With the final incarnation of the V8 Vantage––a staple of Newport Pagnell’s range since 1977, sporting lines akin to those first seen on the six-cylinder DBS a decade earlier––Aston engineers weren’t content with simply sending the graceful old GT out in style.

They had something special up their collective sleeves.

Known unofficially by many names including “X-Pack”, “Series 3” and “580X”, all terms refer to the final run of the 1986 to 1989 Vantage models that ended this Aston’s 12-year production run with a bang.

The model was the fastest four-seater of its kind at launch.

For these last-of-the-line Vantages, Aston Martin engineers tinkered with its base and already potent engine, substantially modifying it in order to unlock a monumental 400-plus horsepower figure––in an era when 200 horsepower was still considered plenty.

Said tweaks to Polish engineer Tadek Marek’s already legendary V-8 consisted of adding Cosworth pistons, high-lift camshafts and enlarged inlet ports, fed b...