Always loved that car! Still remember, as an 18yo entering a local car parts store and asking for spark plugs for a 1996 Aston V8 Vantage, the guy looked at me bug-eyed, he went to the book found the NGK part number and right before he went to get them I said I only needed 4, he started laughing and I revealed in fact had a Panda 750 but the spark plugs were the same.
Oh funny! I had a very similar story. I once entered a Ferrari dealership in Cannes (French riviera) to do the same. I asked for spark plugs for a Ferrari 430. The guy was even surprised that I was looking for spare parts. He directed me to the workshop downstairs. There was clearly no reception expected there. I asked a mechanic and was pointed at a small desk. I asked again for my plugs (NGK too) and had to reveal I only wanted 2 and not 8 or 12. Because that was for a Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport 2V. The funny thing is that (and I don't know how someone discovered that), Ferrari was selling those for a third of the price any motorcycle mechanic could get them. So I went out with 2 spark plugs and a nice Ferrari invoice that still lives proudly in my list of invoices for my motorbike.
The parts bin Ford steering wheel to every Ford from the mid 80's to late 90's had that wheel. I would assume if the AM badge was pulled back it has Ford molded into it.
Absolute peak Aston-Martin for me. Saw one at Le Mans when they were new, an absolutely magnificent car! Were I to win the lottery, this would be where my money went!
Firstly if its 550bhp then its a V550, if its a V600 its 600bhp. Also the V8 coupe came after the Vantage, the Vantage was developed directly from the Virage, the V8 coupe came after as a less extreme option, the LM was a slight upgrade of the standard Vantage
Your delivery has improved immeasurably since the early episodes…….. you are now a master of your crafts……automotive and presentation. Listen to you all day mate….
What a pleasurable watch these films are! That little aside regarding the upside down ford indicator lights had me chuckling, and it's details like this that lift this channel above all the others. Iain doesn't take himself too seriously or claim to know everything (though he clearly does!) and he wears his expertise so modestly and lightly! He's just a delight to watch and listen to. How I'd love to own such a car! Half the fun would be taking it to Tyrell's for a service and a chat. And how good must it be to work to work in his shop? I bet his workforce all love him. Maybe he'll take me on as an apprentice - as an enthusiastic 56 year old! Love the channel and keep these gems coming. Nobody does it better!!
It's the late nineties. You have some serious money to be spent in a motorcar. You have class, You have taste and You do NOT want to look like an flashy show-off. You buy an Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600 Le Mans. What a way to go. What a car. Incredible. A true Aston from Newport Pagnell. A car which engine is BUILT by a person and not just been "inspected" by one...Hand built bodypanels and interior.....Raw power in an old fashioned package. For a car person who tries to find a way to buy an Aston DB7, this is the ultimate. The last REAL Aston Martin. A brute in a suit. Great video. Great car.
Iain, Please don't worry about going off topic. I could listen to you speak about tangential topics for hours. I love this history and ties you put into this video and I learned a tremendous amount. Thank you. Keep up the spectacular work! Best, -Luis
I recall during the late 90's when we had one of many petrol shortages etc poodling round the M25 near Surrey, when one of these beasts in dark blue came flying past us in lane 3. Sounded like a low flying Spitfire!!!
I use to stop to look at a Vantage parked on a London street and you could tell immediately that it was a hand built car. A genuine car in other words. I watched the owner get into it and with a gentle nudge the door closed with that beautifully quiet click you hear on Tyrrell’s video. Then he fired it up. That sound! The best of British and a British symbol.
Thank you Iain for another of your expert guided tours around an evocative car. As you explained, Aston Martin were already starting to share parts with other Ford group products on the lead up to the formation of Ford's Premier Automotive Group in or around 1999. The heater controls in this Aston are the same as on my 1993 Jaguar XJ40 Sovereign (part number DBC11817)!
@@iain_tyrrell Alas, the trials and tribulations of being what I refer to as a “TH-cam-ist.” Seriously though, thank you for your content. Also, those door handles came from a Ford Crown Victoria!
One of my all time favourite cars. The restrained brutishness of the styling just tickles me in all the right places, and the very idea of a twin supercharged V8 is just silly enough to be wonderful.
