Aston Martin Vantage Le Mans V600

Until the 1980s Aston Martin was only known for sports cars and the luxurious sports saloon Lagonda. But since 1986 the British carmaker developed a new model, which in 1990 finally arrived at the market. And the new Virage changed the known picture quite a bit. Although the car still had plenty of power, its dimensions and weight made it a good cruiser instead of a racetrack weapon. No wonder, as it used a slightly shortened platform of the Lagonda saloon as its base. Despite a modified suspension was mounted, the British sports car did not meet the requirements of potential clients. 345 of the 365 built vehicles were produced until 1992, after that the cars only dripped sporadically from the production line.

Understandably, the factory always tried to sell more cars, but various special editions failed to attract more customers. If Aston Martin would not have beena subsidiary of Ford and so not receiving the Jaguar-developed DB7 in those days, maybe the chapter of this traditional brand would have been closed. However, this way there was enough money for developments like the Virage Vantage, which was based on the normal Virage, but received optical modifications from John Heffernan, one of the creators of the Virage. At the rear it got four round taillamps in place of the parts of the VW Scirocco II. Clear glass headlamps replaced at the front the Audi 100 (C3) lights. Under its hood lay a 5.3-liter V8 engine with two superchargers and 550 hp. Thanks to that it was the first Aston Martin to reach a topspeed of more than 300 kph (186 mph).

In March 1999, Aston Martin announced the final special edition of the Virage Vantage, surnamed Le Mans. Only 40 copies should decide this this modelline worthily and at the same time celebrate the Le Mans victory of 1959 with the DBR1. Unique five-spoke magnesium wheels and drop-shaped side air outlets with styling inspiration from the DBR1 were the hallmark, while inside it got perforated pedals, a larger speedometer, a starter button, brushed metal trim and a metal gear knob added a touch of sportiness to the luxury Coupé. In addition, the 40 final Vantage customers were offered the optional V600 package, with which the engine power climbed to 600 hp. It was available either ex works or as a retrofit kit.

The American classic car dealer Symbolic International currently offers number 38 of 40 built Vantage Le Mans. As one of only one hand full it received the above mentioned V600 kit from the factory and looks back to a prominent first owner. His Highness Abdul Azziz Bin Al Thani, son of the ruler of Qatar, ordered this vehicle and also directly ordered a sports exhaust system, manual transmission, ABS, a 12-disc CD radio, retractible mirrors, a navigation system, a speedometer up to 360 kph and fog lights. At the outside he opted for a typical Vantage-color, ‘Aston Martin Racing Green’. He adapted the interior in color to this.

However, the adjustments made by His Highness are unlikely to affect everyone’s taste. He chose the finest cowhides in the colorings ‘Magnolia’ and ‘Forest Green’ – all inclusive, including the headliner. Only the airbag cover of the steering wheel is black due to the manufacturing possibilities back in those days. Engraved on the gearknob and stitched between the rear seats is the Al Thani Royal Crest. Initially the car ran on diplomatic plates at the Embassy of Qatar in Paris. In 2008 the car went to a car collection in Japan and changed hands within Japan again in 2011. The current mileage is just about 18,500 kilometers. Symbolic International asks 565,000 US$ for this one-off car.

Images: Symbolic International