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Just completed the last mod having the Carbon fiber V-E V12 RS bonnet installed on my 2011 V8 Vantage - modding on a budget (except the V-E bonnet which was $$$). The 23K mile car was delivered with some blemishes, paint chips all over, scratched from car washes head to toe - a bent grill, and a nickel-quarter sized dent in the bonnet. I could have just turned around and resold it, but had it looked at Morries and it seemed to be OK other than slight seepage from the timing cover. First thing was paint correction and touch up most chips then Xpel full front clip. Then replaced the overly quiet stock exhaust with a used $995 Quicksilver (not realizing it was the touring exhaust) and added recently VelocityAP CAT Delete straight pipes to get the sound where it was needed. I changed the silver ski-slope to Bamboo (with an upgrade kit from plastic backed to metal backed) with glass button from Aston Martin Works as well as an AMR grill from them. I got a used 20" front and rear 21" wheels off of a DB9 from the marketplace in this forum for $1200 and sold the stock wheels for $1500. The new tires were PS4's from Tire Rack using an install at my location from Tire Rack mobile (about $2K). I added two motorcycle LED headlights ($300) to be inset in the AMR grill, doing most the work myself, but getting it professionally wired to the headlights. Used blue leather floor and trunk mats - $100. Fixed a defect in the leather seat ($200). The bonnet was $4K, but shipping from Germany with taxes and duties was not cheap, as well as the Midnight Blue preparation, paint and installation. (The bonnet alone was as much as all the other mods combined). I had an actual 20K mile Aston Martin Service for $2100 showing everything in pretty good shape and plenty of clutch life left. and got an additional glass key (new). Other than maybe a change to less dust brakes and in two months gettng Xpel on the bonnet, I'm pretty much done. I tried to keep the car elegant without going too far with mods. It's a bit 'hot wheels' looking with the 21" rear (the ad was 20", so the 21" was a bit of a surprise). Probably have more into the car by now than what it's worth, but no plans to sell. A C8 my daily driver - this is my occasion car and when I want that all important classic Aston Martin driving experience.
Your car looks incredible with all your mods. I especially like the lights in the grill. A close friend of mine had lights like that in his new 1968 z28, but that was years ago. Thanks for your recommendation of the cat delete pipes. I ordered them today.
To answer the color match - below picture I think shows how close it is. I used Vescio's Customizing, and Bo Vescio is amazing in the work he does. He mixes the paints by eye. I can't tell the difference.
You know what's even more amazing - the fact I took a Dremel tool to cut the two holes in a new AMR Grill and actually cut it perfectly and in the correct place - I'd say I had about a 99% chance of blowing it given my crude measuring skills. I could not believe I actually pulled it off. All other work I had professionally done.
