Malibu310

As many of you know - we are the guys that chevyized our 928's - but they win custom car shows. We had ordered a while ago (will get it next month) an Aston Vantage. With enough calls, the "Works" factory agreed to custom make burr walnut door caps and console. Wood is NOT available on the Aston Vantage as to not hurt the desirability of the DB9. Not only did the factory comply with us, they mirrored the wood so left and right of the centerline of the console matched (note the doors are mirrored) from a single piece of veneer. The custom molds they produced will now allow others to order burr walnut as an option. The wood is a $1,500 option on a DB9 - this custom hand made install was $2,000 - or about 1/2 the price of the wood interior add-ons of a new Porsche Cayman.

AO

I normally don't like wood in cars, but this looks very nice!

Malibu310

I've had three old Astons... I actually regret putting wood in the 928 - will do something different this summer, but an English car without wood does not quite seem so english.


Rick H

Bill Ball

The door veneer looks very nicely done. Cool that the factory sent you "in-progress" pictures.

Nicole

OMG - That is AWESOME!!!

Ed Hughes

I wish I was waiting on my new AM.

Bill Ball

I'd be very happy with what you have there, Ed.

Malibu310

It's amazing how the guys at the dealer and the factory compare to my experiences in the past at the Porsche dealer... which by the way is better than a few decades ago.

I generally dress casual - comfortable - OK but not expensive clothes. If I went into the Porsche dealers here in Minneapolis not dressed up I never got any attention, about 5 years ago it got better, and it's semi-friendly today. I visit Aston dealers as I travel, and no matter how I dress, they have always treated me warm and respectable.

The factory "Works" department maintains all Astons made - even those 90 years old and can provide collision repair as well as customization. Works is about 50 miles from the factory where the car is made. It is the customization that I used them for... it was Works that made the DBS for the Bond movie. I got the Woods and "Daylight" running lights ($200) done there.

Rick

Ed Hughes

I am, I've just lusted after Aston Martins since I first saw Goldfinger as a child in the 60's.

IcemanG17

WOW......that looks SWEET.......hmmm it has me thinking.....I would bet that Paul Champagne could replicate that in a 928 door panel.......

Malibu310

I have in my 928 too many different things going - aluminum - wood - too much - thinking of stripping the center console and matching the exterior color - orange- with a smooth console panel cleaning up the confusion this summer. The Aston will remain as is stock - the 928 will remain my experimentation hobby.

Gary Knox

The one owner '94 GTS that I bought a year ago has the 928 OE wood interior. Parts of the two door inserts, the shifter surround, the "T" shifter itself, and the ash tray cover. These were in walnut burlwood, and about 1/4 as much wood/veneer as that you show on the Aston. The MSRP sticker price for the Porsche OE wood items was $5359!!!!!! Total MSRP for the car was $93,078. He probably had enough left over from a 100K $ bill to buy a couple of steak dinners after paying taxes, license fees, etc. OH - forgot about insurance bill!!!, maybe just a couple of big Macs!!! But, knowing a bit about the original owner, that didn't bother him.
What is amazing is that he drove the car for 60K miles and 12 years. I'm confident I can drive it that long, and for that many miles at MUCH lower cost per mile than he had!!
Gary Knox
West Chester, PA

PorKen

Since I saw this pic last summer, I have been trying to think of how to make removeable floor panels for my '86. I have a carpenter friend who does fancy veneers - Zebra wood, etc. He could make curved laminates to fit.

Malibu310

That picture - obviously an Aston - but what customizer? Wood floor might look good in the 928 as well as rear shelf

PorKen

Bertone.

Here's a link (clic pic):