1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage – The First Production Vantage

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was the ultimate British supercar of the late 1970s/1980s. The alloy quad cam V8 engine was constructed in house at Aston Martin in the mid-1960s and was initially fitted and developed to a unique DB5 in period and Lola sports racing car. By 1971 the engine was in production, fitted into the new DBSV8 model and proved to be a powerful and reliable unit.

By 1977 Aston Martin faced stiff competition from Ferrari with its Berlinetta Boxer and Porsche with its 911 Turbo, so they devised a high-performance version of the production car known as ‘Vantage’ the moniker given to Aston Martin models built with the highest state of tune since 1963

The first batch of V8 Vantage models were built in 1977 and were known as ‘Bolt On’ Vantage because of the three-piece aerodynamic spoiler that was bolted on to the bootlid. Just sixteen of these cars were built before the factory modified the design to the ‘moulded flip tail’ which saw the kamm tail design integrated into the bodywork.

This car is the first EVER production V8 Vantage and was built at the request of George Minden, the flamboyant Canadian businessman and former owner of AML (1975) Ltd. Supplied to Minden in Kentucky Blue coachwork with Red hides, Minden retained the Vantage for the next twelve years and during his ownership the factory modified the car at his request to ‘moulded flip tail’ bodywork, flared the wheel arches as per the later Vantage models and fitted the latest BBS Vantage wheels.

Maintained by Aston Martin Works for many years and later marque specialists Oselli, which is co-incidentally owned by David Eales, the former service manager at Aston Martin Works, this hugely significant Vantage is the first of the iconic model and benefitted from restoration in 2017-18. The very first production example of the ultimate British supercar of the period and the definitive British muscle car