Vantage Issue 34

THIS ISSUE of Vantage marks a pivotal moment in Aston Martin’s history. One we’ll remember for the point CEO Tobias Moers showed his hand in terms of future model strategy, but also for the Victor: one of the most spectacular Aston Martins ever made. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, and especially in the face of the new boss’s vision, the Victor is something of an irrelevance. Yet to overlook what makes this breathtaking one-off so special would be to waste the wonderstuff that Aston’s aspirational rival Ferrari manages to sprinkle so effectively over everything it does. Since the arrival of Moers there have been the inevitable clashes of both culture and personality that come with a fundamental change in management. There’s no doubt that Moers brings a different management…

THE NEWS that AMG boss Tobias Moers was to become Aston’s CEO, following Andy Palmer’s abrupt departure last year, was not a huge surprise to seasoned Aston-watchers. AMG’s V8 engine already powers the majority of Aston’s production, appearing in the Vantage, DB11 and DBX, and Daimler’s decision to broaden collaboration in return for a 20 per cent stake in Aston made selecting somebody familiar with both sides of the technical alliance an obvious thing to do. Nobody could be better qualified than the 56-year-old German, who had led AMG since 2013. But although he had dealt with Aston in his old role, Moers admits he often struggled to understand the way the smaller company was being run. ‘I was always surprised that they never wanted us to change the engines,’ he says, when…

THIS SUMMER’S Aston Martin Heritage Festival is set to see the greatest number of Astons ever gathered together in one place. The event – to mark the 100th birthday of A3, the oldest surviving Aston Martin – will take place at Dallas Burton Polo Club near Warwick on June 26 and all Aston owners and enthusiasts are invited to join the party. Organised by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust, the festival will see hundreds of Astons of all ages parked by era, and a trade area where marque sales, service, repairs, restoration, parts and accessories specialists will showcase their products. There will also be a plethora of very special and rarely seen Astons on display, along with the current model-range, while a particular highlight of the day will be the unveiling of…

THE ASTON MARTIN Owners Club has elected a new leadership team, with long-standing member Anthony Oade being elected as the new chair. Anthony, a straight-talking Yorkshireman with a passion for Aston Martins and the proud owner of a DB9, has been a member of the AMOC for over 30 years, initially becoming assistant area representative for Yorkshire. ‘I regularly took part in concours, became a judge and then joined the concours committee,’ Anthony told us. ‘For the last six years I have been a member of the committee of management and for three years have been proud to serve as deputy chair and director responsible for partnerships.’ Asked about his new role, he said: ‘I am honoured that the AMOC’s members have put their trust in me to lead the club for the…

VIGNALE ASTON AT AUTO ROYALE The stunning DB2/4 Vignale, the restoration of which was recently completed by Aston Workshop and which features in this issue of Vantage, will be one of the star attractions among ten Aston Martins at the Auto Royale concours d’elegance at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire, on July 16-18. The other Astons range from a 1924 1.5-litre side-valve model through to a 1985 V8 Vantage Zagato prototype. More at autoroyale.org. ASTON RACING ACADEMY RETURNS Aston Martin has renewed its search to uncover the next generation of GT endurance racing superstars, with the news that the AM Racing Driver Academy has returned for 2021. Fifteen young racers from a range of championships around the world have signed up for the programme, which in previous years has uncovered rising British stars Ross Gunn…

THERE IS NEVER enough space here to mention all the Aston Martins that catch the eye between one issue of Vantage and the next. And usually, any discussion of recent, standard-production cars is snipped to make room for news of the latest works racer or time-capsule classic to come to auction – but not this time. In a quarter that saw DB4 GTs, DB5 Convertibles and coachbuilt rarities cross the block, the Aston that seemed most intriguing was a Rapide S. You will recall that the V12 shoot-out story in Vantage 33 concluded with Richard Meaden heaping praise upon Aston’s oft-overlooked four-door flyer. ‘[It is] one of the most satisfying VH cars of all to drive. Rarity and concept-car looks mean it will always be special, while a surprising degree of…