Classic Aston Martin V8 Vantage with 7.0litre conversion review. Britain's best supercar of the 80s

[@londonman8688]

one of the best looking cars ever produced

[@gambanteinodal1246]

And best sounding!

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

Ford Mustang knock-off... Aston just happened to use a virtually identical front end to the best selling sports car in the world, in 1965, what a coincidence, I'm sure...

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

​@@gambanteinodal1246Best sounding? That's not the engine it came with! That's the only V8 Vantage that sounds that way! It's a (shameless) British Mustang clone, with an aftermarket engine... Even the engine is a Ford Coyote clone!

[@adamsmith9412]

Behave!

[@mercoid]

While you express yourself in a rather course fashion, I have to admit you’re not wrong. ​@@godchi1dvonsteuben770

[@jeremyflowers8908]

To this day, this remains the best looking Aston. Gorgeous. My favourite car of all time.

[@MatthewSmith-j1l]

It looks extremely similar to a '69 Mustang, albeit a sleeker facelifted version

[@AxLWake]

The car sure does look and sound absolutely glorious. Brutal, yet elegant.

[@thethirdman225]

I’d have said the polar opposite. Remarkably refined for such a powerful car. Not brutal at all.

[@johntechwriter]

Brutal is the operative descriptor. From whatever angle you like, the design of this car is a middle finger telling you and whoever you have along with you to get the #^## out of the way.

[@YouTube]

an absolute work of art that car is 😍

[@DPR178]

KZbin has some appretiation for good content. Good to know.

[@AdminAbuse]

Silence, brand

[@diegofarley1285]

Don’t think I’ve ever seen KZbin reply in a comment section😂

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

Looks like an early mustang to me, from the front and the back.

[@piotrmalewski8178]

A car with huge front intake that is blocked with a sheet of tin as an afterthought?

[@mrmoran0077]

For me it's the best looking Aston, simply gorgeous

[@iamjesper]

I think I'd even say it's THE best looking car, ever

[@johnnyb1944]

DB4 Zagato best looking Aston IMO

[@MyRealName]

I guess I just agree with everybody here.

[@simonjohnson1]

DB4 series 4 for me please@@iamjesper

[@milosbrajkovic9855]

@@simonjohnson1 DB 4 GT (not Zagato), please.

[@indigenoussober407]

The similarities between the looks of this car and an old Mustang only make me love both of them even more.

[@guywilloughby3383]

The 70's boss mustang?

[@RonaldBoone-v3c]

Especially the 67 Mustang Shelby

[@RonaldBoone-v3c]

Absolutely 💯💯💯

[@Drunken_Hamster]

@@guywilloughby3383 TBH I'm mostly seeing a Mustang II in it.

[@nauricevalentino5530]

This looks like a pimped out mustang

[@Brookspirit]

A proper Aston Martin.

[@roadwarrior144]

Here, here to that!!!

[@DxModel219]

This was my dream car as a kid… the testarossas and 911 didn’t stir as much emotions as this one did.

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

I wanna see Vinnie Jones drivin this with a sawn-off on the passenger seat in case of an attempted speeding ticket !! 😈

[@roadwarrior144]

@@peterfitzpatrick7032 Whilst Madonna’s “Lucky Star” playing in the background. “Oh, I love this track!” 🤣☺️

[@jareknowak8712]

Which one was fake?

[@goosegog]

The steering anomaly you mention at 14:48 is simply caused by those big 255 tyres sticking to the road while you're stationary and the sidewalls flexing as you turn the wheel. The rack is solidly mounted to the chassis. The steering wheel on those earlier cars is driver adjustable for reach by slackening by hand the large nut behind the wheel, moving it and tightening again. The later X-Pack cars move up and down. 32 years at RSW ☺

[@davidspropaganda]

Is the car better suited to the X spoke wheels you would find on a 1983 or 84 Vantage? Both wheels look amazing on them.

[@goosegog]

@@davidspropaganda this car is on X-Pack 16" wheels. The pre-X-Pack cars had 15" wheels and also 255 tyres and identical suspension and steering so it's mostly a cosmetic thing.