Thank you Ian I always enjoy watching your videos. Being an Aston fan I am fortunate enough to own a 1997 V8 Coupe and it was very pleasing to hear your complimentary remarks about them and the fact that you looked after one. For the record 101 were built in total. I visited the factory at Newport Pagnell in the ‘90s and saw these cars being built. The noise in the factory was horrendous with all the hammering of metal going on, but visiting the engine shop and meeting the engine builders, who took the time to show and explain their work was very special indeed. By the way the front indicator lenses are from Porsche. Richard
My understanding is that most of the cars were built as automatics with RHD but I can’t give build figures broken down as some were for overseas buyers. The Heritage Centre of the A M Owners Club I’m sure could be very helpful in that regard. Driving the car - yes it’s certainly different to everyday motoring. It’s not a car for taking to the shops. It is a big car but it’s forte is motorway/dual carriageway roads where it seems to shrink around you & the legal speed limit is achieved very quickly It’s just a wonderful experience driving something different & that it’s been hand built in England ( with some quirks). The smell of leather is intoxicating .As with this type of car, the south of France becons, travelling in style! 😎
@@alisonleaman333there weren't any V8 Coupes produced with manual transmissions. One has been converted at a later date (not by AML) but I haven't driven it. The four speed automatic works well in my opinion.
It was my favourite car as a kid. Now, 30 years later, I was finally able to afford one. It’s a dream come true. Brilliant car. Thanks for the video, a lot of information.
A point of interest - the V6 which formed the basis of the Aston V12 was originally used in the Mazda MX-3, a tiny 1.8 engine with 130hp cakled the K-Series. The Ford Duratec was a development of this engine.
Lovely video Iain. Just to pick up on one point: the Vantage was not in fact a development of the similarly bodied albeit less pumped up non-supercharged V8. The V550 Vantage came first in 1993 and the V8 followed in 1996. I was lucky enough to have a V550 for a few years twenty years ago. It was beautifully made but (for me) a little difficult to control in the wet. I have no problem with sensibly chosen parts bin stuff. Ferrari and Maserati back in the day constantly had their hands in the Fiat part pin. As this has the 550 engine it still has the 6 speed box. The 600s had sixth blanked off.
When I first ever saw those two superchargers in that V8 Aston Martin installation in a photograph, it was an instant feeling of disbelief how large they were against the size of the engine, and I still have the same reaction. A great symbol of brute force and power. From driving Jaguar XJR's and XKR's, you can't beat supercharger whine as an indicator that you're driving something special. Thanks Iain, can't wait for part two.
Long ago I did bonded car delivery. I had the fortunate occasion to take a late '70s series 3(?) V8 from Frisco to Connecticut. It was such a wonderful vehicle for that, the long journey where one could 'open the sails' and let her rip. I have been an Aston Martin guy since...
I was lucky back in the 90's to visit Newport Pagnall on many occasions. It was amazing to see flat Aluminium sheets been hand formed into various body panels, the engines hand built, then having the builders plaque attached. The other amazing thing at the time was the customer build list on the wall, which seemed to have a large percentage going to a certain Sultan. A different era.
Those interior buttons and vents came over quite familiar to me. So did the second indicator glasses. 😂 Besides that quirky stuff that, for that amount of money, makes a grown man’s toes curl and raise an eyebrow or two it is a stunning car. I like the colour. Bearing (s) accumulated moisture and corroded through moving the car around or starting and not warming up the engine properly? If one of these has gone bad there’s a chance that they’re all affected and prone to failure. But what am I telling you……? Thanks for showing this beauty!
That door… you could say it’s pinkie perfection 😂 Another great episode. BTW, the off-piste comments are excellent, gives everything so much more flavour.
What a beautiful piece of engineering that has aged well in my opinion. Exterior door handles are Mondeo and climate controls are not Ford. Love the front nostrils. Another fabulous watch, thanks Iain!
I experienced a similarly horrible sounding rumble on my 550 Maranello but I traced it to a front pulley on the crank driving the alternator and air con belts. The pulley had a bonded rubber centre separating the crank drive to the outer drive teeth ring and it had hardend over 12 years and then separated at some point during the 112,000 otherwise trouble free miles I drove it.Rather than a £20k bill it was a £500 one. Happy days!
