• Left-hand drive • Desirable manual transmission • Stored since acquisition in 2011 • Requires re-commissioning 'Brutal' was a word used more than once to described the fastest Aston Martin ever on its introduction in 1992, but as the Vantage had no less than 550bhp available to propel its two tons, the choice can only be judged fair comment.

A consummate fast tourer, the Virage left room at the top of the range for an out-and-out sportscar, hence the Vantage.

Although the two models appear superficially similar few panels are shared, and beneath the skin the Vantage chassis boasts the kind of extensive re-engineering required to cope with the massive increase in performance.

The latter comes courtesy of a blown version of Aston's 5,340cc V8, twin mechanically driven Eaton superchargers being preferred to turbo-charging on the grounds of superior throttle response.

Quite apart from its stupendous maximum output, remarkable enough in itself, the engine is monstrously torquey, produ...