[@lcurtsinger4313]

Jags had the same thing on the column as well if I remember correctly, surprised he didn't catch that, Harry's the best,I'm from the states

[@roadie3124]

@@lcurtsinger4313Yup. I can remember, I think, having that on my father's 1966 3.4 Mk 2. I can't remember it on my mother's 1961 or 1962 Mk 2. Memory plays tricks on you after 60 years 😁 Being let loose on a new 3.4 Mk 2, manual with overdrive, at age 18 was pretty cool. I can remember driving at an indicated 210kmh. Good memories. I'm from Australia.

[@antonybarrett789]

Interesting about the steering. Is it partly due to the massive engine up front, too? I haven't heard of this issue before. Usually, big tyred, heavy cars are criticised for overly light, over assisted power steering that's devoid of feedback, early XJ6, eg ? Do you know about the blanking off of the grille and bonnet scoop. I've always wondered about this and how it wasn't detrimental to cooling etc, very strange ?

[@andyjgreen]

That sound! I had a straight V8 Volante for almost 20 years. Never could quite afford that 7.0 upgrade! Always kept you on the edge of your seat and was as thirsty as Ollie Read! Uprated handling is an absolute must. Interior feels like it’s stolen from Buckingham Palace. I loved mine.

[@thethirdman225]

A regular V8 Vantage from that era would do me fine. I drove a 7 litre HSV Commodore once - around a race track - and it didn’t really seem much different from the standard 6.2. I think the regular 5.3 Vantage would be well good enough for me. Beautiful cabin and obviously nice manners. That gearbox looks like a seriously slick unit.

[@fr500]

straight V8?

[@thethirdman225]

@@fr500 He means the standard one.

[@andyjgreen]

Yes, the factory spec quad webber 5.3. If you tune it really really well (Oselli are amazing) and make sure the carbs are super clean, put straight through pipes on the back. You’re getting an awful lot of the Vantage experience with a spare 200k in the bank!

[@UberLummox]

@@fr500 He put a Buick Fireball straight eight in it from a '53 Roadmaster.

[@ajj4483]

Drove the 5.3 version at a friend's wedding in 2005. It was blue 1980, the owner was a complete car nut and told me he used it for the kids school run, all the school kids went wild for it. It was and still is the heaviest car I ever drove, steering ,brakes and throttle so heavy compared to a modern car, I can't quite put words on it. But that V8 burble on the Irish country roads is something I'll never forget.

[@spartanp2064]

Finally! Thank you for highlighting my favorite car growing up. Great to see these cars finally getting some attention.

[@markbrennan4693]

Totally agree. Best GT car ever. Closest I've ever owned was my manual Rover SD1 3.5 VDP.

[@jjhkm]

Great video, what a hero !

[@Martin_in_Cheltenham]

@@jjhkm agreed what a car and what true enthusiasm from Harry. Only £400k or so....

[@marcob1729]

The prices they command have told me that they get plenty of attention ;)

[@Nenukknak]

@@marcob1729exactly

[@VisionCommunications]

Love to hear Harry talk about these cars! He was fussing about the steering, but then when he started driving, shifting gears, and feeling the car, he smiled and said, "Forget everything I just said, that’s the important bit!" LOL!

[@nigelbond4056]

Probably my greatest fantasy car of all time. Brutish, beautiful and timeless. The noise sends shivers down my spine and the aesthetics make me drool. Thanks Harry, I feel like a 12 year old boy all over again. Magnificent!

[@johnsmith1474]

You gotta be kidding/drinking.

[@dickieb2233]

I am right with you Nigel. My "Top Trumps" set from early 70s had a V8 in harvest gold, it always looked so good. Sadly someone nicked the cards or I lost them during a house move in '76. That set had Countach LP400 in yellow, 512BB etc. Hope someone still has a pack and enjoys them as much as I miss them.

[@mikeburton260]

Probably my favourite HG video

[@bramboer727]

A proper bruiser! Hand built, classy yet tough, great stance, great noise from engine & exhaust, manual gearbox (of course), no driver aids whatsoever, superb ambiance inside. Nothing comes even remotely close!

[@bramboer727]

Would love to see you reviewing its spiritual successor, the V550, as well.

[@marinedrive5484]

Definitely my favourite Aston by a mile. This was an interesting period for Aston Martin when they combined the raw brutishness of American muscle cars with the refinement and elegance of British grand touring - a winning combo. The sound of that 7-litre V8 coming out of those twin tailpipes is a real statement of intent - get out of my way, big boy coming through.

