The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80 Is So British It Hurts
Today we are asking ourselves this: is there anything more British than this new Aston Martin? Perhaps a plate of fish and chips served by the Queen? We’re not sure even that comes close, as what this car does is bring together two British icons: Aston Martin, and the Supermarine Spitfire World War II fighter plane.
It’s called the V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80, and it’s been created at the behest of Aston Martin Cambridge to celebrate 80 years since the first Spitfire flight, with AM’s ‘Q’ branch completing the work. Each is finished in ‘Duxford Green’ - referencing RAF Duxford, home of the first Spitfire squadron - with some yellow accents continuing the homage.
On the inside, you’ll find a Spitfire motif embroidered in each of the headrests, Alcantara trim on the dashboard, and even ‘release’ written by the door handles to make your inner 10-year-old feel like he or she is in a fighter plane. Q has even commissioned Duxford’s Aircraft Restoration Company to make a few components, including a Spitfire cockpit-inspired aluminium bar in the cabin, plus the exhaust tips.
Performance is unchanged from the standard V12 S, which means 565bhp from a 5.9-litre 12-pot, 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 205mph.
Want one? You’re looking at £180,000, almost £40k more than the standard car. Part of that does go to the RAF Benevolent Fund though, and there’ll be a special handover ceremony at Imperial War Museum Duxford on 18 October. Owners will get to blast along the runway, chat to a veteran Spitfire pilot, and watch one of the famous warplanes put on a display.
God Save The Queen.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
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