Wobland Spottage

[mercrocker]

My Dad took me to see Thunderball....I think the Aston thing was already in me by then thanks to the Observer's Book of Automobiles that featured the full range including the DB4 Vantage which had the faired-in headlamps. It is what I thought Bond was driving until I found differently....

The only close encounter I've had with a DB4 was when a school-mate turned up at the local in one a couple of years after we left. A bit ropey and it belonged to his Dad but still quite impressive. I've never really been a sports car fan, I'd sooner blow half a million on recreating a 50s cafe and a Mk1 Zephyr.

[paulplom]

Lordy!

[mercrocker]

Hmm...I would have expected like-for-like that a Vantage attracted a considerable premium rather than slightly less! When you consider auction commission rates it makes you realise how much dosh gets swilled about when these things change hands, though.

[LynehamHerc]

As you say Vantages normally go for a lot more. I guess that there must be other differences like the Vantage not being matching numbers whereas the standard is.

[paulplom]

Excuse my ignorance but what was the difference in a vantage?
Was it like the popular plus and a ghia?

[LynehamHerc]

The DB5 Vantage-specification engine featured an upgraded high-compression cylinder head, altered cam timing, and triple twin-choke Weber carburettors. Power also rose to 325 brake horsepower, which was a 40-brake horsepower difference from the standard engine

[Nibblet]

I'm amazed they made 285 horses.

[LynehamHerc]

I think that was the days of SAE horsepower where the measurements were taken with all the ancillaries like the alternator disconnected.

[mercrocker]

Pretty sure those figures are UK standard not SAE....DB4 Vantage engines were twin-plug heads amongst other things.

[fried onions]

It was the Septics who published the bhp figures with engines stripped of all ancillaries. The figure you get at the wheels is a lot lower.