Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600    (1998 - 2000)

V600 © Tim Cottingham 2000

v8 vantage v600

v8 vantage v600

This car is full of extremes; genuine top speed of 200 mph, a weight of almost 2000 kg, power output peaking at 600 bhp @ 6500 rpm and a price tag of a whopping £233,682 with all the mods. But all of this is eclipsed by it full name of Works Prepared Aston Martin Driving Dynamics V600 Vantage or something like that. Strictly speaking, this isn't a discreet model as such but is a collection of modifications developed and fitted by Works Service for the Vantage model post registration.

As well as an uprated engine, other modifications available for the car are numerous and include ultra lightweight hollow spoke magnesium Dymag wheels, giant brake discs with circumferential cooling grooves plus AP racing callipers, stack digital instruments and reworked suspension with Eibach springs, adjustable Koni's and a stiffer anti-roll bar. Many cars also have a five speed close ratio manual transmission although it is possible to see V600's with automatic transmission.

The blue car below, S600BHP / AML1, is the development and press car, photographed at the Factory and during the AMOC Le Mans tour 1999.

aml 1 v600 © Tim Cottingham 1999 silver V600 © Tim Cottingham 1999 v600 grill © Tim Cottingham 1999 works vantage V600 © Tim Cottingham 1999
Central to the V600 is this, the most powerful Aston Martin road car engine of all time.  Essentially, this final version of the Tadek Marek V8 features performance engineering of the charge air intake cooling system, increased boost pressure and a big bore sports exhaust, described by AML as 'Super Sport'. The engine bottom left was auctioned at the AML/Bonhams auction in 2003 and reached £16,000 plus buyers premium. This represented not only a fraction of the cost of the engine but a fraction of the conversion cost too.

v8 vantage v600 engine

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  Page Updated Sunday February 17, 2008