Aston Martin V8 Vantage Original (1977–1989) Price Guide

The original Aston Martin V8 Vantage was announced on 18 February 1977 and was immediately hailed as Britain’s first supercar. Revised camshafts, larger inlet valves and carburettors, a new airbox, and different plugs lifted the 5.3-litre V8 to a claimed 390bhp, a 40% increase over the standard V8. Top speed was 170mph. Nothing else British could touch it.

The Car

Built at Newport Pagnell on the same platform as the standard V8, the Vantage was visually distinguished by a blanked-off bonnet vent, deep front air dam, Perspex headlamp covers, and a boot spoiler. The first 38 cars used this original specification. The Oscar India version arrived in October 1978 with an integrated tea-tray rear spoiler, smoother bonnet bulge, and a marginally higher 390bhp claim. A black leather dashboard replaced the earlier walnut before wood returned later in the 1980s. The Vantage Volante convertible from 1986 combined the 5.3-litre engine with an open body, and just 39 were built. A 6.3-litre engine option arrived in 1986, raising output to around 430bhp, followed by a 7.0-litre development. Around 534 Vantages were built in total; 342 coupes and 192 Volantes across the production run.

What Goes Wrong

The ZF five-speed gearbox never had a slick change when new and should not be expected to have improved with age. The synchromesh can be beaten even with care; noisy layshaft bearings are a warning sign. The clutch is a heavy, long-travel unit that suits the car’s character but wears with use. The quad-cam V8 is fundamentally robust but demands fresh oil at the correct intervals; neglected engines suffer camshaft wear. Carburettor setup requires specialist knowledge; a flat-running engine usually points to carb balance rather than anything mechanical. Rust can attack the body despite the handbuilt quality, particularly in sills and around the rear wheelarches. Cooling system maintenance is critical as the V8 runs hot if hoses and the radiator are not kept in good order.

Buying

The early blanked-grille cars are the most visually dramatic and the most valuable in the eyes of purists. The 6.3-litre cars are extremely rare and command large premiums. A Volante is rare enough to attract a premium over the equivalent coupe. Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell can supply the Zertifikat equivalent (a Heritage Certificate confirming original specification). Service history and mechanical condition should take precedence over low mileage: an exercised, maintained engine is always preferable to a low-mileage, neglected one.