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V8 Vantage Zagato (1986-1988) |
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Newport Pagnell V8s (1969-1989)
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 AML had once previously worked on a special car with Zagato to produce the lightweight DB4GT Zagato. And in 1985 the decision was made to again work with Zagato to design a lightweight version of the V8 Vantage in order to capture the new market for rare exotics.
The prototype was first shown at the Geneva Salon in 1986, by which time all fifty production examples had been presold. The extreme two seater looked brutal with its shortened wheelbase and overhangs, not to mention the controversial bonnet bulge, needed to cover the tall carburettors. But it was fast, capable of in excess of 185 mph. Although nowadays, the Vanatge Zagato is seen as 'so 1980's' it did make AML sufficient money so as to fund development of the Virage, without which the company would not have survived.
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