Iain. Yet another great video - thanks. I identified the internal door release handle as being the same as on my XJ-S - I was chuffed with myself - but pleased to know now that it goes all the way back to the Series 1 XJ cars. I’m looking forward to the video of you diagnosing the noise in the engine bay of the Aston - the more that I see you working and how you go about it the more I enjoy it. Please continue with your great explanations and keep the videos coming - they are a firm fixture on my Sunday evenings! Peter
Noooo, I wanna watch part 2 now! You're killing me. The 1886-onward Vantage V8 is my favorite car of all times, since I've seen it as a kid in the Bond movie. I got a large soft spot for these later ones, too, especially for these dual supercharger ones. Plus these wonderful knowledgeable videos from this guy, Iain Tyrrell, you know, that guy who's running around like a maniac tuning carburetors with a screwdriver and a garden hose left and right ;)
OMG, my all-time number one, now in my seventies friends of my parents had a couple DB6 mk1 and later mk2, the first time ide been in a car at 100mph, I can remember it as if it were yesterday 57 years ago. Oh well keep doing the Lotto, thanks Ian for making my old hart pump a tad quicker. 😃
I remember riding along in a V550 Vantage for charity and I remember distinctively the sheer torque of that engine. Definitely had the jekyll and hyde factor 😊
Ian, you forgot one of the most noticeable things out of a Ford parts bin in that vehicle. That airbag/steering wheel is straight out of a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury parts bin. These were found on most Ford built vehicles from a Mustang to a Town Car from 1990-1995
Peak Aston for me as well! I am lucky enough to own a V550 and a 90's Virage. I can vouch for the quality of the build on the V550 versus Virage. Fantastic highway car- cruising at 90mph with the engine turning at 1900rpm....
Magnificent, couldn't be made in any other country!! One of my very favourite cars, not many cars have twin superchargers!! And the look, just brutal finesse!!!
Tyrell great video as ever, love your classic workshop & stunning exotic cars, thanks for sharing/posting/ & the Aston Martin v8 vantage v600 is on my bucket list for 2024, I now can afford almost any car I desire or would love to own.
The heater box / ductwork requires a rebuild but I’m sure you have noticed and notified the owner. That could be a time consuming job as I suspect the dash will need to come out. Pinnacle Aston Martin for me. A friend’s father had one and took me out in it, a 550 with the upgrade pack on it. I will never forget that passenger ride, so comfortable too! Another great video.
I do recall getting a lot of Jaguar XJ40 bits for a customer's Virage back in my parts-hunting days. That HVAC control unit looks a little later, though. Of course, there's the most obvious offender in that airbag steering wheel. The same as on my Father's 1993 Ford F150 pickup and a host of Fox Body Mustangs from the late 80s and early 90s. Even the DB7 was a parts bin special - they were famous for breaking interior door handles, and my local dealer said he could charge me $250 US for an assembly in an Aston box, or I could call my local Mazda dealer and get a handle and cup for an MX5 for about 30 bucks. But hey, Aston still managed to spit some brilliant cars out regardless!
Essential Sunday evening viewing now for me. Always something interesting and never more so than this. I actually saw this car in its standard 550bhp Vantage coupe guise at the 1996(?) Motorshow and it's quite something to be in the presence of. More than just a car, it is literally a work of art. It is an 18st bouncer in a Savile Row suit of a car. It is a heavyweight champ of the world, it is/was just about the most intimidating looking car you could imagine 30 (nearly) years ago. It was also the best thing that they could've done with the Virage underpinnings imho. Look forward to Part II....
Fabulous car and worthy of the AM badge. The opening and closing of the door is just sublime level. Fantastic video yet again Iain and looking forward to part 2
I’ve had the pleasure of being in this vehicle recently with this client, a fantastic vehicle presented in exceptional condition. And the owner is a wonderful person full of stories and adventures. It would be worth looking at the bonnet latch whilst it’s with you, as slightly temperamental. Hopefully just an adjustment required
Nice that this one is still the "basic" V550 spec. (They also did one Le Mans example with no rear seats). I've always fancied one of the standard (Not Le Mans) V550 cars, but so many have been - IMHO - mucked about with by having the V600 upgrade/s fitted years after first being made. Quite a few have also been converted from auto to manual or vice versa. And I believe those hollow five-spoke alloys are prone to cracking.
Phwaor... That door action is worth the price of admission on its own. I'd get goosebumps every time I opened and closed the door. I'd be prepared to buy the whole car, just to have that in my life.
Another great video Iain. I always liked these Astons especially when Mr Clarkson used to froth at the mouth testing them, and usually going through an awful lot of tyres. It looks so aggressive, and pretty at the same time. The switch gear is funny, I recall the XJ220 have lots of Sierra switch gear. To those of us who can't afford any aston Martin at all its a great compliment that our robot made white goods almost cars provide reliable parts. As a Focus owner Mat Armstrong's Lamborghini with Focus indicators also springs to mind! I look forward to the second part. Also Iain I always liked the Zagato Aston of the Mid 80s the one with the fancy driver/passenger windows, and challenging looks. Would love you to show us one of those sometime. Great video of a car most of us would never have the chance to see. Thank you and indeed to the owner. Ben 🇬🇧🇺🇦🚐🚌
Thank you Iain !!! All that knowledge , wow. I love your videos they are so laid back and relaxing keep them coming Sir , Looking forward to part two of this video and thank you again Iain 😊🥃🥃
Thank you, I really appreciate it. I try to show a little bit of everything, though as I keep saying, it very much depends on what comes into the workshop. Hopefully there's something for everyone.
