1994 Aston Martin Vantage V600

*** This vehicle was subject to a CAT C insurance loss in 01/2007 ***

Vendor supplied images

Highlights

Superb example of the rare and brutally quick Vantage - an opportunity to acquire one of Aston’s rarest and most capable classic models
Reportedly one of only 90 Vantages ever fitted with the AMW V600 package at a cost of £46,000
Vast history file showing fastidious maintenance by Aston Martin Works and well-regarded specialists
Equipped with the desirable 6spd manual gearbox

The Appeal

Newly under Ford custodianship, Aston Martin received a much-needed injection of cash during the early 1990s. While they'd need to spend some of this on new mass-production models its parent company had planned, there were sufficient resources for a final fling with a devastatingly quick, low-volume supercar - the Vantage V600. Just 280 Virage-based Vantages left the factory over seven years and even fewer were upgraded by Aston Martin Works to the more powerful 'V600' specification.

This is one of those cars, a storied Vantage that has been maintained without concern for the expense by its four registered keepers. In superb, near-showroom-fresh condition, opportunities like this to buy one of the finest classic Astons of recent years do not come along very often.

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The History and Paperwork

First registered 5th July 1994
MOT valid until January 2025
Has covered less than 400 miles since the last MOT
Full factory handbooks and service books included
Original V600 Driving Dynamics Package press release from October 1998 in file

Complete service history showing 16 stamps:

11 AMW service stamps to 72,695 miles in 2006
Appears to have been stored between 2006 and 2012
1 stamp by independent service agent
5 stamps from 2013 to 2019 by Rikki Cann
Last serviced at 78,781 miles on 10th January 2024

Huge and highly detailed history file documenting every expenditure:

Significant ongoing work by AMW
It would appear that no fault or issue was overlooked and was immediately rectified by AMW
Superchargers rebuilt with new bearing packs in February 2021
Correspondence from original owner Francis Barron to AMW included in file

Upgraded to V600 specification in September 2002 at 38,042 miles:

Total of work was £46,334
All work undertaken by AMW
Engine rebuild at 53,000 miles at cost of £24,000

Car suffered light accident damage in 2007:

Please see photographs showing this was not significant damage
The vendor states that car was declared an insurance write-off as owner at the time had it under-insured
Vehicle was fully repaired and legally returned to the road

The Aston Martin Virage updated the crisp original William Towns DBS styling with something altogether more brutal looking. For owners who required more power there was, from 1993, a Vantage option which significantly altered the bodywork and adopted the nameplate used by Aston Martin for its faster models.

This Vantage is one of the 280 produced over seven years and its chassis number suggests it may be one of the first. The standard car had two Eton superchargers bolted to its Tadek Marek 5.3litre V8 to deliver close to 550bhp.

In 1998 Aston Martin announced the V600 upgrade for the Virage Vantage, which hiked power to 591bhp while suspension and steering enhancements were designed to improve handling and driver engagement. The V600 package was available to existing owners of the Virage Vantage as a factory-supplied upgrade.

In 2002 this car’s then owner commissioned AMW to upgrade the car to V600 specification. This was undertaken in September of that year at a cost of £46,334 at 38,042 miles.

The history file for this car is thick and contains ongoing expenditure covering maintenance and improvements, particularly in the period up to 2007, comfortably exceeding six figures. In 2005 the engine was rebuilt at a cost of £24,000 at 53,557 miles. There is a fastidiously documented service history, most recently at 76,685 miles in 2021 when the superchargers were also reconditioned.

The car suffered minor accident damage, as can be seen in the photographs, affecting the offside front of the car. At the time the car was apparently under-insured and this caused the insurer to write it off. Consequently the car is marked as such by the DVLA. Naturally the car was fully repaired to a high standard and returned to the road as the current condition attests. However the photographs are available upon request to show how relatively minor this damage was. VIC PASS: This vehicle has had an identity/Condition check carried out by VOSA. The V5 will state "substantially repaired and/or accident damaged: identity checked on 31/05/2011".