[@Manfish154]

I have a special memory of this car. In the 80's, when I was a kid, we were driving on the Autobahn in Bavaria when an Aston Martin Vantage passed us. It had to slow down briefly, and when the lane cleared, it accelerated full out. This car was already something very special at that time and extremely rare here in Germany. We were totally blown away by the sound. It was actually light fog, so at some point you couldn't see the car anymore, but you could hear it several times when it had to slow down again and then accelerated again.

[@GTSCarLife]

What a bada$$ car. I chased one down a dark, twisty 1 lane country road just after 1:00 AM in my 1984 VW GTi with my buddy, back when we were 19. Probably lucky that we didn't catch him, but the memories of this Aston back in the time will always stick with me. Glad you did this video Harry. Cheers!

[@AdminAbuse]

Imagine censoring the word badass

[@nickhenstock710]

My father was friends with the director of engineering at Aston Martin and worked with them to develop this car . Mike Losby took us out in the Vantage development car and I remember clearly to this day the utter thrill of him giving it full throttle. Happy days

[@TheFatAndTheFurious]

How old were you?

[@johncunningham4820]

Brute in a Suit is a Perfect description for this Vintage of Aston . One of the HANDSOMEST Cars ever made .

[@gillesbesner6102]

i have been watching harry for quite a number of years now. but in all of his driving videos he has never smiled so much

[@eastbaystreet1242]

One of the most emotional reactions I have ever had to a car video. What a car!

[@Questron7]

"The Brute In The Suit" is indeed the proper description. This car is in a league of its own. It is not a timeless design. But it is the best of the late sixties esthetics and therefore will always stay relevant

[@itisjustacomment]

My uncle had one and Jason Interceptor with side pipes, Mark 2 type. As a kid, it was amazing being driven around in such cars.

[@rogerwatt3154]

I remember driving one of the original V8 Vantages when I was a professional car photographer in the 70s and 80s. It was a wonderful car in ALL respects and the beautiful proportions made it a joy to shoot from all angles. As an MGB GT V8 driver at the time, I was amused to see that the two cars shared the same front side light/indicator units.

[@neilbeeson3124]

Far and away THE best looking Aston EVER! It was my dream back in the 80's. Class and guts in abundance. Great review Harry.

[@TheFatAndTheFurious]

I vaguely remember these (maybe not the 7L!) being around 65,000 sterling in AutoTrader and whatnot in the early-mid 90s, no? I'm sure you were checking prices too all these years, what can you tell me?

[@m7dgz]

So much more interesting to me than anything Aston currently make. The induction noise during the in-car segments is wonderful.

[@jeffkiess]

The Living Daylights brought me here. Strikes me as THE British "muscle car" due to its Mustang-esque styling and V8 engine. That Royal Cherry paint color is stunning. I thought it was black until Harry pointed it out. Love the detail offered in this video, per usual. Spectacular channel!

[@johntechwriter]

Those oversized driving lights and the fastback roofline are reminiscent of the 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang variant as owned by Jim Morrison of The Doors.

[@jeffkiess]

@@johntechwriter Spot on!

[@schell0118]

*My dream car.* Saw my first one in person when I was 17 (1976) and have never forgotten it. Glorious!

[@nathanmcauley121]

Impressive how this channel has grown. 650k subs and pulling in 160k views in 1st 19 hours of this video. Well deserved Harry - these videos take a lot of effort to produce.

[@applemac100100]

Knocks that rubbish channel Top Gear out of the park every time

[@Luckyjo21]

@@doublewhopper67 He edits his videos which takes alot of skill, a child could stack a shelf

[@timothymarshall5]

That was amazing Harry, what a beautiful car. You can keep your electrics.

[@ZesPak]

Tbf it has gone wrong years before we had EVs.

[@BosAus]

‘’Thunder happens” Love it! Thank you, Harry.

[@jeffharrison5265]

Striking how similar it looks to a late 60's fastback Mustang. Beautiful and love the sound.

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

I've always thought that, so much like a 69 Mach1.

[@oldrrocr]

That's the problem. You'd have to have a Mustang as a daily driver and leave this one in the display center next to the Conti T.😎

[@ronaldgreen5292]

I was about to comment the same!!

[@johnnyboy1586]

Yes definitely got styling queues from the muzzy

[@truantray]

1969-70 Boss Mustang 429. About 1/20th the cost then.

