1978 Aston-Martin V8 Canadian Vantage
Specifications
Engine: Spark-ignition, 4-stroke V8
Displacement: 6L
Horsepower: 390 bhp at 5,800 RPM
Torque: 406 ft-lbs at 4,500 RPM
Transmission: 5-speed manual
A Little History
According to noted V8 Vantage enthusiast and author Kean Rogers, himself a prior owner of this car, ight cars were built for the Canadian market with Vantage-type cosmetics: Front air dam, plugged bonnet bulge, and rear ‘Fliptail’ spoiler . . . The engines were to European Stage 1 specification (indicated by the suffix ‘S’ in the engine number) and the chassis number suffix LCA. Four cars were manual [including 11904] and four were automatic. These cars have been dubbed ‘Canadian Vantages’ . . . while technically not factory Vantages, the term differentiates them from the standard specification cars.
Even so, the carbureted ‘S’ V8 Canadian delivery cars offered higher performance from new over their Stateside counterparts. Constructed in March of 1978, this V8 was delivered new through Grand Touring Automobiles in Toronto, owned by Canadian entrepreneur George Minden, who was a partner at the time in Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd., UK. This interesting car was sold new to a customer in Vancouver, British Colombia. It was later acquired by another Canadian, who kept the V8 at his residence in Palm Desert, California. The car was eventually acquired by Rogers in 1999, who refinished it in an elegant burgundy called Royal Cherry and sympathetically restored it as necessary. Mechanically, the car received a full brake system overhaul, new clutch assembly, rebuilt water pump, plus a carburetor rebuild, and more. This has all held up admirably, attesting to the quality of the work.
The nice original interior remained largely as-found, save for re-padding the Fawn Connolly leather seats, installation of new Wilton carpets, and Fawn wool headliner. During the restoration, it was noted that the chassis was inspected and that there was no corrosion found, while the paint selected contained an epoxy rust preventative. The car was later sold to an Aston Martin collector on the East Coast.
In April 2005 during an annual service, the car received an engine rebuild and was converted to six-liter “big bore” specification, utilizing authentic Vantage components supplied by the UK-based specialists at Aston Engineering. This improvement in displacement develops massive horsepower as well as useful torque that exceeds factory Vantage specification and makes for quite an exciting drive!