Iain, thank you so much for sharing your in depth knowledge on this 'uincorn' Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600 Le Mans. As usual, your presentation was infomative, with a lot of history & detail, & I learned so much about this stunning car. Wish I could see one on the road, but it definitelg wont happen here in Sri Lanka! 👍👍
Always loved that car!
Still remember, as an 18yo entering a local car parts store and asking for spark plugs for a 1996 Aston V8 Vantage, the guy looked at me bug-eyed, he went to the book found the NGK part number and right before he went to get them I said I only needed 4, he started laughing and I revealed in fact had a Panda 750 but the spark plugs were the same.
😂
That's brilliant! 😂😂😂
Oh funny! I had a very similar story. I once entered a Ferrari dealership in Cannes (French riviera) to do the same. I asked for spark plugs for a Ferrari 430. The guy was even surprised that I was looking for spare parts. He directed me to the workshop downstairs. There was clearly no reception expected there. I asked a mechanic and was pointed at a small desk. I asked again for my plugs (NGK too) and had to reveal I only wanted 2 and not 8 or 12. Because that was for a Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport 2V. The funny thing is that (and I don't know how someone discovered that), Ferrari was selling those for a third of the price any motorcycle mechanic could get them.
So I went out with 2 spark plugs and a nice Ferrari invoice that still lives proudly in my list of invoices for my motorbike.
The parts bin Ford steering wheel to every Ford from the mid 80's to late 90's had that wheel.
I would assume if the AM badge was pulled back it has Ford molded into it.
Haha
"Somebody has to drive these cars..." - it's miserable work. Thank you Iain for your sacrifice! 😂
Someone has to do it……
A million times cooler than anything Aston sells today.
I am inclined to agree with you
So true!!!
A million, at the very very least. That car was so cool, in period, it was nearly an automotive category by itself
I strongly agree.
resto recreation inbound no doubt
That mustang steering wheel gets me every time 😂
Ford really did use that wheel in a lot of vehicles. Trucks, Vans, Crown Victoria, Mustang lol.
That wheel was in my 1992 Taurus and my 1996 E250 van.
Really? Wow. It got around. Thanks!
Yep! A Ford staple!
@@iain_tyrrell Not that you'd do this, but if you removed the oval AM badge from it you'd surely find an embossed Ford logo.
Absolute peak Aston-Martin for me. Saw one at Le Mans when they were new, an absolutely magnificent car! Were I to win the lottery, this would be where my money went!
An excellent choice. It's quite a beast and certainly has a lot of road presence.
Firstly if its 550bhp then its a V550, if its a V600 its 600bhp. Also the V8 coupe came after the Vantage, the Vantage was developed directly from the Virage, the V8 coupe came after as a less extreme option, the LM was a slight upgrade of the standard Vantage
I could listen to Iain open and close that door for hours. Such satisfying workmanship.
Your delivery has improved immeasurably since the early episodes…….. you are now a master of your crafts……automotive and presentation. Listen to you all day mate….
Thank you!
What a pleasurable watch these films are! That little aside regarding the upside down ford indicator lights had me chuckling, and it's details like this that lift this channel above all the others.
Iain doesn't take himself too seriously or claim to know everything (though he clearly does!) and he wears his expertise so modestly and lightly! He's just a delight to watch and listen to.
How I'd love to own such a car! Half the fun would be taking it to Tyrell's for a service and a chat. And how good must it be to work to work in his shop? I bet his workforce all love him. Maybe he'll take me on as an apprentice - as an enthusiastic 56 year old!
Love the channel and keep these gems coming. Nobody does it better!!
Thank you for your kind words!
It's the late nineties. You have some serious money to be spent in a motorcar. You have class, You have taste and You do NOT want to look like an flashy show-off. You buy an Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600 Le Mans.
What a way to go. What a car. Incredible. A true Aston from Newport Pagnell. A car which engine is BUILT by a person and not just been "inspected" by one...Hand built bodypanels and interior.....Raw power in an old fashioned package.
For a car person who tries to find a way to buy an Aston DB7, this is the ultimate. The last REAL Aston Martin. A brute in a suit.
Great video. Great car.
Taking your scenario into account, I would choose either this or a Bentley Continental R
Iain,
Please don't worry about going off topic. I could listen to you speak about tangential topics for hours. I love this history and ties you put into this video and I learned a tremendous amount. Thank you. Keep up the spectacular work!
