Seven Aston Martin specials the GT8 has to live up to

The N24 went on sale in 2007 for £78,720. It retained the centre console of the road-going V8 Vantage but did away with the interior trim, contributing to a weight saving of around 250kg. It also featured a bigger fuel tank, bigger anti-roll bars and a full roll cage.

We took a Vantage N24 to the 2008 Britcar 24-hour and finished on the podium after starting from 20th on the grid. You can read about the experience here.

DBS

Many remember the DBS as the Aston Martin from Daniel Craig’s first appearance as James Bond in Casino Royale. But to many, it was better described as a road version of the DBR9 GT1 racing car.

As such, it was a significant improvement over the DB9 and was Aston’s best-selling GT at the time. The DBS featured button-activated adjustable suspension that could stiffen up for hard driving or soften off for a more supple ride. At the time, few cars could offer this best-of-both-worlds formula.

Lagonda Taraf

Many regard Aston Martin as one of the best producers of comfortable GT cars, so it was little surprise when the brand announced it would be building a Rolls-Royce and Bentley-rivaling Lagonda Taraf. What was surprising, however, was Aston’s decision to strictly limit Lagonda production in order to boost exclusivity well beyond the levels of Rolls-Royces.

Aston Martin planned to produce just 200 examples of the Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf, with prices starting at £685,000. Aston Martin You can read our review of it here.

Vantage GT12

Aston Martin’s most recent special edition, the Aston Martin Vantage GT12, is the company’s response to the likes of Porsche’s GT3 RS and the Ferrari 458 Speciale. The GT12 is inspired by Aston’s GT3 racing car, which is evident by the huge rear wing and carbonfibre splitter.

Using the Vantage S as a base, its cabin swaps leather and foam for lashings of carbonfibre and Alcantara. For buyers really serious about weight saving, the car’s glass windows could be replaced with plastic items. Aston Martin only produced 100 examples, all of which sold for £250,000 each.

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