We have all known Aston Martin to be a maker of gorgeous and luxurious touring cars with a curious knack for performance. The balance has been phenomenal with Astons and their cars have always had a distinctive aura among GT cars out there, even today. Also, Mr. Bond loves them which in itself is a befitting statement of its hidden capabilities.
But even when polishing out their existing portfolio of sexy GT cars, Aston Martin strived for more. And this urge to outdo themselves is what helped them achieve the out worldly with the Aston Martin One-77. Pitched as their flagship offering in 2009, the Aston Martin One-77 was much more than just a 'fast' GT car. It was the pinnacle of engineering for Aston Martin and a car that married extreme engineering and drool-worthy craftmanship in the most perfect setting possible.
The One-77 was way ahead of its time with a carbon-monocoque chassis and a 7.3L V12 engine which was the largest ever put in an Aston Martin. Calling the One-77 as a Halo car would still be an understatement, as it was crafted with oozing passion. Aston Martin showed us that hypercar performance can also be inculcated in a cozy mile-munching GT car, way before others even thought of doing so. Now, in 2021 we have many super-GTs, who trod the path that the One-77 made.
Aston Martin One-77 limited to just 77 units is the pinnacle of hand-crafted hyper-performing GT cars, still!
7 Of These Hyper-GTs Also Got The Elusive 'Q-Series' Treatment
Only 77 of these performance-GTs were ever made and well, Aston Martin still found it to be a little too mainstream! We say so because as the One-77 was nearing its end of production, the British automaker gave it the elusive Q Series treatment. The Q treatment came in packages, and the One-77's Q treatment had 4 exclusive liveries in combinations of black, white, red, and metallic gray in varying proportions inside-out. The Q Series treated-One-77's are one of the rarest Aston Martins out there.
Aston Martin One-77 Packed The Most-Powerful NA V12 Of The Time
Aston Martin was pretty serious about their halo GT car and poured in every ounce of engineering expertise they could find out there. A 5.9L naturally aspirated V12 was the common heart in all Aston Martins during the 2000s. But for the One-77 they partnered up with a dear friend - Cosworth, to make their most powerful V12 back in the day. Yes, the 7.3L Naturally Aspirated V12 was Aston's most ambitious and powerful engine of the time and was a heavily modified version of their common workhorse - the 5.9L.
The 7.3L unit was also the most glorious sounding one and pumped out 750 hp and 553 lb-ft to the rear wheels via an upgraded version of their 6-Speed sequential gearbox. They bumped up the displacement and performance as opposed to the donor motor but also used clever components to bring down the engine weight by 132 pounds. They even installed a dry sump that allowed for lowering the engine, thus improving cornering performance and center of gravity. This engine still remains a drooling marvel.
Aston Martin One-77 Does 0-60 Mph In 3.5 Seconds And Has A Top Speed Of Over 220 Mph
All the effort put into upsized the engine, lowering the curb weight and usage of lightweight internals made the Aston Martin One-77 their fastest ever GT-car back in the day. The One-77 could do 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of over 220 mph which was insane for a car that was even luxurious and comfortable. To give you a reference, Aston managed to hold up to the likes of the beautiful Pagani Zonda, and the iconic Ferrari Enzo, to name a few.
An Exquisite Interior Layout With Focus On Luxury And Comfort Was No Surprise
Aston Martin can never go wrong with their interior. And they surprised the world with the level of intricacy, comfort, and luxury they had achieved in a car that could do 200+ mph all day long. Aston Martin didn't refresh an interior layout from any of its existing models for the One-77 but made one from scratch.
The swooping dashboard with the ever so glossy inlays wrapped with leather was an expression of the finesse this luxury automaker possessed. The whole dashboard was new with distinctively plush elements and each car could be curated according to the owner with loads of choices from wood, leather, and trim options.
A Beautiful Marriage Of Technology And Craftsmanship Is Its Best Aspect
Aston Martin as a brand has always strived to keep the automotive art intact. The beautiful aspect of working with craftsmen is what has helped Aston Martin leverage their exclusivity and pricing, in a world of Rolls Royces and Bentleys. But when leaks and rumors of the One-77 surfaced before its launch, critics were in a fit to how the world would take Aston's try on modern technology. This is where Aston Martin surprised us with the One-77 and showcased its best possible aspect. It is the bold fusion of cutting-edge technology and beautiful craftsmanship.
Would you believe that the One-77's all-aluminum body was individually and completely beaten to shape by hand?! Yup, that's where the insane levels of craftsmanship come in. And in terms of technology, they collaborated with Multimatic - a Canadian company with expertise in carbon composites to makes the 100% carbon-fiber chassis for the One-77.
Underneath that hand-beaten marvel was a mechanical setup taken straight from the race tracks. DTM-inspired suspension setup and a front mid-mounted engine made this a track-yielding supercar disguised as the perfect GT car. The Aston Martin One-77 is still the definition of a modern GT car.
Sources: Astonmartin.com, Wikipedia.org, Motortrend.com, Petrolicious.com, Moneyinc.com, Caranddriver.com