Best,
-Luis
Thank you- much appreciated
@@iain_tyrrellthe tyres look very old.
I recall during the late 90's when we had one of many petrol shortages etc poodling round the M25 near Surrey, when one of these beasts in dark blue came flying past us in lane 3. Sounded like a low flying Spitfire!!!
I use to stop to look at a Vantage parked on a London street and you could tell immediately that it was a hand built car. A genuine car in other words. I watched the owner get into it and with a gentle nudge the door closed with that beautifully quiet click you hear on Tyrrell’s video. Then he fired it up. That sound! The best of British and a British symbol.
Wow, soft close doors achieved through precision engineering rather than electric motors - epic. 👌🏼
Another splendid video from ‘The Guru’ 👌🏻😎
How kind - thank you very much! 🙌
@@iain_tyrrell Most welcome Sir, thank you for taking the time to produce your channel. It’s very much appreciated. 👍🏻
Thank you Iain for another of your expert guided tours around an evocative car. As you explained, Aston Martin were already starting to share parts with other Ford group products on the lead up to the formation of Ford's Premier Automotive Group in or around 1999. The heater controls in this Aston are the same as on my 1993 Jaguar XJ40 Sovereign (part number DBC11817)!
Brilliant- thank you too!
OMG. MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE ASTON MARTIN EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delighted to bring you your favourite, but now everyone's going to want theirs covered. 🤣
@@iain_tyrrell Maserati Khamsin please... :o)
@@iain_tyrrell Alas, the trials and tribulations of being what I refer to as a “TH-cam-ist.” Seriously though, thank you for your content. Also, those door handles came from a Ford Crown Victoria!
Agreed!frm NZ
Mine too!!
My dream car since I was in my 20s. I'm 48 now
Don't stop dreaming.
@@iain_tyrrell well, I did drive the regular V8 Vantage from that era
Nso close enough
I'm 46 and this style V8 vantage was my dream car when I was a kid looking at the observer book of cars and all the car magazines
One of my all time favourite cars. The restrained brutishness of the styling just tickles me in all the right places, and the very idea of a twin supercharged V8 is just silly enough to be wonderful.
Oh man, this and a Lancia flaminia super sport Zagato would be my perfect 2 car garage
Same door handle as my 1998 Ford Scorpio. And easier to source spare parts in the future. Cheers from an Aston Martin owner in Sweden.
What a beautiful vehicle
I was going to post the same comment!
Drof were actually a high-end manufacturer of indicators and sun visor mirror components in period, Iain. Surprised you didn't know 😉 Beautiful car!
There's absolutely nothing wrong with them and we've seen the Italian marques make wide use of similar components too.
Absolutely. If it flashes, it flashes. It also liberates funds for the juicy bits that make the real difference 👌
If there was a Royal Family of Automotive Technicians Iain would be the King
Thanks god there’s going to be a part 2.
I could watch hours of footage about this gorgeous car. Thanks Iain
This is the way I look at it, my 1990’s Ford Escort I owned had Aston Martin buttons on the dash. 😐
That is the BEST way. 👏
Well said!
Thank you Ian I always enjoy watching your videos. Being an Aston fan I am fortunate enough to own a 1997 V8 Coupe and it was very pleasing to hear your complimentary remarks about them and the fact that you looked after one. For the record 101 were built in total. I visited the factory at Newport Pagnell in the ‘90s and saw these cars being built. The noise in the factory was horrendous with all the hammering of metal going on, but visiting the engine shop and meeting the engine builders, who took the time to show and explain their work was very special indeed. By the way the front indicator lenses are from Porsche.
Richard
How many, if any, V8 Coupes were Manual & RHD...? Also, does it feel as big to drive as it looks..? Thanks !
Thanks Richard- I personally like the V8 coupe a lot
My understanding is that most of the cars were built as automatics with RHD but I can’t give build figures broken down as some were for overseas buyers. The Heritage Centre of the A M Owners Club I’m sure could be very helpful in that regard. Driving the car - yes it’s certainly different to everyday motoring. It’s not a car for taking to the shops. It is a big car but it’s forte is motorway/dual carriageway roads where it seems to shrink around you & the legal speed limit is achieved very quickly
It’s just a wonderful experience driving something different & that it’s been hand built in England ( with some quirks). The smell of leather is intoxicating .As with this type of car, the south of France becons, travelling in style! 😎
@@alisonleaman333there weren't any V8 Coupes produced with manual transmissions. One has been converted at a later date (not by AML) but I haven't driven it. The four speed automatic works well in my opinion.
