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A few days ago I was completely stunned while watching a television program on BBC. Sure, I've watched many shows about
cars, but I think that's why I was so caught of guard. I was suddenly introduced to the most beautiful car on earth....ever.
I'd never heard it's name mentioned before, I'd never caught a glimpse of it, and I had no idea of it's existence. But there
is was....The 1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Lagonda.
But why I'm I so drawn to it? What is it that makes this particular
car so.....stunning? Well, for starters, it looks completely natural. Odd, since most early supercars looked like they had
something to prove....they looked mean....the kind of mean that causes you to cross to the other side of the road to avoid
someone that gives you an uneasy feeling.
But not this one. It looks quite friendly, really. I would have no problem
walking up to it and saying, "Excuse me sir, could you tell me where the nearest diner is?".
Maybe I'm so captivated
by it's appearance for other reasons. Perhaps it reminds me of other masterpieces. In fact, it seems to share a similar front
end, grill, bumper, and headlights, with a late '60s Mustang. The hood and fender lines look like they were borrowed from
a first generation Camaro, and the rear quarters and window resemble a 1970s Trans Am. And yet, the overall appearance reminds
you of the iconic Ferrari Daytona. But the greatest thing about the Vantage's beautiful design is how normal it truly is.
It doesn't scream, "Ah ha! Look at me, I'm a supercar!". Quite the opposite in fact. It's subtle, inviting, and tame, all
while giving quiet hints at the the incredible styling revolutions of the past.
But we've been taught that looks aren't
everything. And who can argue? What's beneath a car's exterior is perhaps more important than the first impression it gives.
In this case, nothing could be more true.
I sincerely have to commend Aston Martin for introducing this car. To create,
produce, and market this car during the late '70s fuel crisis is, and there's no other word for it....daring. Not only did
Aston toss fuel economy to the wind with their high compression 5.3 liter V8, but it was fitted with new manifolds, larger
carburetors, a more radical camshaft, larger valves, all of which lower fuel savings considerably.
But this wasn't
just for show. The Vantage was capable of an amazing, at the time, 170 mph, making it the fastest production car ever. It
was no slouch of the line either. With just 5.3 seconds to 60, it barely gives you enough time to adjust your tie in the mirror.
This
is a car that you can picture on the streets of Ithaca, or the flashing midway of Las Vegas, a cobblestone alley in Britain,
or even the humble dirt roads of Georgia.
You can imagine your grandparents driving it to church in their Sunday clothes,
or a young businessman with his first real car, or a race team purchasing a vehicle to prepare for the next season. But if
for some reason those don't work for you, you can simply picture the Vantage in the hands of James Bond in the The Living
Daylights.
So, what we have here is what I believe to be the greatest automotive achievement....maybe in history.
It's a mechanical Mona Lisa, employing the phrase, "what is seen doesn't always give understanding". It has a large front
and rear window, like a normal car. A front mounted motor, and rear wheel drive, like a normal car. A regular sized trunk,
like a normal car. Four seats, like a normal car. But under the hood is a daring example of automotive excellence, with the
Fastest Production Car award to prove it.
I can honestly say, without having been behind it's wheel, or without even
seeing it in person, that the Astin Martin V8 Vantage Lagonda is the fusional perfection of practicality and performance.
And with only 534 ever built, it is truly special.
This is simply the greatest car ever made.
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