[@ianmedium]

This is so much better than the usual new Porsche, Ferrari and BMW cars you seem to concentrate on. More older cars please Harry, how about a Blower Bentley!

[@171rossi]

One of my childhood dream cars. In the last 10 yrs, now I'm in my 50s the dream car! With that engine, that sound, that front end and plenty of walnut! Heaven! ❤😊

[@andysalter4473]

The sound of the V8 Burble as Harry went up his drive, I could listen to all day!

[@Revheadrev]

G’day Harry, I reckon I could listen to you talk about cars all day. Partly that’s due to reading evo since early days and missing your input there - but it’s also that you’re just such a knowledgeable bloke with such a wide range of cars. I suspect I’m not alone in this - but you’ve been blessed with the capacity to own so many cars we’d all have given the chance - that you share them with us is such a privilege. Thank you mate - God’s riches blessings on you and yours.

[@waynemarlow8157]

This for me is one of the greatest cars ever made!! It's totally brilliant!

[@gzk6nk]

Love the fly-off hand brake. Same principle as on the de Havilland Chipmunk I flew for 35 years (which was steered on the ground by differential main wheel braking - the more 'back' the handbrake is set, the more brake effect from the rudder pedals - everything between zero brake with the lever fully 'off', to both wheels locked for parking when the hand brake is fully back).

[@thefamilyrobbo]

My mind went back to Friday evenings in the 70s. Roger Moore: Aston Tony Curtis: Ferrari The Persuaders The Vantage was another level though. This one sounds amazing

[@dougie9071]

My all time dream car, bar none. It's the car I promised myself when I was 16 and I was hoping either yourself or Mr Tyrell would feature it at some point. If I could have only 1 car for the rest of my life, this would be it.

[@AnderParis]

My dream car! In the best possible configuration... Thank you so much Harry for this great review!

[@herfstautumn-ur3nm]

When I was 19 I visited an official open day at Newport Pagnell and Bloxham sites(in my trusty 1.1 MK1 Ford Fiesta (now in my late 40's). At Bloxham (where the DB7 was being built) I was lucky enough to be allowed to sit in the drivers of a magnificent Suffolk Red Vantage by a very kind generous owner. I never got to experience it being driven on the road. Your video Harry takes me back to that once in a lifetime moment to that great day.

[@longbeachcarguy]

OMG. Gorgeous inside and out, one of my all time favorites. And the sound from that 7.0!! What a car

[@TonyParrack]

I had an 86 V8 Vantage (in BRG) almost 20 yrs ago and loved every minute of the 4 yrs I owned it apart from when I had to fill it up - the only time I measured it I found 9.3 mpg. Gentle around town, an absolute beast when you floored it outside. You mentioned the indicator stalks - when I had to replace the steering lock etc it turned out it was off a Vauxhall Cavalier. I still have the beautiful leather toolkit and King Dick tools. Thanks for the memories!

[@MJ-iv1es]

At last Harry, a proper car!

[@anthonyfmoss]

What? You mean he’s never featured a proper car before?

[@mariemccann5895]

Almost, but soon he may get a Mustang.

[@lionheartnarruhn7696]

NGL this looks better than the new and old mustangs. It's gorgeous 😍.

[@gt197]

What an absolute beast / beauty, and that exhaust note is to die for. Epic British quality at its finest..

[@mikama-w3r]

This is my dream car. Always be, always will.

[@Bruningable]

One of the best looking cars ever built. Oh and that V8!

[@jeton924s]

Thanks Harry for those memories back in 1985 reading Road & Track magazine world fastest cars beating the likes of Jaguar Xjs ,Porsche 911 turbo,928 S,Ruf 911 turbo,Ferrari 512 BBI,Lamborghini Countach and BMW M635 that I still have that issue of the magazine

[@mickwrinkles2318]

Wonderful review. Still my most favourite Aston Martin. Back then car design was so much more tasteful and timeless. What a very special V8 Vantage you showed us here. Might be the best sounding and musical V8 I've ever heard, just brilliant. Very well recored too, gave me goosebumps.

[@keithneal3253]

Turning into the right hander, dropping down into third I presume, was simply amazing. I had to watch it 5 times.