It was my favourite car as a kid. Now, 30 years later, I was finally able to afford one. It’s a dream come true. Brilliant car.
Thanks for the video, a lot of information.
A point of interest - the V6 which formed the basis of the Aston V12 was originally used in the Mazda MX-3, a tiny 1.8 engine with 130hp cakled the K-Series. The Ford Duratec was a development of this engine.
Yes an even more nerdy Part 2, dont you just love it, I do.
Lovely video Iain. Just to pick up on one point: the Vantage was not in fact a development of the similarly bodied albeit less pumped up non-supercharged V8. The V550 Vantage came first in 1993 and the V8 followed in 1996. I was lucky enough to have a V550 for a few years twenty years ago. It was beautifully made but (for me) a little difficult to control in the wet. I have no problem with sensibly chosen parts bin stuff. Ferrari and Maserati back in the day constantly had their hands in the Fiat part pin. As this has the 550 engine it still has the 6 speed box. The 600s had sixth blanked off.
Thank you for that
When I first ever saw those two superchargers in that V8 Aston Martin installation in a photograph, it was an instant feeling of disbelief how large they were against the size of the engine, and I still have the same reaction. A great symbol of brute force and power.
From driving Jaguar XJR's and XKR's, you can't beat supercharger whine as an indicator that you're driving something special. Thanks Iain, can't wait for part two.
Yes indeed- a real sense of occasion!
Long ago I did bonded car delivery. I had the fortunate occasion to take a late '70s series 3(?) V8 from Frisco to Connecticut. It was such a wonderful vehicle for that, the long journey where one could 'open the sails' and let her rip.
I have been an Aston Martin guy since...
I was lucky back in the 90's to visit Newport Pagnall on many occasions. It was amazing to see flat Aluminium sheets been hand formed into various body panels, the engines hand built, then having the builders plaque attached. The other amazing thing at the time was the customer build list on the wall, which seemed to have a large percentage going to a certain Sultan. A different era.
Thanks for that. A different era indeed!
Those interior buttons and vents came over quite familiar to me. So did the second indicator glasses. 😂
Besides that quirky stuff that, for that amount of money, makes a grown man’s toes curl and raise an eyebrow or two it is a stunning car. I like the colour.
Bearing (s) accumulated moisture and corroded through moving the car around or starting and not warming up the engine properly?
If one of these has gone bad there’s a chance that they’re all affected and prone to failure. But what am I telling you……?
Thanks for showing this beauty!
All will be revealed in the next video!
Looks like a Delanair Mk IV HEVAC panel out of a late model Jaguar XJ40 Mr. Tyrrel, great car and great review thank you.
That door… you could say it’s pinkie perfection 😂 Another great episode. BTW, the off-piste comments are excellent, gives everything so much more flavour.
Thanks Jeremy - so glad you enjoyed it.
I still have the Top Gear magazine where they tested this. It just looked muscular and like a beast of a car. As a kid I was smitten.
There is no other car that even remotely looks like this Aston. What a car.
Thank you Tyrrell. I so much enjoy following your channel 🙂
And thanks to you for watching! Always appreciated.
Thank you indeed!
What a beautiful piece of engineering that has aged well in my opinion. Exterior door handles are Mondeo and climate controls are not Ford. Love the front nostrils. Another fabulous watch, thanks Iain!
My alltime favourite... saw one in the flesh once... made quite an impression.
I bet it did. They are quite something, aren't they?
I experienced a similarly horrible sounding rumble on my 550 Maranello but I traced it to a front pulley on the crank driving the alternator and air con belts. The pulley had a bonded rubber centre separating the crank drive to the outer drive teeth ring and it had hardend over 12 years and then separated at some point during the 112,000 otherwise trouble free miles I drove it.Rather than a £20k bill it was a £500 one. Happy days!
Phew! I bet that was a relief.
@@iain_tyrrell Only a bit! LOL!
@@jamesfairmind2247 Only £500? It might have been a Fiat part!
Iain. Yet another great video - thanks. I identified the internal door release handle as being the same as on my XJ-S - I was chuffed with myself - but pleased to know now that it goes all the way back to the Series 1 XJ cars. I’m looking forward to the video of you diagnosing the noise in the engine bay of the Aston - the more that I see you working and how you go about it the more I enjoy it. Please continue with your great explanations and keep the videos coming - they are a firm fixture on my Sunday evenings! Peter
Thank you Peter- much appreciated
What an absolute beast.
