Aston Martin V8S Series 3 Saloon
|
Car producer : |
Aston Martin |
|---|---|
|
Model: |
V8S Series 3 Saloon |
|
Year: |
1977-1978 |
|
Type: |
Coupe |
The car switched back to Weber carburetors for the Series 3 in 1973, ostensibly to help the car pass new stricter emissions standards in California but most likely because Aston Martin was unable to make the Bosch fuel injection system work correctly. These cars are distinguished by a taller hood scoop to accommodate four twin-choke (two-barrel) Weber carbs. The car produced 310 hp (231 kW; 314 PS) and could reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.1 seconds with an automatic transmission or 5.7 with a manual. Performance suffered with emissions regulations, falling to 288hp (215 kW; 292 PS) in 1976. The next year, a more powerful "Stage 1" engine with new camshafts and exhaust brought it up to 305hp (227 kW; 309 PS).
Production of Series 3 cars lasted from 1973 through October 1978, but was halted for all of 1975. 967 examples were produced in this time. While earlier V8 cars have louvers cut into the little panel mounted beneath the rear windshield, the Series 3 and later cars instead have a small lip at the bottom of this panel, just ahead of the leading edge of the boot lid.
As Aston Martin neared the end of production of their V8, a limited number of cars were produced with the ‘S’ suffix. These V8 ‘S’ cars were used as a forerunner to the Oscar India/V8 Vantage. The AMV8 series 3 model with the uprated ‘stage 1’ tune or ‘S’ spec engine was built for only for a year between June 1977and September 1978.
