So there are several side sill design variations on the Aston Martin Vantage over the years. Which design do you think looks best for the overall look of the car and which detracts? Please be specific and thanks for your input. The first photo is of the original car with an under swept smooth transition. The original designer Henrik Fisker bought a v12 version of the car from the San Diego dealer later in his career after leaving AM. He removed that side sill to return the car to this "look". Robb Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here is the N400 version that was also included on later cars as well. Robb Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here is the v12 version that has a bit of a blocky effect. This is also used on the N430 and last GT editions. Robb Image Unavailable, Please Login
The version on the n24 race car looks similar to the v12 version but has a black strip making it appear notched... Robb Image Unavailable, Please Login
There are a couple of other aftermarket designs that look a little too much like blades that are trying too hard... Did I miss any other OEM designs? Thoughts? I'm thinking the original is the cleanest best solution. Robb
As a long-time chronic looker/shopper and hopefully eventual buyer of a Vantage, I can hand-down say the first design is the best. It is cleaner, more elegant, and to me emphasizes the nice muscular swelling along the rear fender and wheel arch. The later versions aren't bad, but look to me like they are trying a bit too hard. They also make the car look less muscular and maybe a little blockier. I think the V-12 version is acceptable when taken in context of the rest of the more flashy visual upgrades of that model. But for a V8, the first is best. Question: you mentioned Henrik removing the later sills...are these just tacked on over the original body? Or would there be metal cutting and welding involved in such a job? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The sills are interchangeable through rivets / adhesive so it is easy to have the look you enjoy the most. Although wheel / tire combos might make it look like something is odd or missing since certain combinations are never really seen together... Thanks for taking the time to post. Robb
Door #1 looks best to me, much more muscular to my eyes and emphasizes the rear fender more. Which is your fav?
My favorite is the original sills that smoothly go under the car without any swoops. I thing the other sills make the car look shorter (and stubbier). It's more muscular looking in the original design. My brother on the other hand likes the v12 sills so... there will always be different preferences. Robb
That looks very good. Although we are specifically talking about the v8 vantage 2005-2017 in this thread. I'm sorry the thread title was not clear. Robb
First photo looks cleaner and more graceful to me. It seems that usually the first design try is the best. Every thing after is just a change for sake of change IMO.
This is good to know. I'm planning on grabbing a Vantage next year and the only look I like is the original, but I'd prefer the latest updates on the newer cars. Seems like it wouldn't be a difficult change to make.
I like the V12 version the best. Makes the fenders look wider since it shows the depth of the curve to the doors.
I very much prefer the original design. I have a 2007 so that's my bias. I think all the "improvements" they added to the style later just clutter up what was an almost perfectly-conceived shape to begin with. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'm a fan of the original design. Of course I am biased. This is my 2007. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Those are HRE P40 in a 20 inch diameter. I love the way they fill out of the wheel wells, and the design of the wheel, is this timeless as the design of the car in my opinion.
This aftermarket variation is guilty of trying too hard and should hopefully fade away into the night... No thanks. I think Mansory might be involved as most of their stuff screams like this... Robb Image Unavailable, Please Login
Original version still looks best. same goes for the DB9, original until 2010, afterwards start the add ons/changes, culminating in the duck tail final version ... :-( Cheers, Frank
I favor the original design, and it looks like the designers of the new DB11 felt likewise. But I bet in a few years the DB11 will grow side sills as did the Vantage.