[@richardcarter1000]

My favorite car on the channel ever. I did a treasure hunt in one 20 years ago and have loved them ever since. Owned modern Astons, since then, but the original V8 is the ultimate for me. Just perfection. I want that one, a lot Thank you Harry

[@MrBerry67]

I want one too- nearly bought one 20 years ago- so wish I had

[@richardcarter1000]

@@MrBerry67 me too

[@achill9603]

Fantastic car, for me topped only by the Zagato-bodied coupé which apparently is also significantly lighter. Your comments on the steering remind me of my 1969 DBS Vantage, my first car with PAS, which on collection I had zig-zagging down the motorway at 70mph, it required such a light touch. It was either over-assisted or I needed to re-train, or a bit of both. Another thing shared with the DBS was the de Dion rear suspension which I found superb. Over-steering a large, 1600kg car out of roundabouts was quite controllable and very satisfying!"

[@goodfest007]

Never seen Harry smile so much driving a car….not surprising, as I was too just listening to that engine…. I have watched loads of videos where the reviewer raged on about the engine sound, but this one really came across on video. I think this is my favourite Harry’s Garage review. Would love to see this car on a long road trip video…

[@davidalexander-watts6630]

I fear such a trip video would largely consist of visits to petrol stations and conversations about range anxiety. I once had a Bristol 411 with the 6.3l V8 and that was a large part of the ownership experience. It's the only car I've had where I ran out of fuel when I thought I had sufficient but it just gulped what was left in the tank in about 5 miles. The petrol station I was driving to was 8 miles away. Every trip had to be planned around petrol station locations.

[@theloneranger2101]

Harry said "A Brute In A Suit" Harry is soooo Right. The Merlin V12 & V8 ice are the best Engines ever produced, the sound they make is pure Music. If you watched this video without headphones, then you're simply missing out the sound of this beautiful V8 Beast.

[@Nordmore68]

Perfection! When design, proportions, performance and sound comes together in the perfect way. It has been said on other motoring stages; This is poetry in motion. Thanks to Harry for taking us with him on a quite rare experience.

[@jeremyrigden9200]

OMG, what a truly outstanding car! I watched this four times, please let my premium bonds come good.

[@paulbrook2459]

For me that’s one of the most exciting cars you have reviewed 👍 brilliant work

[@thejustifiedtradingcompany2306]

Harry. Of ALL the cars you’ve reviewed this is the one I’d love to own It’s brutal and beautiful . I could spend many happy hours just looking at it 😍

[@andrewsanjayprasad]

An all-time favourite car. It’s reassuring to hear you found the steering disconcerting, working in Bauer Millet Manchester back in the late 90’s I was asked to drive a customers POW Vantage Volante a short distance. It’s the only car I’ve really struggled to drive with its steering and the bite point of the clutch. This with the 7.0 and the way it’s been forever maintained is spectacular! Sounds so so good.

[@none3763]

Owned by a musician from Wigan by any chance?

[@andrewsanjayprasad]

@@none3763 Not that i remember. It belonged to a friend of the owner who was son of a Lord or something, lived in Cumbria from what I remember. I don’t pay any attention to him, just that I was being given the keys to a POW!

[@none3763]

@@andrewsanjayprasad :)

[@uurcanbysl]

i’ve never seen harry this enthusiastic while reviewing a car.. awesome video,, awesome car..

[@contingency9]

My favourite car when I was a kid and still is. A Ferrari performance with Rolls Royce comfort Aston are still the best!

[@Fluclear]

Ridiculously classy. That torque 'curve'. You could have afternoon tea on it.

[@hendo337]

In America we call that TQ plateau, very common from LS engines, it probably means that the engine is maxing out the flow capabilities of the cylinder heads, it could use some porting/more cam or both. Being DOHC I would be very interested to see what being able to vary to ICL and LSA could do with an adjustable timing set. EFI would probably benefit that engine a lot too for power and fuel economy.

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

HARRY, Thank You for really getting into these retro cars that really set the pulse racing...there will always be a huge popularity for these type of analogue machines, rather than these aneomic, limp wristed electric 'white good' type cars...please keep them coming, this type of review is very welcome. WOW! 😵 A real hairy-chested man's car! Great stuff! 😍 "Well done, 007!" 👍🏻

[@CraigShawCraigShaw]

Whatever faults this car might have, it's one of the coolest cars I've seen in Harry's Garage

[@johncreedon7847]

Harrys collection of vintage car magazines and his ability to utilise them as he does is impressive 👏

[@johntechwriter]

I’m surprised Harry didn’t spring for this car himself. His 80s exotics are looking dated, but this Aston is absolutely timeless.

