4 minute read
Aston Martin
CurvaCeous Power
Words: Chris Russon Photographs: Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC
It’s 1972, and Aston Martin is undergoing one of its periodic seismic changes. Sir David Brown, the industrialist who steered the business through some of its most memorable moments, has sold the firm to a new owner, Company Developments Ltd.
Enter the AM V8. A car that, while launched early in the tenure of Company Developments, was firmly rooted in the engineering and design ethos of the David Brown era.
Replacing the DBS V8, which had itself championed the use of Aston Martin’s first V8, and the first new engine for more than ten years, the AM V8 was essentially a styling exercise – replacing the angular nose of the DBS with a more curvaceous, purposeful front end that, together with some subtle styling changes elsewhere, gave the new car a much more muscular look. Key to that new nose was the arrival of two seven-inch quartz iodine headlamps and a black mesh grille. is believed that these cars were good for as much as 320 bhp, with around 360 lbs/ft of torque.
The return of a small open ‘power bulge’ on the bonnet; the ‘Cokebottle’ flanks; and the use of Aston Martin V8 side strake badges completed the exterior styling revisions.
This same William Towns’ shape, in essence, would represent the Aston Martin ‘look’ for almost two decades – the last AM V8 styling-inspired cars only ending production in 1989 – shows not only the importance of its 1972 debut, but also the appeal of a styling silhouette that is utterly unmistakable today, as a product of the marque’s Newport Pagnell era. This first iteration of the 5.3-litre engined AM V8 retained the Bosch fuel injection system from the DBS V8, and while power and torque figures were not commonly quoted, it Mated to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox, or optional Chrysler Torqueflite three-speed auto, that was ample urge to carry this early ‘70s sports car from rest to 60 mph in around six seconds with a top speed of circa 160 mph.
As was often the case in Aston Martin history, production numbers of these early cars were incredibly small by today’s standards.
Only 289 AM V8 models of this iteration were built between April ‘72 and July ‘73. They were succeeded by cars with less complex Weber carburetion, the later cars also featuring larger bonnet scoops.
Numerous iterations of the AM V8 followed over the years – the 1978
‘Oscar India’ cars with closed bonnet scoop among their changes being among the most plentiful – along with the arrival of Volante versions in June 1978 for those seeking open top motoring.
The original Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed at its 1977 introduction as “Britain’s first supercar”.
It could outrun a Ferrari Daytona in the 0-60 mph sprint, and if pushed to the limit it could record a top speed of 170 mph thanks to its use of high-performance camshafts, an increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for increased output. Towards the end of its reign the AM V8 saloon, and corresponding V8 Volante, played another important part in Aston Martin
history by reuniting the marque with its most famous ‘owner’ – James Bond.
In the 1987 film The Living Daylights, which featured Timothy Dalton as 007, producers EON took the decision to return Bond to his familiar position behind the wheel of an Aston Martin using a V8 Volante that, through the magic of the movies, is ‘winterised’ into a V8 saloon by Q branch.
Bristling with gadgets including a jet engine booster rocket, retractable outriggers for use on snow and ice, and twin heatseeking missiles, the ‘Oscar India’ saloon has become a regular display piece and, indeed, so iconic was the car’s appearance that, in the most recent film No Time To Die, James Bond (Daniel Craig) is once again seen behind the wheel of his beloved V8. Reflecting on the appeal of the AM V8 in all its many forms over almost two decades of production Aston Martin Works President , Paul Spires, said: “The 1970s were, in many ways, a testing time with social and economic unrest rife. Yet, through it all, we created the AM V8 which, today, is rightly seen as one of the jewels in our illustrious history. That so many of these big, brutish sports cars survive and thrive today, is testament not only to their enduring appeal but also to the legion of owners, past and present, who have worked so hard with us to keep the cars running.
