Vantage engine but retained the Vantage name, and the look was changed with a flattened hood. From 1980 they featured DOT-approved 5 mph (8 km/h) safety bumpers front and rear.
The Aston Martin V8 is a two-door saloon-type automobile manufactured in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1990. Aston Martin’s customers had been clamoring for an eight-cylinder car for years, so Aston Martin designed a larger 2-door saloon for V8 applications. The engine was not ready, however, so in 1967 the company released the DBS with the straight-6 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-6 Vantage in 1973, the DBS V8, now called simply the Aston Martin V8, became the company’s mainstream car for two decades. It was retired in favour of the Virage in 1990.
The DBS was the successor to the famed Aston Martin DB6,, although the two ran concurrently for three years. Powered by a straight-6 engine, it lasted from 1967 until 1972, before being replaced by the Aston Martin Vantage. It was a larger coupe than the DB6, with four full seats, but was powered by the same 4.0 L engine as the previous car. The engine normally produced 282 hp (210 kW), but a no-cost DBS Vantage option upped output to 325 hp (242 kW). The DBS had a more modern look than the DB6, and arguably the Vantage as well, with a square grille atypical of Astons.
The Aston Martin DB6 was a sports car manufactured by Aston Martin from 1965 to 1970. The car had improved aerodynamics and specification over its predecessor, the DB5. Although these two cars shared the same basic look, the tail treatments were very different, and DB6s are less desirable on the collector car market than the DB5. One major change from the DB5 to the DB6 was the abandonment of the superleggera construction technique for the more common body-on-frame. Triple SU carbs produced 282 hp (210 kW). A Mark II car shared many parts with the then-new DBS. The DB6 Mark 2 was announced on 21st August 1969, identified by distinct flares on front and rear wheel arches and wider tyres. Available as an optional extra for the Mark 2 was AE Brico electronic fuel injection combined with the higher compression ratio cylinder head.
The 1963 Aston Martin DB5 was an improved DB4. The DB5 is famous for being the first and most recognized James Bond car. The principal differences between the DB4 and DB5 are the engine – the DB5’s was enlarged from 3.7 L to 4.0 L, the addition of a five-speed transmission, and three SU carburettors, producing 282 hp (210 kW), propelling the car to 141 mph (238 km/h). Standard equipment on the DB5 included reclining seats, pile carpets, electric windows and a fire extinguisher. All models had 4 seats and 2 doors. The UK recommended list price of the sports saloon (coupe) in December 1963 was £4,248 including Purchase Tax, the convertible was £4,562. A very unusual DB5 was the shooting brake station wagon, a dozen of which were produced by independent coachbuilder, Harold Radford. A design flaw with the station wagon was that there was no change to the rear suspension. Drivers of the shooting brake would find this out when the load in the rear shifted at high speed in a corner with a resultant loss of control.
The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was introduced in 1960 at the London Motor Show. It was effectively a DB4 GT improved by the Zagato factory in Italy, by Ercole Spada. The Zagato’s engine produced 314 hp (234 kW), a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration of just 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 153 mph (246 km/h). Initially the factory had plans to produce 25 cars, but demand wasn’t as strong as expected and production ceased at the 20th unit. Nowadays the car sells for over £750,000. The DB4 GT Zagato was raced in the 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours race by such famous names as Roy Salvadori and Jim Clark. In 1991, 4 unutilised chassis numbers were put to use. With the approval of Aston Martin, four DB4 chassis were appropriately uprated to GT specifications. The chassis were then sent to Zagato’s Milan workshop to be bodied. To familiarize the workforce with construction techniques of the 60’s, an original DB4 GT Zagato was sent along to be dismantled. These cars were known as the Sanction II cars. They were outwardly identical, but several changes were effected in the interest of better handling. Each of these cars sold for over $1,000,000.