[@vcmltd]

One for my lottery win garage without doubt. Sublime. Best sounding V8 of all time? Cultured yet menacing.

[@peterharris38]

This car has always been my dream lottery win car, just screams class power and sophistication. Great show you have a new subscriber from Australia. And the grunt on acceleration oh yeah.

[@markchip1]

That "point of resistance" early on the steering feel whilst stationary is probably the elasticity within the tyre tread - ie once you heve got the tread turning on the asphalt, it can go. But the carcass and tread will try to pull it back - until the wheels are turning.

[@Paul58069]

I think you may be right.

[@markchip1]

​@@Paul58069- Especially with those fat tyres and their tall sidewalls! Much more elasticity in them compared to modern low profile ones!

[@billsinclair6515]

Harold my son, most of us watching will never be able to afford a car like this, some of us even get irritated by motoring TV shows that rub these cars in our faces. But hey man, you make us feel like we co-own these motors with you and your knowledge and passion lets us "experience" the car. My favourite is still your XJ12 man, keep it up Brother H

[@davekennedy6315]

I had a car magazine that featured one of these 7ltr conversions as well as the recently launched Vantage V550 twin supercharged. If you compared the figures of the much older 7ltr to the twin supercharged brand new car they were nigh on identical across the speed range. Mad!

[@davekennedy6315]

from what i remember all the way to 150mph the two traded fastest times. Even in gear times were so close, one being slightly quicker to 20 the other 30 on and on trading back and forth all the way from 10mph to 150mph!

[@gregkirkpatrick2]

My all time favorite car, thank you for featuring it Harry. I once test drove David Brown's personal DBS, which was a proper ground shaker, sadly it broke down on the test drive and I walked away...watching the market now, it was a steal at £35k in early 2000's even if it has an issue

[@Carrera-gp9od]

This is my favourite car of all time . Magnificent machine!

[@armoris66]

My residing memory of a Vantage was whilst cycling over Vauxhall bridge in the mid to late eighties as one passed me. The good gentleman then proceeded to floor the beast and the sound of that bright red, V8 monster, thundering over the crest of the bridge brings a broad smile to my chops to this day. Bloody marvellous!

[@toooldclassics]

Love it. I've come across the 7.0 conversion before at a filling station. Caused quite a stir especially with bonnets up alongside my V12 XJ-S. Very special engine in a great looking Aston. Really enjoyed that video 👍

[@TML34]

I imagine the filling station is a popular spot. 😂

[@williamc6774]

No point driving anything else because this is The Car. Thanks Harry. My all time favourite beast and nothing can touch it.

[@Binit_777]

“Thunder happens” - love it. Just what you’d expect from this beautiful beast of a car. Yet another awesome review. Thank you Harry.

[@theshowmanuk]

My favourite car of all time. In 1985 I walked past the AM showroom near Sloane street. There was a Maroon V8 Vantage. The salesman(dressed in a suit and looked a bit like Sir Ralfe Richardson) kindly showed me around the car. It had such a presence. Beauty and the beast. Magnificent.

[@bmanduprit2962]

Yes yes yes. Proper motor. Harry’s garage back to its best ❤

[@bcosVic]

Thank you this Vantage got ignored in its day but what a beauty - hope Harry’s Garage can give it a home. 😊

[@DIMonDef]

Beautiful Aston Martin ❤❤❤ I watch your channel from Ukraine🇺🇦🇬🇧

[@bloke755]

Keep strong !! 💪👊👍

[@DIMonDef]

​@richardharrold9736I'm from the city of Dnipro. Thank you!

[@DIMonDef]

​@@bloke755thank you very much🤝

[@alanwayte432]

Stay safe best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@AECS2299]

My "wise", ooh look at me being philosophical, opinion is that this is the best designed ever. It's perfectly blends two spectrums of car design. It's a full on muscle car yet an elegant sports grand tourer at the same time. It's brutish but sublime, powerful yet sleek. Masterpiece.

