Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
1977-1989 · Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977) — Grand Tourer, V8, designed by William Towns.
The Story
Hailed at its 1977 launch as ‘Britain’s first supercar,’ the V8 Vantage was the muscle-bound hero version of the Aston V8 – a 5.3-litre, ~375-432 bhp brute good for 170 mph, with a blanked-off grille, deep front spoiler and a bonnet bulge.
It ran to 1989, gaining the fearsome ‘X-Pack’ (400+ bhp) in 1986, plus a Volante convertible. Most famously, Prince Charles took delivery of a 1987 Vantage Volante in subtle ‘Prince of Wales spec’ (no spoilers or arch extensions) – a car still in the royal garage. The original British super-GT.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Grand Tourer class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
William Towns
English designer who joined Aston in 1966 and shaped the DBS (1967), the long-running V8, and the radical wedge Lagonda (1976) and Bulldog concept. Also designed microcars (Minissima/Hustler). Source: Wikipedia.
Studio Motors POV
Britain’s original supercar – a brawny, hand-built V8 with genuine royal provenance. The X-Pack is the grail; any good Vantage is a future classic.
The Engine
Aston Martin Tadek Marek V8 (5.3)
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About V8 Vantage (1977)
Worth Knowing About the V8 Vantage (1977)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. It was billed as 'Britain's first supercar' at its 1977 launch, thanks to a 170 mph top speed.
- 2. Prince Charles's 1987 Vantage Volante created the factory 'Prince of Wales spec' (no spoilers/skirts) – about 26 were built that way.
- 3. The 1986 'X-Pack' upgrade pushed it past 400 bhp – the wildest of the breed.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. 1977-1989; ~534 built (incl. Volante).
- 2. 5.3 V8: ~375-432 bhp (X-Pack); ~170 mph.
- 3. Hand-built at Newport Pagnell; based on the V8.
- 4. 'Prince of Wales spec' Volante for Prince Charles (1987).
- 5. Designed by William Towns; spawned the V8 Zagato.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Prince Charles (now King Charles III) owns a 1987 Vantage Volante in ‘Prince of Wales spec’ (no spoilers/skirts). Other individual owners not verified.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The X-Pack (400+ bhp) is the most coveted; manual cars and the rare ‘PoW spec’ Volantes carry premiums. Check the hand-built body, the big carbed/injected V8 and cooling. A blue-chip 1980s muscle-Aston, appreciating steadily.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
- Class
- Grand Tourer
- Production years
- 1977-1989
- Units built
- ~534 (S1 38 + S2 304 + Volante 192)
- Variants
- Volante; ‘Oscar India’; X-Pack (1986, ~432 hp)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V8
- Engine family
- Aston Martin Tadek Marek V8 (5.3)
- Displacement
- 5,340 cc (5.3L) V8
- Power
- 432 hp
- Torque
- 395 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 5 s
- Top speed
- 170 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 250 hp/tonne · 8.8 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 5-speed ZF manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD (front engine) · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 3807 lb
Questions
V8 Vantage (1977) FAQ
Was the Aston Martin V8 Vantage really Britain’s first supercar?
It was billed as such at its 1977 launch. With approximately 375 bhp and a 170 mph top speed, the V8 Vantage bettered the contemporary Ferrari Daytona in straight-line performance — no British car had previously matched it for outright speed. ‘Britain’s first supercar’ became its defining label in the press.
Did King Charles III order an Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
Yes. King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) took delivery of a 1987 Vantage Volante in a bespoke ‘Prince of Wales specification’ — omitting the standard front spoiler and wheel-arch extensions for a cleaner appearance. Approximately 26 further cars were subsequently built by the factory to this same clean specification for other buyers.
What is the X-Pack Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
The X-Pack, introduced in 1986, was a factory performance upgrade fitting Cosworth pistons and Nimrod racing-specification cylinder heads to the 5.3-litre V8, raising power to over 400 bhp. Approximately 137 X-Pack Vantages were built; they are identified by a distinctive bonnet bulge and are now the most desirable and valuable of all V8 Vantages.
What is a V8 Vantage (1977) worth today?
Aston Martin V8 Vantage examples (1977-1989) trade for approximately $180,000-$450,000 in 2025. X-Pack cars (over 400 bhp) and ‘Prince of Wales spec’ Volantes command the highest values; standard manual coupes sit in the middle of the range.
Can you acquire an Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)?
Yes. V8 Vantages trade on the secondary market as increasingly sought-after classic British muscle GTs.
The Aston Martin Lineup
Explore every Aston Martin
DB4 GT Zagato ’60DB5 ’63DB6 ’65DBS (1967) ’67V8 ’69
Lagonda ’76V8 Vantage (1977) ’77
V8 Vantage (Supercharged) ’93DB7 ’94DB7 Vantage ’99
V12 Vanquish ’01DB9 ’04V8 Vantage (2005) ’05DBS (2007) ’07V12 Vantage (2009) ’09One-77 ’09
Rapide ’10Vanquish (2012) ’12V12 Zagato ’12V12 Vantage GT12 ’15DB11 ’16Vanquish Zagato ’16Vantage ’18DBS Superleggera ’18
DBX ’20Valkyrie ’21V12 Speedster ’21V12 Vantage (2022) ’22Valour ’23Vanquish (2024) ’24Valiant ’24Valhalla ’25
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