Ever wondered what a bespoke shooting brake might look like if its donor vehicle were a long-wheelbase convertible? Wonder no more, for today’s Rare Ride is just such a vehicle, and is also an Aston Martin.
The car which would become Aston Martin’s V8 Vantage model began with the (relatively) lower performance Virage, which debuted in 1989. That chunky coupe was the subject of a Rare Rides already, so we won’t dwell on those beginnings today.
As Virage production wound down in 1995, the upmarket V8 Vantage model had been on sale for two years. Wearing very similar styling to the Virage, the Vantage was in fact very different underneath. When Aston Martin finished its modifications to the Virage, the Vantage shared only roof and doors with its predecessor. Other changes included a wider, lower stance, and a new rear suspension setup. The interior gained its own revisions, boasting new electronics that were surely the pinnacle of reliability.
But the most significant Vantage changes were found in the engine bay. Sharing a 5.3-liter V8 with the Virage, the Vantage had the added benefit of dual superchargers. Power increased from a prior figure of 330 to 550. Torque was present in abundance, amounting to 555 lb-ft. Suitably enlivened, the heavy cruiser rocketed from 0-60 in 4.6 seconds.
Production was slow, and between 1993 and 2000 the automaker built just 280 Vantage examples. Among that number, Aston Martin began building a long-wheelbase Volante (convertible) version in 1998. Length was increased by 20 millimeters as the Vantage was reworked to contain all the relative cabriolet accoutrements. Just 63 rolled from the factory, and one of those became today’s shooting brake.
The project began in 2003. Aston Martin commissioned designer Andrew McGeachy and tasked him with creating a shooting brake from a Volante. After the new body was conceived, it was built in Switzerland by Roos Engineering. No expense was spared, and the ad copy indicates over 8,000 hours were spent on the very special vehicle.
Engineers reinforced the chassis to carry the extra weight of the revised body. Luxurious, suede-coated seats fold to increase cargo room, and there’s a pass-through in the rear seat for longer cargo. Rear-seat passengers will not be without fresh air in the shooting brake, as the rear windows roll down. All of it is finished in beautiful detail, and with reminders of the era intact. Check that Taurus steering wheel, should any doubt exist.
Currently located in Switzerland, this very special one-off Aston is only priced on request.
[Images: seller]
Jeebus… don’t let your buddies sit on the roof.
Do my eyes deceive me, or does that roof curve UPWARDS, like the banana seat on an old bike?
Bizarre. Kind of like it, though.
Who knew the Wienermobile’s influence would reach so far?
Its hard to take this car seriously with its Ford Taurus steering wheel and steering column along with a center console that looks like it was made in a shop somewhere around Elkhart, Indiana in between motorhomes.
“made in a shop somewhere around Elkhart, Indiana in between motorhomes”
Well, its detailing certainly isn’t up the quality of the engine cover in my old Econoline work van.
It particularly bothers me that the hazard flasher indicator is partially covered by the poorly-made console.
At least the ABS warning light is down and out of the way. It can be annoyingly bright on long trips.
Rare Rides has taught me that these late 80s to mid 90s Aston Martins were kind of trashy.
They were sort of a leftover Seventies ethos, mixed with Nineties materials from another manufacturer(s).
All made on the cheap without concern for cohesion.
That’s kinda the whole British car industry.
Rovers (passenger cars not Land Rovers) were built in 70s factories using 90s Honda platforms. Then they got bought by BMW, some components of the 75 were shared with BMW.
Even Land Rovers – the 1st Discovery was built with Range Rover doors, Austin Maestro van rear lights and Freight Rover front lights. Door handles courtesy of the 1970s Morris Marina. Because it was part of Rover at the time, the Honda tie up meant it was sold as a Crossroad. A Honda with 70s British Leyland components.
Beautiful and interesting car. Looks a lot like the Jaguar “Sportbrake” featured today
British-English lesson for Tuesday:
Bespoke = Cobbled
Surely they could have done better than the $59 Best Buy special Alpine! I’d still love this thing just for the 100% oddness of it.
It’s like the interior “designer” just threw stuff in the air and installed it where it landed. Kind of makes a 1980s era Citroen look normal.