Muscle Cars
Aston Martin DBS V8: The Best Luxury Muscle Car?
By Dave Ashton
Generally speaking, when most people think of Aston Martin, James Bond comes to mind driving around in an early 1960s DB5 or a more modern DB10. Not so much a mid 1970’s Aston Martin muscle car. However, did Aston Martin inadvertently invent the best luxury muscle car in the form of the DBS model?
The origins of the Aston Martin V8 DBS can be traced back to 1967. In years prior, Aston Martin had a huge boost in brand recognition thanks to movies such as James Bond 007 with the DB5. However, even the later DB6 was based on the now ageing DB4 platform, which was basically too small for the ever-expanding grand touring car market.
In 1967 the Aston Martin DBS was launched offering more speed, comfort and space than previous models with a new chassis design. The DBS had the Aston Martin swagger, but now with an obvious late 1960s American muscle car influence. The aluminium body had a more aggressive styling, such as the quarter panels (wings in the UK), the rear end very much like the fastback US models of the day.
As this was Aston Martin’s first foray into the V8 market, they had to get the engine just right for the production models. Therefore the initial models were initially sold with an in-line 6 (280HP) DB6 engine for its initial run. The DBS had to wait until 1969 for the V8 which provided the car with 360HP and 360 LB ft. of torque, better matching its aggressive looks. The V8 also had a new Bosch fuel injection system, but was later replaced by tried and tested carburettors.
When it was launched, the DBS matched its American contemporaries for power and displacement. The DBS had the American muscle car template of a V8 engine, rear-wheel drive, and the looks, but also opulent features such as vented disc brakes, optional five-speed stick shift, fancy axle, luxury interior, and 0-60mph in 6 seconds.
The model had its first facelift in 1973, as the Series 2 cars. Coincidentally just as its American muscle car counterparts were past their golden years. The series 2 DBS opted for a single headlight setup, and much simpler front-end design. As with the American muscle car market, emission standards choked performance, but offerings such as the stage I engine in the mid 1970s still provided 305HP.
The Vantage
Debuted in 1977, the Vantage had a redesigned front end with blocked off front grille, exaggerated hood bulge and central fog lights. The carburettors were upgraded to 48 mm Webbers, new intake manifolds, new dampers, and a host of other improvements. The 5.3L V8 could produce 380HP, with a 0-60mph time of around 5 seconds. Very respectable for the late 1970s, in fact it was the fastest V8 production car in the world in 1977.
Moving forward to 1986, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Xpack hit the streets with a naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 producing 432HP. The most powerful Vantage up to this point. Top speed was over 170mph, and 0-60mph was in the low 5 second range. These stats were better than the super car offerings of the day, such as from Lamborghini and Ferrari’s Testarossa, with the Vantage also having more practicality such as two rear seats and a generally more luxurious interior. The problem was, only 137 models of the Xpack were ever produced before Aston superseded with the models for the 1990s.
Aston Martin has always been about luxury performance, but the DBS is as close to the American muscle car template as possible without calling it an American muscle car. The DBS doesn’t exactly tick the box of supercar performance available at average guy prices, like the original idea of American muscle cars. But, in terms of V8 performance in a rear wheel drive package, the DBS is one of the best V8 models of its day.
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