Sam Sheehan wrote:A special-edition Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80 has been launched to celebrate the passing of 80 years since the first Supermarine Spitfire World War 2 fighter took to the sky.
Sold exclusively at Aston Martin Cambridge and created by the car maker’s Q personalisation service, just 80 examples of the Spitfire model will be built at a price of £180,000 each.
To signify the 80th anniversary of Britain’s most iconic warplane, every Vantage S Spitfire 80 will feature components made by the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford. These include tailpipe tips finished in a rainbow ‘bloom’ effect to match the Spitfire’s exhausts and an aluminium bar in the cabin that’s inspired by the Spitfire’s rear strut brace.
Also added to the car is a satin-carbonfibre rear diffuser and front spoiler, colour-coded bonnet louvres and solid sterling silver Aston Martin wings badges with tailored Old English White inlay.Customers can also have a Spitfire serial number lacquered into their car’s side strakes.
The cars will be finished in a special Duxford Green colour, with yellow pinstripes along the sides and bootlid to mimic the look of a Sptifire.
Inside, a 'Spitfire 80' logo is embroidered in black onto the headrests, the floor mats are made with saddle leather and sheepskin in tribute to Irvin flying jackets, the door inserts and pulls get Spitfire-inspired red webbing and the airbag cover is embroidered with a unique aircraft identification code.
Buyers can also add accessories to their purchase, including a special Spitfire 80 Irvin jacket and a flying helmet and goggles. Additionally, there’s a themed car cover, embossed owner's manual and leather photo album of the handover bespoke to each customer.
The handover itself takes place in the AirSpace exhibition at Imperial War Museum Duxford on the 18 October, with a talk from a veteran Spitfire pilot included. Owners will get to drive their cars along the Duxford runway before watching a Mk1 Spitfire in a demonstration display.
No technical changes have been made to the car, so all Spitfire 80s come with the same 565bhp 5.9-litre V12 engine as the regular V12 Vantage S. Performance also remains the same, with the 0-62mph dash taking 3.9sec and the top speed listed as 205mph.
However, the Spitfire 80’s £180,000 starting price is £39,505 more than a regular Vantage V12 S, but given the model’s significance and rarity, all 80 examples are likely be snapped up in the coming weeks.
For every car sold, Aston Martin Cambridge says it will make a donation to the Royal Air Force welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund.
