Comparing investment values of automobiles can be a tricky, delicate process with many factors to consider, particularly with reference to prices realized at auctions. If you discount Ferrari (who account for 6 of the top 10 most expensive cars ever sold at auction), Aston Martin ranks at the very top when it comes to investment value for rare examples. But just how good an investment is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
Brief History of the V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was first unveiled to the public in 1977 and was dubbed Britain’s first supercar with a top speed of 170mph. Aston Martin used the “Vantage” name on high-performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s.
The major design shift came in 2005, when Aston Martin started rolling the new breed of their Aston Martin Vantage V8’s out of production. A new star was born.
Designed by iconic automotive figure Henrik Fisker, the V8 Vantage was intended to rival the Porsche 911 Carrera S. It is arguably the leanest, and the most agile car in the Aston’s line up; this intuitive design process has led to the car being relatively unchanged for 12 years until manufacture came to an end in 2017.
From this era, a number of variations of the V8 Vantage arose, most notably the Vantage GT12, the Vantage S and the Vantage N430; all more enhanced, racing friendly versions of previous models.
Performance Statistics
The Vantage was first unveiled in 2003 as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show. The features and performance expectations remained the same through to its release in 2005.
The Vantage’s V8 produced 380 horsepower at 7,300 RPM and 302 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 RPM powered by a 3.4-liter V8 engine derived from Jaguar’s AJ line. This the car reached zero to 60 mph in a mere 4.7 seconds and claimed a top speed of 175 mph.
The 2019 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The successor to the much loved V8 Vantage, a task that Aston Martin had to get just right.
The 2019 V8 Vantage was first revealed in November 2017 and features a price tag of just over $154,000 (~$50,000 more than the 2005 Vantage was offered at).
Interestingly, this time Aston Martin decided to opt for a Mercedes designed engine, differing from the last model’s Jaguar inspired one. It features a Mercedes-AMG M117 4 liter twin-turbo V8 that develops 503bhp, as well as Mercedes’s highly innovative COMMAND system.
Aston Martin claims the new Vantage is capable of accelerating from 0–62 mph in 3.6 seconds and has a recorded top speed of 195mph. The Vantage also utilizes a rear-mounted 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
It mirrors the 2005 version’s design, only more futuristic, aggressive in look. Expectedly this is a more powerful, prevailing version of a modern classic and has already sold phenomenally well since opening orders last year.
Standout Features that Make the V8 Vantage a Sound Investment
Although the V8 Vantage is a supercar in its own right, it is still a car that can be purchased as a primary vehicle and driven daily.
Aside from that, the car’s sleek design holds it in high regard in the luxury car community. The angles of the car have a beautifully soft element to them that go easy on the eye following a golden ratio design. This is a most different approach to the newer Aston models such as the DB11, which features more aggressive bodywork.
The well-received design of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage could hold the car in high regard in years to come.
The available price is a huge incentive for purchasing for investment. Motor Enthusiast and Journalist, Freddy Hernandez describes it as the ‘best used exotic car on earth’, after purchasing a 2007 version for just $40,000.
Features Holding the V8 Vantage Back
As beautiful and powerful as the V8 Vantage is, it has its imperfections. The most widely acknowledged one being the accelerator lag. This came about due to Aston Martin hindering the potency of the pedals as a result of switching from mechanical to electronic throttles in the late 1990s.
This feature somewhat downplays the driving performance from an otherwise outstanding vehicle.
Unlikely to Make You a Millionaire
As a rule of thumb with the classic car market, whilst a car is still in its manufacturing period it is unlikely the value will increase anywhere over the initial retail price unless production is extremely limited.
Now production has ceased, it is likely that in years to come the prices will rise for pristine condition V8 Vantage’s. So expect to see an increase in investment value in years to come.
However, with a retail price of just $102,000, production was at a relatively mass level. Combine this with little racing provenance and it is unlikely that the V8 Vantage will ever be a super rare car that will go on to fetch millions.
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