Aston Martin Vantage Volante V600 | PH Heroes

You know the way it goes with an end-of-an-era particular version today. There’ll be a social media teaser marketing campaign, a lavish launch video, a luxuriant press launch that extends into many 1000’s of phrases and plenty of dissatisfied prospects who didn’t get an allocation. Whether or not it’s the ultimate handbook, final combustion engine or the retirement of a nameplate, an identical type of frenzy is whipped up each single time. 

The very reverse was true when this car was made. It’s a Volante model of the Aston Martin Vantage, the final mannequin made at Newport Pagnell with hand whacked panels within the conventional type. As soon as this automobile was executed, it was on to the way more fashionable Vanquish, with its superformed panels, automated handbook and suave new look; then it will be Gaydon, then these automobiles could be firmly Aston Martin’s previous moderately than its current. The Brief Wheelbase Volante was the top of the twin-supercharged V8, with roots stretching again a long time, the top of Aston Martin manufacturing strategies as that they had been recognized, and the top of the V8/Virage/Vantage two-door that’d had been decimating smaller, much less highly effective sports activities automobiles all through the Nineties. This automobile was a correct epoch-ender, and simply eight have been made (as a result of that’s what number of might be squeezed in following a low-key announcement and earlier than the manufacturing unit needed to be refitted for the Vanquish.)

It’s vastly important then, however little or no is understood in regards to the Brief Chassis Vantage Volante – as a result of little or no was ever mentioned about it. Although Aston Martin had been pestered for some time about making such a factor, it had all the time resisted; the drop prime was the thought of Kingsley Using Felce, to bid farewell to the outdated methods and the outdated automobiles. In line with Nicholas Mee, who’s promoting this one, Felce all the time noticed the Vantage as a religious successor to the Blower Bentleys – each vastly highly effective, supercharged Brit bruisers, in spite of everything – and a Volante felt like a becoming tribute. Again in 1999, just a few Aston sellers have been advised such a automobile was going to occur, they have been instructed to ask their VIP prospects whether or not they’d have an interest, and earlier than lengthy the automobiles had been assembled – 5 proper hand drive, three left – and have been with their fortunate patrons, by no means actually to be talked about a lot once more. No person within the media drove the Volantes, clearly they weren’t all around the web in 2000, and it received’t have even made it to an i-spy e-book. Anybody who did see one in all probability thought it was a traditional Virage Volante. 

This V600 has specific significance, for Nick at the least, as a result of he specced the automobile when it was new. He talked about the venture to a buyer at Le Mans in 1999 – the place Aston would have been celebrating 40 years since that well-known DBR1 win – who was very eager on the thought, even at £250,000 or so (£470k in at the moment’s cash). Eager sufficient, in truth, to let Nick select the colors for him. It was delivered in 2000; onerous to think about the shopper being something however overjoyed with Rolls Royce Blue over Parchment and Pacific Blue leather-based. That they had the automobile for 5 years, after which the second proprietor took the Vantage to Aston Works for the total V600 conversion. Nonetheless with fewer than 4,000 miles, it’s from that proprietor that Nicholas Mee now has the automobile. 

It’s an beautiful factor within the metallic. One thing like 200mm was taken from the wheelbase to create a Brief Chassis Volante, that means there’s rigidity and angle to the look that the usual V8 drop prime may by no means boast. Whereas a extra conventional look than we’re used to now for the folding canvas inevitably dates the Volante, these of us who lusted after Vantages, V550s and V600s three a long time in the past will nonetheless discover an terrible lot to love right here. The looks could be very a lot of a convertible that was produced alongside the coupe, moderately than a brilliant restricted version squeezed in on the finish of the manufacturing run.

The inside, after all, is a feast of supple leather-based and tasteful wooden veneers. You sit excessive, captain of your craft, looking on as many buttons and dials as an plane provider. The Volante feels imperious, important, all-powerful earlier than transferring an inch. If convertibles are supposed to be softer, sweeter possibility, no person talked about it to end-of-the-century Aston Martin.

Regardless of modest (by fashionable requirements) exhaust pipes, the noise that erupts from them is formidable. The 5.3 V8 ripples and rumbles by way of the air at idle, gradual and deliberate sufficient to virtually hear each explosion. It’s an offended, purposeful, impolite V8 sound, precisely the type of factor to be anticipated from in all probability Aston Martin’s most caddish period. Nick calls it “a automobile for fats cats”, which makes full sense; you are feeling extra disreputable simply in its presence. 