Noooo, I wanna watch part 2 now! You're killing me. The 1886-onward Vantage V8 is my favorite car of all times, since I've seen it as a kid in the Bond movie. I got a large soft spot for these later ones, too, especially for these dual supercharger ones. Plus these wonderful knowledgeable videos from this guy, Iain Tyrrell, you know, that guy who's running around like a maniac tuning carburetors with a screwdriver and a garden hose left and right ;)
OMG, my all-time number one, now in my seventies friends of my parents had a couple DB6 mk1 and later mk2, the first time ide been in a car at 100mph, I can remember it as if it were yesterday 57 years ago. Oh well keep doing the Lotto, thanks Ian for making my old hart pump a tad quicker. 😃
Iain, I was having a really nasty sunday. And then your V600 review appeared. Thank you so much for turning my day around 😊
Thank you indeed!
Thank you so much Iain, one of my favorite cars ever! What a beauty and so much more Aston than anything today.
Pleasure- thank you!
The first V12 of AM was initially installed on the DB7 Vantage in 1999, do not forget it !
My dream car back in the day and it probably still is now. Brutal and beautiful in the one package.
Exactly!
Mr. Tyrrell. I agree with the previous comments. My favorite Aston Martin.
Glad you liked it!
Proper man’s car
It really is a serious machine
I remember riding along in a V550 Vantage for charity and I remember distinctively the sheer torque of that engine. Definitely had the jekyll and hyde factor 😊
Love the look of these Aston Martin's so cool
Ian, you forgot one of the most noticeable things out of a Ford parts bin in that vehicle. That airbag/steering wheel is straight out of a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury parts bin. These were found on most Ford built vehicles from a Mustang to a Town Car from 1990-1995
Peak Aston for me as well! I am lucky enough to own a V550 and a 90's Virage. I can vouch for the quality of the build on the V550 versus Virage. Fantastic highway car- cruising at 90mph with the engine turning at 1900rpm....
Well said! Wishing you many happy miles in the Astons.
just wow !! look at this beautiful machine.
Glad you liked it - thanks for watching.
An Aston Martin with more gravitas than today’s models have. Great video as always, can’t wait for part two!
Magnificent, couldn't be made in any other country!! One of my very favourite cars, not many cars have twin superchargers!! And the look, just brutal finesse!!!
The best version of the Vantage thanks Iain
Another schooling master class on fine automobilia has to be the most educational car channel on U Tube nice one Iain.
Love the door test. Even if our car doors were that well set up, my wife would still slam them! 😂
I love how it has an early 90's Ford sedan sterring wheel.
I remember all those rides in my Sprites, Minis, and VDUBS as I tried to ID the "Source" of the problem. Thanks again Iain!!
Tyrell great video as ever, love your classic workshop & stunning exotic cars, thanks for sharing/posting/ & the Aston Martin v8 vantage v600 is on my bucket list for 2024, I now can afford almost any car I desire or would love to own.
Thank you too
The heater box / ductwork requires a rebuild but I’m sure you have noticed and notified the owner. That could be a time consuming job as I suspect the dash will need to come out.
Pinnacle Aston Martin for me. A friend’s father had one and took me out in it, a 550 with the upgrade pack on it. I will never forget that passenger ride, so comfortable too!
Another great video.
Thanks Ian. As always, I love your appreciation of all things hand made. One of my favourite Astons…👍
Thank you too and I'm delighted to know you enjoyed it.
I do recall getting a lot of Jaguar XJ40 bits for a customer's Virage back in my parts-hunting days. That HVAC control unit looks a little later, though. Of course, there's the most obvious offender in that airbag steering wheel. The same as on my Father's 1993 Ford F150 pickup and a host of Fox Body Mustangs from the late 80s and early 90s. Even the DB7 was a parts bin special - they were famous for breaking interior door handles, and my local dealer said he could charge me $250 US for an assembly in an Aston box, or I could call my local Mazda dealer and get a handle and cup for an MX5 for about 30 bucks. But hey, Aston still managed to spit some brilliant cars out regardless!
Another wonderful video showing another beautiful classic car.😊I could quite happily walk around that workshop all week.🤩🤩🤩
Thank you!
Essential Sunday evening viewing now for me. Always something interesting and never more so than this. I actually saw this car in its standard 550bhp Vantage coupe guise at the 1996(?) Motorshow and it's quite something to be in the presence of. More than just a car, it is literally a work of art. It is an 18st bouncer in a Savile Row suit of a car. It is a heavyweight champ of the world, it is/was just about the most intimidating looking car you could imagine 30 (nearly) years ago. It was also the best thing that they could've done with the Virage underpinnings imho.
Look forward to Part II....
Well said!
