Collectors\' Motor Cars and Automobilia

MOTOR CARS | 77

In March 1999, Aston Martin announced that 40 special versions of
the Vantage - the Vantage Le Mans - would be built to celebrate the
factory's famous victory at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race in 1959 when
Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby took the chequered flag first in
'DBR1/2'.

The basis of what was at that time the fastest Aston Martin ever
was the standard Vantage. Although at a glance outwardly similar
to the latter, the Le Mans could be distinguished by its front wing
side vents - recalling those of the DBR1 racer - ducted bonnet,
'nostril' front grille and improved high-downforce air dam, while at
the rear the spoiler was revised to incorporate the high-intensity and
reversing lights. The Le Mans received unique five-spoke magnesium
alloy wheels while beneath the skin its chassis boasted the kind of
extensive upgrading, in the form of the 'Driving Dynamics' package,
required to cope with the massive increase in performance that the
Vantage gained over its Virage progenitor.

For the Vantage, Aston Martin engineers developed a blown version

of the proven 5,340cc V engine, twin mechanically driven Eaton

superchargers being preferred to turbo-chargers on the grounds of

superior throttle response.

Quite apart from its stupendous maximum output of 550bhp,

remarkable enough in itself, the engine is monstrously torquey,

producing 550lb/ft at 4,000rpm, a figure that makes even the mighty

Chrysler Viper V10's 450lb/ft seem puny by way of comparison.

And for those who found 550bhp insufficient, there was the Works

Service-developed 'V600' enhancement that brought with it an

additional 50 horsepower together with upgrades to the wheels,

suspension and brakes. Announced at the British Motor Show at the

NEC, Birmingham in 199, the V00 package added ‰43,000 to the

price of the standard Vantage.