For decades, Aston Martin’s history was characterized by financial uncertainty. Although the David Brown years are regarded as a golden age for the company, it was famously unprofitable and this trend only continued after David Brown sold the company in 1972. During the next 15 years, the company changed hands about half a dozen times, declared bankruptcy, went into receivership, and developed a wildly expensive, innovative, and problematic new model that was delayed by three years (the Lagonda).
Ford purchased a 75% stake in the company in 1987 and acquired the remaining 25% in 1994, starting a period of stability (if not necessarily profitability) that culminated with some of the best products Aston Martin has ever made. Under the stewardship of Ford, Aston Martin spent the 90s getting the last value left from the 30 plus year old V8 platform, developed a newish car through the clever use of bits from Ford’s other English patient, Jaguar (the DB7), and developed a more or less all-new car, powered by a new V12 engine (the Vanquish).
These latter two cars were successful in the marketplace, demonstrating a genuine modernization of Aston Martin, and with these successes, Aston Martin was ready to take things to the next level with the VH cars. The VH cars shared a state of the art bonded aluminum modular platform which could be stretched to create multiple models using the same basic architecture. It was thoroughly modern and would underpin every Aston Martin for the next decade and a half.
The first VH car was the DB9, a grand tourer powered by a V12 engine, while the second such car, the V8 Vantage, was a smaller, more sporting model that appeared a year later in 2005. The V8 Vantage was the enthusiast’s pick. The manual transmission take rate was much higher and its 4.3 liter V8 incorporated dry sump lubrication and was paired with a rear-mounted transaxle, signaling that Aston Martin was serious about creating a genuinely sporting car. It was praised for its spectacular good looks, sophisticated chassis, and driving dynamics, with many critics noting that it could easily handle more power.
This criticism was answered with the 2009 model year in which the engine was expanded to 4.7 liters, bringing power from 380hp to 420hp and increasing torque by 13%. A lightened flywheel was fitted to manual cars, the suspension stiffened and an optional Sports Package was added as well.
This particular example is a well-optioned two-owner 2011 model year V8 Vantage with manual transmission. The full option list includes sport seats, black brake calipers, clear tail lights, front parking sensors, front stone guards, N400 sill covers, Sports Pack, umbrella, Bluetooth, cruise control, memory seats and mirrors, satellite navigation, satellite radio, 700W premium audio, garage door opener with auto dimming mirror, piano black interior trim, heated seats, perforated seat inserts, warm charcoal seatbelts.
The car was sold new by Los Gatos Luxury Cars in Los Gatos, California on January 5th, 2011, with an original out the door price of $146,994.59. The current and second owner of the car bought it in 2019 with 10,800 miles and has serviced it regularly. A complete file of service records from new is included with the car, which is in excellent condition throughout.