Damm you sir I was enthralled and then it ended ! Keep the public wanting lol. Fabulous car and as always a great video, thanks Andrew
Part 2 will be along soon….
Fabulous car and worthy of the AM badge. The opening and closing of the door is just sublime level. Fantastic video yet again Iain and looking forward to part 2
Great video, Im a fan of using the parts bin, it makes the AM more interesting in some ways.
What a magnificent automobile! Please Ian continue sharing about it, It won’t soothe my frustration not owning one, yet I am delighted to suffer. 😅
I’ve had the pleasure of being in this vehicle recently with this client, a fantastic vehicle presented in exceptional condition. And the owner is a wonderful person full of stories and adventures. It would be worth looking at the bonnet latch whilst it’s with you, as slightly temperamental. Hopefully just an adjustment required
Nice that this one is still the "basic" V550 spec. (They also did one Le Mans example with no rear seats). I've always fancied one of the standard (Not Le Mans) V550 cars, but so many have been - IMHO - mucked about with by having the V600 upgrade/s fitted years after first being made. Quite a few have also been converted from auto to manual or vice versa. And I believe those hollow five-spoke alloys are prone to cracking.
Haven’t watched this channel 4 a while… forgot how good it is…!!! 👍😊💥
Phwaor... That door action is worth the price of admission on its own. I'd get goosebumps every time I opened and closed the door.
I'd be prepared to buy the whole car, just to have that in my life.
Wow! The way that door operated was more than impressive! Great video and beautiful lines.
spending overview of this beautiful V8 Vantage, thank you, Ian!
Another great video Iain. I always liked these Astons especially when Mr Clarkson used to froth at the mouth testing them, and usually going through an awful lot of tyres. It looks so aggressive, and pretty at the same time. The switch gear is funny, I recall the XJ220 have lots of Sierra switch gear. To those of us who can't afford any aston Martin at all its a great compliment that our robot made white goods almost cars provide reliable parts. As a Focus owner Mat Armstrong's Lamborghini with Focus indicators also springs to mind! I look forward to the second part. Also Iain I always liked the Zagato Aston of the Mid 80s the one with the fancy driver/passenger windows, and challenging looks. Would love you to show us one of those sometime. Great video of a car most of us would never have the chance to see. Thank you and indeed to the owner. Ben 🇬🇧🇺🇦🚐🚌
Thank you too Ben!
I made a car podcast with a best friend. Because of how cool THIS GUY is and this channel. I love it. I could listen for days
That’s lovely- thank you!
@@iain_tyrrell ♥️♥️♥️no no sir. Thank YOU! 😊 I love it all
Thank you Iain !!! All that knowledge , wow. I love your videos they are so laid back and relaxing keep them coming Sir ,
Looking forward to part two of this video and thank you again Iain 😊🥃🥃
Thank you!
looking forward to Part 2!
The parts bin interior reminds me of my tvr Griffith. This has single mirrors from a Citroen and the switch gear from a vauxhall cavalier.
What an absolute bruiser of a car. No- nonsense road presence. She means business!
What a beautiful cool car, even the paintwork is class.
Lots of history, great british car, love the variety of vehicles you show.
Thank you, I really appreciate it. I try to show a little bit of everything, though as I keep saying, it very much depends on what comes into the workshop. Hopefully there's something for everyone.
Wow dual superchargers, thanks for sharing!
Stunning vehicle. Nothing comes anywhere close today..
The steering wheel comes, if my memory serves me well, from a Ford Taurus. Another fantastic video full of delicious nerdiness. Thank you Mr Tyrrell!
Thank you!
The steering wheel is from the same era of Ford's🧐
Thanks for sharing Sir IAIN😍😍😍
Lovely Lovely Lovely😍
Remember when GM owned Lotus, and put Chevy airbag wheels in Espirits?
Great intro. Part two will also be as goo, I'm sure.
One of my all time greats ! Thank you. "Vivement la suite".
I always remember Clarkson calling the V8 Vantage ''a dirty great go-cart'' in the old unleashed on cars VHS 😂
Love the 'superchargers' annotation on the boost gauge, none of your common 'turbo' (single)😂
Precisely!
Wonderful classic car, thanks for making this video.
Delighted to know you enjoyed it - thanks for watching.
Iain, thank you so much for sharing your in depth knowledge on this 'uincorn' Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600 Le Mans. As usual, your presentation was infomative, with a lot of history & detail, & I learned so much about this stunning car. Wish I could see one on the road, but it definitelg wont happen here in Sri Lanka! 👍👍
Heater/a-con switch pack is Jaguar XJ40. And I have some old stock if you need...