[@paulcruse]

Amazing! That torque curve is not a curve, it’s a plateau. One of the flattest I’ve ever seen. And it sounds great, revs so freely and you can hear it breathing. Quad 48 downdraught Webers glorious! Then there’s the looks and the luxury inside. £400,000 indeed!. £25,000 VAT on the restomod… he’s paid for Big Ben 😀

[@Ijusthopeitsquick]

Quad?

[@Rugbyman269]

Yes quad or 4 if you prefer

[@Ijusthopeitsquick]

@@Rugbyman269 OK, so it's 4 2-barrel carbs not 8 singles?

[@jackaubrey8614]

Love how you can see (in the internal views!) how the car squats down on its rear axle when the revs are applied... beautiful.

[@luke_3_113]

This was my favourite car(d) in Top Trumps - Lambourghini Countach beat it on cylinders and top speed, but this was the one :) (Later edit: 1800Kgs? I think it was 'only' 1760KG or possibly 1740 in our pack :P)

[@jean-marcandjoshua-petsjournal]

This all class and it is also menacing. Need one (can't afford one).

[@antonybarrett789]

Hi Harry . . . Thanks for another great video. Ive always liked Astons. I like the Vantage etc, but I prefer the purity of the early DBS, esp The Persuaders car, even though it was only dressed up as a V8. The GKN wheels look just right too, rather than spokes. Glad you mentioned XJ int door handles etc. They are nice though. I think early DBS had black plastic BL ones ! I always think its strange that many really expensive cars kind of skimped on lights and switchgear etc, rather than making something bespoke, even if it used a standard part behind it. Iso Grifo etc is similar in this. The DBS / V8 must be William Towns' best work and Tadek Marek made such a great job of that V8. Sadly, I doubt I'll ever get to own one.

[@ukusanz]

As a teenager in the early 80’s this was my all time dream car, followed closely by a 512bb Ferrari. But this Vantage is just outstanding

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

In what I'm sure is a complete coincidence, Ben Collins Drives just had on the DB5 development car for the V8 engine, with the logbook full of trips and notes by Tadek Marek during his testing of it. Normally scrapped, this prototype somehow survived and has been fully restored. Well worth a look!

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

I forgot to add that it's also had its engine bored out to 7.0 too.

[@edmotler2115]

Absolutely gorgeous. Total work of art. Was always my favourite V8 Aston and still is.

[@humanbeing1675]

From an era when cars ...and their owners still had style.

[@HONDAVFRV4]

My wife commented on the fact that there was no info screen in the car and how much better it makes the dash look without them.

[@humanbeing1675]

​​@@HONDAVFRV4 Definitely.

[@mechanic808]

So true, the body style is eye catching and very sleek, BUT... strangely to me it has an influenced look of a 67 Mustang frt and a 70 Mavrick rear beautifully blended in a Euro-British kinda way.. totally awesome... IMOP this is 1 of the few cars ever made that has that instantly recognizable and timeless shape making it a car of it's own... and to those that have the chance to see 1 in real life and then say "wow, nice Capri" deserves to be slapped "0o"...

[@mikewaite3746]

Powerwise and styling wise it would be really interesting to compare it with a 68 Shelby GT500

[@markchip1]

OMG! The RS Williams 7 litre Vantage is my absolute DREAM CAR!! And given the soaring price, I'll have to make do with my previous DB9 and hopefully a Rapide S to come soon! The BEST marque in the world!!

[@AshtonsCars]

I can't believe how nostalgic I got over this video. Such a classy brute. Thank you Harry for creating such amazing content. The sound of that 7 litre V8 get the hairs up on end. Beautiful car!

[@Marthaviews]

I'm in love with that Aston. It's a proper car. Right engine. Right colours and trim. Right specification. A beautiful bit of kit. I bet every EV driver is envious! Simply gorgeous! ❤

[@wilyjetset]

Speaking as an EV driver, I'm very envious. Curious tho - are ICE-engined drivers free from envy? Maybe I should drive my diesel van more often to keep the green-eyed monster at bay...

[@dhdove]

Now THAT is a proper car. One of your best ever Harry, thank you. I’d live to know the average mpg in the time you had it, did it make it into double figures?

[@danielheathcote5625]

Yup, my dream car - would absolutely put this in pole position in my dream garage. Proper V8 soundtrack. Stunning interior. I had the pleasure of driving a friends standard V8 on private land when I was much younger and it was a dream come true. He was devastated when the engine lunched itself a few years later - snagged a gear change.