RE: Ex-Brunei Aston Martin Vantage V550 for sale
Discussion
Raohassankhan said:
I have owned a metallic green one of these for 10 years. Cream leather and manual box.
The round holes on the dash are individual warning lights.
Yes there are Ford parts in the interior and the key is likely from a Ford Mondeo, but when you start the engine and concentrate on actually driving a twin supercharger V8 with 550 bhp and no traction control, you don’t care about half a dozen Ford interior switches.
Fair point, well made The round holes on the dash are individual warning lights.
Yes there are Ford parts in the interior and the key is likely from a Ford Mondeo, but when you start the engine and concentrate on actually driving a twin supercharger V8 with 550 bhp and no traction control, you don’t care about half a dozen Ford interior switches.
To be honest, I've never liked these and much preferred the V8 Vantage that came before it. These have that home made garage look and feel about them, all too plasticky with cheap switchgear. You just knew Aston were in trouble just by looking at it.
Great power though, those figures are even impressive by today's standards.
Great power though, those figures are even impressive by today's standards.
biggbn said:
Raohassankhan said:
I have owned a metallic green one of these for 10 years. Cream leather and manual box.
The round holes on the dash are individual warning lights.
Yes there are Ford parts in the interior and the key is likely from a Ford Mondeo, but when you start the engine and concentrate on actually driving a twin supercharger V8 with 550 bhp and no traction control, you don’t care about half a dozen Ford interior switches.
Fair point, well made The round holes on the dash are individual warning lights.
Yes there are Ford parts in the interior and the key is likely from a Ford Mondeo, but when you start the engine and concentrate on actually driving a twin supercharger V8 with 550 bhp and no traction control, you don’t care about half a dozen Ford interior switches.
Davey S2 said:
No exaggeration to say that the Brunei royal family saved Aston Martin in the 1990s. Without them it would have folded.
As for the car lovely on the outside but I couldn't live with such a crap interior in such an expensive car.
Steering wheel from a Lincoln and other bits from the Ford parts bin. Just look at those air vents. Dreadful
hm, those airvents look like those from BMW e30, e36 and z3 and sorts.As for the car lovely on the outside but I couldn't live with such a crap interior in such an expensive car.
Steering wheel from a Lincoln and other bits from the Ford parts bin. Just look at those air vents. Dreadful
3 for sale here, all LHD and 1 autom, rest manual, lovely cars, I guess heavy?
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?fr=...
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?fr=...
Bit of a digression, but when the end of production of the V12 Series 3 Jaguar was announced (in 1991) I heard "on the grapevine" that the Sultan of Brunei had ordered 100 of them
He already had 10 or more of them as he seemed to order a new one every time there was a new colour released as it was one of his favourite cars to drive/be driven in
I knew someone in the Sales team so I phoned (as you did in the early 1990's (!) and asked if it was true and why
The answer was that it was true and that they were being ordered to give them as gifts to visitors to the Sultan
I can only assume this is true and it's a great story even if it isn't
He already had 10 or more of them as he seemed to order a new one every time there was a new colour released as it was one of his favourite cars to drive/be driven in
I knew someone in the Sales team so I phoned (as you did in the early 1990's (!) and asked if it was true and why
The answer was that it was true and that they were being ordered to give them as gifts to visitors to the Sultan
I can only assume this is true and it's a great story even if it isn't
Wonderful. I'd rather a manual, but love it otherwise. Love it in that colour. I also remember the Clarkson VHS, which cemented the car in my mind. It's not perfect, but who cares? I don't want a car to be perfect. Quirks are what make cars memorable.
gary71 said:
Lovely 
Take the point about the inside not being up to it, but Aston were making about 50 cars a year at the time so it was all a bit basic/borrowed.
Don’t remember Jackie Stewart being involved, although I might have missed that. John Miles (ex Lotus F1) did some consulting for AML at the time and visited engineering in his FWD Elan on occasion.