Getting the V600 underway isn’t troublesome – as soon as you understand how. As a part of the V600 overhaul, a brief shift package was put in, which makes the gearbox function prefer it’s working a locomotive. Once more it feels very becoming, having to heave the lever over for first and leg press the clutch, however does nothing for the intimidation issue. 

Handily, with 600lb ft, gear choice is about as influential on the Brief Chassis Volante driving expertise as your alternative of local weather management temperature. Regardless of the revs, gear, or throttle place, it’s able to going tremendously quick certainly. Its important stats today aren’t a lot to jot down dwelling about, particularly with one thing like a two-tonne kerbweight, however again at the start of the twenty first century a Ferrari V12 flagship had 485hp. Even the usual V550 was significantly potent, and something with 600hp gave the impression of science fiction. 

The capability and people ‘chargers means the Vantage picks up from zip, even within the gears that may additionally take it deep into three figures; the powerband appears by no means ending, a ceaseless torrent of sound and velocity. The latter wants discussing once more, too, as a result of to expertise supercharger shriek behind ripping V8 lead vocals is a real privilege. Significantly with none filter above. 

That was all largely to be anticipated, after all. Something constructed from the 90s-era Vantage was going to look menacing, sound epic and speed up with boundless fury. Probably the most stunning side of the Brief Chassis is definitely how composed and reliable it feels as a smooth prime. Naturally it’s a way from being a DB12 Volante, however neither does it shake, rattle or roll something such as you would possibly count on a cabrio of this period to take action. Particularly one with a chassis being taxed by a lot torque. Wobble is properly contained, the steering is correct (with only a little bit of sensation by way of the Nardi wheel), and the trip neatly damped. As with the looks, this Volante drives like such a factor was all the time meant to exist in larger numbers. 

With values now being what they’re (assume one thing like 3 times that authentic asking worth), at the moment will not be the day for an exhaustive evaluation of the Volante. However relaxation assured at A-road speeds it feels completely magnificent, commanding and almighty. The prospect of cross-country – or cross continent, come to think about it – cruising is a vastly interesting one, Vantage all the time with loads in reserve (aside from gas) and the sense of event completely off the size. It’s a twin supercharged, 600hp, Aston Martin convertible, which sounds ok on paper; that the fact is even higher comfortably assures the Brief Chassis Hero standing. 

What the long run holds for this period isn’t clear but. Whereas the V550 and V600 coupes have risen in significance over current years, they haven’t skyrocketed in a approach that many uncommon (fewer than 250 have been ever made), distinctive, handbook poster automobiles of the Nineties have. Again in 2017, Adam Clayton’s V550 was on the market at £229,000; it’s nonetheless attainable to purchase a V600 (with out the well-known musician affiliation) for that cash. Think about what a Ferrari 456 may cost a little if there have been solely ever a few hundred and so they have been all handbook. So whereas it’s onerous for any regular fanatic to see the worth in a £200,000 automobile, their future collectability appears to be like assured, particularly as the children who lusted after these within the Nineties proceed to develop up. And hopefully inherit a DB6 or comparable in some unspecified time in the future, which possibly doesn’t maintain the identical basic Aston enchantment any extra. 

The Volante, after all, is so vanishingly uncommon that it’ll all the time declare a particular place in a top-tier assortment. That is rarer than any Zagato, any Continuation, just about any current huge bucks particular: there have been 77 One-77s, 110 Valours, 24 Vulcans. And whereas not providing up fairly that degree of driving exhilaration, the very best discovery about a day with a Brief Chassis is that it’s way more succesful than it has any actual proper to be. In addition to charming such as you wouldn’t imagine. Sunny summers won’t ever be the identical once more for one fortunate Aston fanatic. 

Engine: 5,341cc, twin-supercharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed handbook, rear-wheel drive
Energy (hp): 608@6,500rpm 
Torque (lb ft): 600@6,200rpm
0-62mph: c. 4.5sec
Prime velocity: c. 180mph
Weight: c. 2,000kg
MPG: Not many
CO2: So much
On sale: 1999
Value new: c. £250,000
Value now: c. £750,000

Because of Nicholas Mee for his or her assist with this characteristic. The Brief Chassis Volante is for sale here, and the remainder of its PH stocklist here.