PlUS Wildest Aston ever? Cygnet V8 Sensational DBS Superleggera

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1 PlUS Wildest Aston ever? Cygnet V8 Sensational DBS Superleggera ISSUE 23 AUTUMN 2018 UK 6

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5 Contents autumn regulars bulletin: new bond db5s Controversy as Aston announces a run of 25 Continuation cars 19 motorsport AMR s new Vantage gets a welcome fillip and all the classic action, too 25 market watch Peter Sellers fabulous DB4 GT comes to auction. Willrecords be broken? 27 desirables A compelling portrait of Stirling Moss in a DBR1. And other goodies 31 letters How David Brown played a part in the storyof another Great British sports car 138 subscription offer Save some money and have Vantage delivered direct to your door 140 the specialist: rex j woodgate We go behind the scenes of one of the best-known names in the Aston world 149 model listings Potted histories and essentialdata on every roadgoing Aston Martin 162 heroes Straight from the pages of a Boys Own book, the irreplaceable Victor Gauntlett Features 32 first drive: cygnet v8 What happens when you slot a 430bhp engine into a city car? Let s find out! 42 db1 first of the db astons It s 70 years since Aston launched the 2-litre Sports (aka DB1). We drive one 52 dbs superleggera twin test Aston s sensational new production flagship meets its DBS predecessor 72 johnny english vantage We meet the star of the new JE movie and chat to its co-star, Rowan Atkinson 88 virage to le mans 30 years on from the Virage launch, we take a 6.3 for a blast down to Le Mans 98 racing at le mans: a family affair Stephen Archer and son Felix share a Vantage GT4 in the 24Hrs support race 109 le mans classic in a db4 gt Archer s back at Le Mans for the Classic, this time sharing a rather lovely DB4 GT 112 inside an amoc concours We plunge into the ever-so-slightly OCD world of anaston concours 122 classic drive: db4 with a twist Imagine the elegance of a regular DB4 with the power of a DB4 GT engine 140 cygnet buying guide The Cygnet V8 has thrust Aston s city car back into the spotlight. Here s our guide VANTAGE autumn

6 An Aston Martin without QuickSilver...

7 Viewpoint The essence of Aston Martin WE VE BECOME USED to Aston Martin s prolific output over the last few years, and yet, despite the increased frequency of new model introductions, the arrival of the new DBS Superleggera is momentous for the simple reason that it s the first true flagship of the Palmer era. Aston is unusual in the way it chops and changes the name of its halo model. In the 1970s and 80s it was the V8 Vantage, in the 90s the V550 and V600. Since the turn of the millennium, the moniker has toggled between Vanquish and DBS. Truth is, it doesn t really matter what the cars are called, so long as they all possess an abundance of performance and exude the same unmistakable charisma. Perhaps it s this aristocratic bearing and sheer force of personality that makes them catnip for movie-makers. Aston s connection to the Bond franchise is legend, with the cars including V8 Vantage, Vanquish and DBS assuming top billing alongside 007 himself. Now, thanks to actor and noted Aston enthusiast Rowan Atkinson, we can look forward to a rather more tongue-in-cheek role for his own V8 Vantage in the upcoming Johnny English Strikes Again. Peter Tomalin drives the car (or, rather, cars) and speaks to Atkinson in our cover story starting on page 72. It may only be secret agents Astons that come equipped with rocket launchers (more s the pity), but I don t believe it overstates the significance of this dynasty of big-hearted GTs to say that they remain the custodians of Aston Martin s identity and with it the marque s core appeal. The company might be following a Ferrari-esque model strategy, with a family of mid-engined cars in the pipeline, but the big, frontengined flagship will (hopefully) remain the archetypal Aston for many years to come. When they re as good as the new DBS Superleggera, that lineage is in safe hands. AN INDEPENDENT ASTON MARTIN MAGAZINE Vantage Magazine Dennis Publishing, Bedford Technology Park, Thurleigh, Bedford, MK44 2YA Tel +44 (0) eds@vantagemag.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES subscriptions@vantagemag. co.uk or tel +44 (0) or online managemymags.co.uk EDITORIAL Editor Richard Meaden Managing editor Peter Tomalin Art director Mark Sommer Editorial director James Elliott Contributing writers Stephen Archer, John Barker, Chris Bietzk, Andrew English, Andrew Frankel, John Simister Contributing photographers Tim Andrew, James Arbuckle, Nick Dungan, Matthew Howell, Dean Smith, Aston Parrott Designer Ruth Haddock Subbing assistance Ian Eveleigh Publishing office manager Jane Townsend-Emms ADVERTISING Advertising director Sanjay Seetanah sanjay_seetanah@dennis.co.uk Tel +44 (0) Account manager Marcus Ross marcus_ross@dennis.co.uk Tel +44 (0) Production executive Lewis Small Tel +44 (0) PUBLISHING Automotive division MD James Burnay Chief fi nancial offi cer Brett Reynolds CEO James Tye Company founder Felix Dennis Richard Meaden Editor The next issue of Vantage will be on sale on December 13, To subscribe, go to dennismags.co.uk/vantage Vantage is published by Dennis Publishing Ltd, UK. The publisher makes every effort to ensure the magazine s contents are correct. All material published in Vantage is copyright and unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. The editors and publishers of this magazine give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised in this edition. VANTAGE AUTUMN

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10 Bulletin News, analysis and events LICENCE TO THRILL ASTON ANNOUNCES BOND DB5 CONTINUATION CARS words richard MEadEN ImagEs EON/GUS GrEGOry