Aston Martin V8 - World Of Classic Cars -

Aston Martin V8 Vantage 1981

The Aston Martin V8 engine had began development in the mid sixties when it was first used in a Lola Sports racing car, with a view to replacing the six cylinder unit which had been in production since the DB4 in 1958. Aston Martin converted a DB5 with an early V8 engine which was used for many thousands of development miles by the factory to create a usable and powerful 8 cylinder engine to be used in the new the DBS model due for production in 1968. Unfortunately the engine wasn't ready in time for the launch of the DBS and went on sale fitted with the six cylinder engine used in the DB4/5/6. In 1971, the DBSV8 was launched, fitted with the long awaited Tadek Marek designed V8, an engine which powered all Aston Martin models until the launch of the DB7 in the early nineties. In Vantage form, the 5340cc quad cam V8 produced 390bhp@ 5800rpm using four twin choke Weber carburetors and was also built with fuel injection from the mid eighties for standard V8 engines.  In October of 1978 all V8's were face lifted to 'Oscar India' specification (meaning October Introduction) which saw refinements to the body, the rear spoiler of the Vantage was now integrated into the rear wings, rather than bolted on as before, and the bonnet vent and grille were blanked off. The large front airdam spoiler differentiated the Vantage to standard models. Mechanically the Oscar India V8 Vantage remained the same as the earlier series 1 cars but the interior was improved with a leather covered dashboard and optional Wood veneers for the dash and door capping which were standard on the V8 saloon.