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The Condition

Smooth Vantage styling is at once svelte yet clearly purposeful
Excellent British Racing Green metallic paintwork highly appropriate for this car and in great condition
Factory 6-spoke alloy wheels similarly immaculate and equipped with Pirelli rubber, newly fitted 2,000 miles ago in 2021
Discreet V600 and Vantage badging and ‘Works Prepared’ grille badge
Immaculate interior is a symphony of hand-tooled leather, Alcantara and wood veneers
Beautifully finished in cream and contrasting dark green
The fixtures and fittings are in superb condition, barely appearing to be used
Stylish leather and quilted Alcantara seats in excellent condition with no visible signs of use
Useful 2+2 with small rear seats
Cream Alcantara headlining with patterned roof section
Wood veneers in very good condition with no visible marks or deterioration
High specification includes multi-directional electric heated seats
Quality Becker factory fitted stereo system
Green leather topped dashboard with contrasting cream lower sections
Wonderful hand-crafted details abound like the green stitching on the centre console
Contrasting green carpets piped cream in excellent condition throughout, including the boot area
Original factory tool kit and roll

The Vantage ushered in a new era of Aston Martins, ones that dialled up the performance and offered the looks to match. The shape is clearly evolved from the crisp William Towns DBS style but it is altogether more purposeful and brutal as befits a 550bhp monster.

This car was tastefully specified by its first owner in British Racing Green metallic. It was extensively restored following the accident damage in 2007 and this work has obviously been done to a high standard. The paintwork is excellent, with no visible marks or damage, and the panel gaps are consistent and straight.

The history file shows various work by AMW to address corrosion issues and the structure appears to be in excellent condition. The MOT runs to November 2023 with no structural advisories

Words like ‘sumptuous’, ‘bespoke’ and ‘hand crafted’ can be used to describe the interior of this 1994 Aston Martin but none quite begin to describe what the photographs show. It is a remarkable place to drive or be piloted in and one that perhaps explains why this car’s first owner was willing to lavish so much money on this incredible car.

He specified the car tastefully in a combination of green and cream to complement the exterior paintwork. The plethora of wood veneers, Alcantara and leather is in superb condition, appearing to be showroom-fresh and with barely any signs of use. The hand-crafted detailing abounds, from the green stitching on the centre console to the hand-finished veneers and the carefully quilted seat inserts and headlining.

It is, naturally, a high-specification interior with electric and heated seats, a premium Becker sound system and Alcantara and leather on every touch point.

The V600 is a car that oozes attainment and the wonderful interior of this car fittingly reflects that.

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The Mechanics

5.3litre Tadek Marek designed Aston Martin V8 engine
Twin superchargers providing 591bhp in V600 specification
V600 cars built to achieve 200mph
6spd manual gearbox
Converted to V600 Driving Dynamics Package in 2002 as detailed above
Comprehensive service history with 16 books stamps and 1 further service in February 2021
Superchargers rebuilt and refurbished with new bearing packs in February 2021
Engine rebuilt at 53,557 miles at cost of £24,000 in 2005
All servicing work except two services undertaken by AMW and Rikki Cann
Very limited use since 2012 - less than 4,000 miles - but still serviced six times

V600 specification includes:

Modified superchargers
Strengthened torque tube
Revised throttle body operation
New engine cover
Circumferential cooling grooved brakes
6 pot callipers at the front and 4 pot at the back
Uprated road springs, shock absorbers and anti roll bar
Revised suspension bump stops and suspension geometry
V600 grille and badges
Super sports exhaust system

Aston Martin’s original 5.3litre V8 engine of 1970 developed a respectable 320bhp. Bolting a pair of superchargers to it and upgrading to V600 specification nearly doubled that, creating a brutally quick GT car capable of 0-60mph in 4.5secs and with power to crack 200mph according to Aston Martin.

This car is one of the handful of Virage Vantages updated to the V600 ‘Driving Dynamics Package’. That work was undertaken in 2002 at a cost of over £46,000. At that point the car had covered 38,000 miles. It is one invoice in a remarkable history file detailing considerable and ongoing expenditure by the first owner between 1994 and 2005 and totalling in excess of £100,000. Amongst the bills is one showing that the engine was rebuilt in 2005 at a cost of £24,000.

The history records certainly fall under the definition of ‘fastidious.’ There are 16 service books stamps, all but one by AMW or specialist Rikki Cann, with the most recent service at 76,885 miles in February 2021 when the superchargers were also overhauled.

Said to be driving beautifully, this Vantage V600 awaits its next lucky custodian.

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