Makes › Aston Martin › Vantage › Vantage "Special Series" saloons and coupes (Brunei commissions) · Royal, state & papal · 1996–1998
Aston Martin
Vantage "Special Series" saloons and coupes (Brunei commissions)
Works-built bespoke Vantage-based saloons and coupes reported as Brunei royal commissions.
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 12 Built
- Years
- 1996–1998
- Engine
- Not yet verified
- Power
- 410 kW / 558 PSFactory: 550 hp · converted
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Special Series cars were custom Aston Martins built in Newport Pagnell for the Sultan of Brunei and his brother Prince Jefri. Series I turned the V8 Vantage V600 into a two-seat coupe styled after the 1961 DB4 GT Zagato, and Series II was a modern four-seat Zagato-styled body on the same platform.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionSpecial Series Type 1 Saloon 3, Type 2 Saloon 3 (1996), Special Series 1 Coupe 3, Special Series 2 Coupe 3 (1997–98) | 121,2,3Strongest evidence | Factory production | Disputed |
Sources differ: Supercar Nostalgia lists 12 (3 each of Type 1 and Type 2 Saloons, Special Series 1 and 2 Coupes), supercars.net gives 3 Series I cars after a test mule plus 3 Series II, 6 in all.
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Aston Martin works had been debating a DB4 Zagato continuation series and instead fitted a similar design to the V8 Vantage V600 platform, with Zagato reducing the four-seat car to a smaller, lighter two-seater with the 600 bhp engine, new suspension and a ZF five-speed gearbox. A grey test mule was built and wind-tested at MIRA before three further Series I cars (chassis 70505 to 70507).
The Series II cars followed in 1997-98 and again three were built, all going to Brunei. A third series was planned but dropped when the Sultan and his brother withdrew after the bodies were made.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Vantage "Special Series" saloons and coupes (Brunei commissions).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Not yet verified |
| Displacement | Not yet verified |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Induction | Twin mechanically driven Eaton superchargers4 Independently researchedBase Vantage (1993-2000) feature as described by the auction house; the cached pages do not give the Special Series specification. |
| Power | 410 kW / 558 PSFactory: 550 hp · converted5Rating: manufacturerBase Vantage figure; the Special Series build specification is not stated in the cached pages. |
| Power at | 6,500 rpm5Base Vantage figure. |
| Torque | 746 NmFactory: 550 lb-ft · converted5Base Vantage figure. |
| Torque at | 4,000 rpm5Base Vantage figure. |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Manufacturer | ZF (Series I five-speed)2 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
| Gears | 65Base Vantage figure. |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | AP Racing six-piston calipers (V600 package)3 Independently researched |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Series I is a two-seat coupe in the DB4 GT Zagato idiom on V600 mechanicals, chassis 70505, 70506 and 70507. Series II keeps four seats, with a Zagato-style crease running from the lamps into the wings and the classic Aston grille, built on the V600 platform with AP Racing six-piston front brakes. Both Series are Newport Pagnell Special Projects cars with no production-run numbering beyond those chassis.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Guide: Aston Martin Vantage V550 / V600 | Supercar Nostalgia Level B
- 12 Special Series Type 1 Saloon 3, Type 2 Saloon 3 (1996), Special Series 1 Coupe 3, Special Series 2 Coupe 3 (1997–98)
-
2
1997 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Special Series I Level B Supercars.net
- Series I: three cars after a test mule
- ZF 5-Speed transmission
-
3
Aston Martin Vantage Special Series II Level B Supercars.net
- Only three Series II Astons were built
- huge brakes with AP Racing 6-piston calipers
-
4
Formerly the Property of HRH The Sultan of Brunei, 1994 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe (lot 136) Level C Bonhams
- twin mechanically driven Eaton superchargers
-
5
Aston Martin Vantage (1993-2000) past model page Level A Aston Martin
- 550 bhp @ 6500 rpm
- 550 lbs-ft @ 4000 rpm
- 6-speed ZF manual
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