I worked with John a very small amount some years ago. A very interesting chap, and definitely knew what he liked! Take the point about the inside not being up to it, but Aston were making about 50 cars a year at the time so it was all a bit basic/borrowed. Don’t remember Jackie Stewart being involved, although I might have missed that. John Miles (ex Lotus F1) did some consulting for AML at the time and visited engineering in his FWD Elan on occasion.
a friend of mine owns this one
Aston Martin Virage 7.0 Litre Turbo by Lynx - 1994
Built in 1994 as number 3 of 9 LE coupes, this car found itself in the hands of an enthusiastic Aston Martin customer. Dissatisfied with the cars performance, Mr Hans Rausing engaged the services of several specialist engineering companies, managed by the renowned Lynx Engineering. The brief was to maintain the outward appearance of a standard Virage - no hood scoops or vents - and to review and re-engineer every mechanical component, chassis, transmission, suspension, steering and braking, to enhance this car's dynamic qualities. The result was 720 bhp and 1.146 lb/ft torque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHTdRmj5-rM
Aston Martin Virage 7.0 Litre Turbo by Lynx - 1994
Built in 1994 as number 3 of 9 LE coupes, this car found itself in the hands of an enthusiastic Aston Martin customer. Dissatisfied with the cars performance, Mr Hans Rausing engaged the services of several specialist engineering companies, managed by the renowned Lynx Engineering. The brief was to maintain the outward appearance of a standard Virage - no hood scoops or vents - and to review and re-engineer every mechanical component, chassis, transmission, suspension, steering and braking, to enhance this car's dynamic qualities. The result was 720 bhp and 1.146 lb/ft torque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHTdRmj5-rM
Rumdoodle said:
But, crucially, did Mr Rausing's budget stretch to having the switchgear upgraded?
he wanted to keep the car as standard looking as possible ive seen the documents over £200k on top of the price of the car back in 93 .......... I dont think he drove the car when it was completed , I know the present owner traded a DB7 for the car , incredible performance
Just a general question about the Sultan of Brunei’s collection. Specific examples appear for sale in the UK fairly regularly, even going back to the 1990s (grey/brown RHD F40 for example). What is the procedure? Does he have an agent, who handles everything?
There was an interesting article in Classic Cars magazine a few months ago about one of the Aston Martin Works mechanics who helped to look after his fleet. The mechanic would be flown out to Brunei every few months to do his bit. I think they were put up in one of the Sultan’s properties. There would usually be equivalent colleagues from the other premium manufacturers staying, so it could be quite fun. I think a lot of the cars suffered from the humid conditions though, so probably not the ones to buy, no matter how low the mileage.
There was an interesting article in Classic Cars magazine a few months ago about one of the Aston Martin Works mechanics who helped to look after his fleet. The mechanic would be flown out to Brunei every few months to do his bit. I think they were put up in one of the Sultan’s properties. There would usually be equivalent colleagues from the other premium manufacturers staying, so it could be quite fun. I think a lot of the cars suffered from the humid conditions though, so probably not the ones to buy, no matter how low the mileage.
DBSV8 said:
Rumdoodle said:
But, crucially, did Mr Rausing's budget stretch to having the switchgear upgraded?
he wanted to keep the car as standard looking as possible ive seen the documents over £200k on top of the price of the car back in 93 .......... I dont think he drove the car when it was completed , I know the present owner traded a DB7 for the car , incredible performance
LotusOmega375D said:
Just a general question about the Sultan of Brunei’s collection. Specific examples appear for sale in the UK fairly regularly, even going back to the 1990s (grey/brown RHD F40 for example). What is the procedure? Does he have an agent, who handles everything?
There was an interesting article in Classic Cars magazine a few months ago about one of the Aston Martin Works mechanics who helped to look after his fleet. The mechanic would be flown out to Brunei every few months to do his bit. I think they were put up in one of the Sultan’s properties. There would usually be equivalent colleagues from the other premium manufacturers staying, so it could be quite fun. I think a lot of the cars suffered from the humid conditions though, so probably not the ones to buy, no matter how low the mileage.
This may partly answer the question https://ferraris-online.com/a-princely-collection-...There was an interesting article in Classic Cars magazine a few months ago about one of the Aston Martin Works mechanics who helped to look after his fleet. The mechanic would be flown out to Brunei every few months to do his bit. I think they were put up in one of the Sultan’s properties. There would usually be equivalent colleagues from the other premium manufacturers staying, so it could be quite fun. I think a lot of the cars suffered from the humid conditions though, so probably not the ones to buy, no matter how low the mileage.
A garage I use has sold a few ex-Brunei cars over the past couple of years. I didn't enquire about how they came by them, but I assumed they had left Brunei a while ago and passed through a few owners since.
ate one too said:
DBSV8 said:
Rumdoodle said:
But, crucially, did Mr Rausing's budget stretch to having the switchgear upgraded?
he wanted to keep the car as standard looking as possible ive seen the documents over £200k on top of the price of the car back in 93 .......... I dont think he drove the car when it was completed , I know the present owner traded a DB7 for the car , incredible performance
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff