And finally to the Aston Martin! While the DB5 may be the better known model – thanks in no small part to a certain Mr. James Bond – the V8 Vantage is a real high performance vehicle and represents the leanest and most agile in Aston’s three model line up. Many of the interior workings (e.g. cylinder block and heads, pistons, camshaft, lubrication system, exhaust manifolds etc.) were all unique Aston Martin designs while the 4.3l 385HP V8 engine was hand assembled at the Aston Martin facility in Cologne. A 2006 survey in Car Design News voted the V8 Vantage as the best current production car design while a year later Automobile declared it as one of their ‘All Stars’ for performance and design. While perhaps not as iconic as the earlier DB5, the Vantage V8 is definitely a modern classic and one which 007 himself would be proud to drive. Get yours for around €111,000.

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