CHASING CARS
ENGINE 5340cc/V8/DOHC per bank POWER 410bhp@6000rpm TORQUE 395lb ft@ 5100rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 185mph 0-60MPH 4.8sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 11-14mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, five-speed manual MoT 12 months on sale ODOMETER 7995km
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
After an unfussy start for an AM V8 engine, warm oil pressure is a healthy 80psi under load, and water temperature stabilises at 90 degrees Celsius. However, the oil temperature gauge doesn’t appear to work at the moment. The engine idles smoothly and pulls crisply through slickly-engaged gears. There’s no slack in the steering, suspension or pedals, everything feels taut and controlled and the brakes are powerful. There’s no ABS because Aston Martin rejected it. The suspension’s tautness does make it feel quite jiggly and harsh, though it’s supposed to be like that – this was Aston’s supercar, not a luxury grand tourer. On the road, it’s a sharp-cornering beast on new-looking tyres, with ferocious acceleration to enjoy, making it the most sharply focused variant on the original Aston Martin V8 platform.
BODYWORK CHECK
According to the vendor, Ex-Aston Martin man Keith Riddington, the little nicks on the door and bonnet were accidentally inflicted at Works Service – he should know… he was there! These aside, plus a bit of missing paint on one corner of the bonnet, the bodywork is perfect, albeit with a slight ‘orange peel’ quality apparently typical of Zagato’s work in the Eighties; it’s certainly testament to the car’s originality.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
The interior is similarly spotless, the pale leather lightly creased rather than worn; consistent with the 8k showing on its odometer. The speedo reads solely in km/h – worth bearing in mind if you want to use it in the UK. There are also more modern aftermarket Pioneer speakers mounted in the doors and parcel shelf, although the installation looks to have been executed professionally.
UNDER THE BONNET
Despite t
