Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977-1989) review – Britain's supercar-baiting muscle car

Some cars don’t take long to reveal their magic, and the original 1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is one of those. Just listening to its growling V8 as it reaches its crescendo before being followed on the overrun by a series of angry crackles from the twin exhausts is reason enough to want to own one of these testosterone-heavy bruisers. 

The V8 Vantage was a very special car, and a different animal to Astons that had gone before. The DBS V8 of the early ’70s, and the AM V8 that it had morphed into, were fine sporting GTs, but they didn’t have the firepower or the road presence to match the Italian and German supercars that were plastered over magazine covers and teenage boys’ bedroom walls in the late 1970s – cars like the Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer and Porsche Turbo. Something altogether more serious was required.

That came when the V8 Vantage launched in 1977, instantly recognisable by its blanked-off radiator grille and bonnet scoop, twin additional driving lights, boot-lid spoiler, front air-dam and Perspex-faired headlamps. The visual transformation was wholly justified, too. In the past, the ‘Vantage’ appellation had generally indicated a more powerful version of the standard engine; this Vantage was a whole new model in its own right, and as it turned out, one of the most desirable performance cars of the 1970s. Read on to find out why.

Engine, gearbox and technical highlights

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• Upgraded 5.3-litre all-alloy V8 with 32 per cent more power
• Choice of five-speed manual or three-speed auto
• Lower, firmer Koni suspension 

The heart of the Vantage was a highly tuned version of Aston’s all-alloy quad-cam 5.3-litre V8. For the Vantage it gained higher-lift camshafts, bigger inlet valves, a higher compression ratio, four 48IDF Weber carburettors with a larger airbox for better breathing and a revised exhaust system. The result was a claimed 32 per cent increase in power, giving around 375bhp in the earliest cars, later rising to 400bhp-plus. Two gearboxes were offered, a ZF five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic.

The Vantage was rear-drive, of course, and to keep its power in check the suspension was made tauter, with adjustable Koni dampers, springs cut down by one coil and a beefier front anti-roll bar. Vented discs reduced brake fade, an increase in castor angle gave more steering feel, and fatter, lower-profile 255/60 VR15 tyres provided extra grip and traction.

The aero saw work in the wind tunnel too, where Aston discovered that adding a bib spoiler, blanking off the grille and bonnet scoop and adding Perspex covers to the sunken headlights reduced drag by 10 per cent and eliminated lift for no loss of cooling.

Driver’s note

‘I expected it to feel relatively heavy but it drives like a smaller, lighter car; it’s easy to jump in and feel at home straight away.’ – James Taylor, evo Deputy Editor

Performance, ride and handling

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• Torque-rich V8 with superb response and flexibility 
• Relaxed and compliant enough for long distances
• Surprising ability to mask its weight 

Twist the key and the big, four-cam V8 fires up with an unexpectedly complex, appealing V8 rumble, almost like it’s two-thirds of an Italian V12. Set off and although the Aston is roomy with great visibility, very quickly it seems to shrink around you, the power steering giving it a wieldiness that makes it easy to exploit and enjoy the performance.

The clutch requires a no-nonsense shove, as does the five-speed ZF ’box with its dog-leg gate. First is found to the left and back, slotting in with the help of a hefty tug. You rarely need to shift, though, the massive range of second gear allowing it to pull cleanly from 10mph up to around 75. 

Even with 1815kg to shift, almost 400bhp is still a hell of a lot of grunt – and the shove in the back, combined with that exhaust growl and a third gear that’s good for 110mph, gives the Vantage the feel of an effortless long-distance missile. But it’s also surprisingly delicate and enjoyable on a twisting road, for a couple of reasons. First, you sit high up with the mass of the engine ahead and drive going to the rear wheels, so you know where you are with it, and second, it’s got power assisted rack and pinion steering, so you can get it on the line you want and then still have options.

The Vantage’s reworked chassis has a well controlled ride that soaks up a lot of stuff that contemporary supercars can’t, and an unexpected agility. It tacks into corners keenly and deploys all the power well. You very quickly find a satisfying flow, the car feeling unhurried and composed as you guide it along at pace. 

Driver’s note

‘I adore it for its handsome lines, capability and unambiguous character; it drives like it looks, and it drives really well.’ – Richard Meaden, evo Editor-at-Large

Interior

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Inside the Vantage seems less vast than it looks from the outside, and the fulsome seating offers a sort of club armchair comfort that belies the V8’s sporting credentials.

In the best old-car tradition, it gives off a pleasant whiff of sun-soaked hide which, after a prolonged spin of the starter, mingles headily with the aroma of high-octane unleaded as the engine bursts into life. The large, thin-rimmed wheel affords a clear view of the half-dozen instruments, while the console-mounted switchgear seems to sum up everything that was bad about British car design during the 1970s, both aesthetically and functionally.

Everything inside seems brutal and business-like, from the vast bolsters of those big seats to the moody, black expanse of the dash-top and the perfectly straight, almost truck-like gearlever.

Price 

V8 Vantage values are on the up, their rarity and upgraded mechanicals making them much more sought after than other AM V8s. In 1977 you’d have paid £19,998 for a new V8 Vantage, which works out as £120,000 in today’s money. These days you’ll need more like £250,000 to own one, with the best examples with good provenance costing upwards of £300k. 

Aston Martin V8 Vantage specs

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