Discussion
Running numberplates too 
IMO they aren't ugly. Sure they aren't beautiful either. But they are classic 80's shaped cars. The only 80's designed Cars Aston ever made.
check this one: www.astonmartins.com/v8/v8_zagato_vantage_volante.htm
The black one with a R.S.Williams 7.0 litre conversion is a stunning car!!!!!!
check this one: www.astonmartins.com/v8/v8_zagato_vantage_volante.htm
The black one with a R.S.Williams 7.0 litre conversion is a stunning car!!!!!!
Sure they are interesting cars, but from a really poor era in car design. Designers had seriously lost their way and their confidence for all sorts of good reasons. As car design they suck cold custard through a teapot spout I'm afraid. But they are worthy of their place in a museum.
Alex Gurr said:
I thought the volante's had a flat bonnet because they ran fuel injection rather than the coupe's carbs?
Not according to these photos www.astonmartins.com/v8/v8_zagato_vantage_volante.htm
The bonnet bulge was to clear the carbs used on the Vantage engine. The flat bonnet is for the fuel injected cars, with considerably less power.
There were only 4 or 5 Zag Vantage Volantes made -- I've driven two of them -- the black one which was converted to 7 litre, and the green one which was in the Hunter Green collection.
There were only 4 or 5 Zag Vantage Volantes made -- I've driven two of them -- the black one which was converted to 7 litre, and the green one which was in the Hunter Green collection.
jhoneyball said:
The bonnet bulge was to clear the carbs used on the Vantage engine. The flat bonnet is for the fuel injected cars, with considerably less power.
There were only 4 or 5 Zag Vantage Volantes made -- I've driven two of them -- the black one which was converted to 7 litre, and the green one which was in the Hunter Green collection.
There were only 4 or 5 Zag Vantage Volantes made -- I've driven two of them -- the black one which was converted to 7 litre, and the green one which was in the Hunter Green collection.
Aahhhh. I thought all Volantes were injection and all coupes carb, the idea being that the Volante was more of a cruiser. Like all Aston models I suppose their will be variation depending on individual customer requirements.
I love the Vantage Zagato, which is starting to look like very good value against the later (and more common) V8 Vantage X-Packs, which seem to be rocketing in price. Even so, the original is just knee weakening
Edited by Alex Gurr on Wednesday 7th February 09:22
I know, the picture is too small to do the car justice.
I was tring to find a picture of the black Zagato (I am not sure which number) that is in a private Swiss collection. It was in Octane magazine a year or so back and is the most beautiful Zagato I have seen, each being so subtely different.
I was tring to find a picture of the black Zagato (I am not sure which number) that is in a private Swiss collection. It was in Octane magazine a year or so back and is the most beautiful Zagato I have seen, each being so subtely different.
v8vantage said:
Cars were not owned by Sultan of Brunei and may have had low mileage but were in a very poor state when bought. The engine blocks had fuzz growing on them and the cars had sat for years outside under an awning in humid conditions.
They couldnt have been in that bad a condition as I believe you were intersted in buying them at the time?
Both cars have had fairly extensive restoration AFAIK and for certain all rubber/perishable items have been replaced.
The cars were both owned by the Sultan. One was bought directly off the Geneva Motorshow stand under an alias and the other was bought in his brother's name
The video and pictures I have show just how bad they were. It was sad to see them in that state but makes me happy to know they have been restored to their former glory. Cars were in the possession of Prince Suffri, the Sultan's younger brother when I looked at buying them, they were not part of the main collection. The agent who bought the cars did so on behalf of the Prince. I still have the numbered handbook for the Vantage coupe I got from him. The cars may look unusual but they are by far the best handling and driving of the V8 Astons ever handbuilt.
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