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Newport Pagnell V8s (1969-1989)
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From April 1972 the DBS V8 received a mild restyle and a new name. The 'DB' was dropped as David Brown had sold the company and the car became known simply as the 'Aston Martin V8'. The most visible change was the adoption of two 7 inch quartz iodine headlamps and black mesh grille, the design of which was the work of the original designer, William Towns. The fuel injected engine was retained for a year until its complexity meant a return to traditional Weber carburettors in 1973. Production of the V8 stopped for a while from late 1974, when AML was bankrupted and then thankfully rescued, for production to restart in Spring 1976.
Then in October 1978 the V8 was thoroughly revised with a host of small but significant improvements, including an integrated tail spoiler and walnut interior trim. These cars are often referred to as 'Oscar India' specification (Oscar India is phonetic alphabet and represents 'October Introduction'). By 1986, the AM V8 again received fuel injection, but this time it was an electronically controlled sequential system, courtesy of Weber/Marelli.
By 1989, when production finally ended, total production of the AM V8 had reached 1607 examples. Indeed the V8 is currently the most popular car within the AMOC.
The AMOC has devised a system which divides the V8 into five different series which help to chart its development over 20 years.
- Series 1 - The DBS V8, fuel injection (low bonnet air scoop), four headlights set into a full width stainless steel grille. Horizontal louvres in panel under the rear screen, Spare wheel stored vertically in the boot.
- Series 2 - Still with fuel injection and low bonnet air scoop, but with just two headlights and a separate mesh grille. Horizontal louvres in panel under the rear screen, Spare wheel stored in the boot floor.
- Series 3 - Four twin choke Weber carburettors replace fuel injection, needed a much taller bonnet air scoop to clear the air box. A single vertical louvre under the rear screen.
- Series 4, Oscar India - (pictured above) The air scoop is closed (so becomes a bonnet bulge), integral rear spoiler, walnut interior trim. Later cars have BBS cross spoke alloy wheels
- Series 5 - Electronic fuel injection so a totally flat bonnet, BBS cross spoke alloy wheels
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