The Aston Martin Vantage marque is one which has been applied to a number of models throughout the history of this manufacturer and it has come to be associated with range-topping performance in many instances.

However, during the early 1970s there was in fact an Aston Martin launched which was referred to only as the Vantage, with no other subtitled or prefix included to indicate its associations with an existing range.

This model is worth discussing briefly if only because it represents a unique point in the history of the Vantage moniker.

Aston Martin introduced this model in 1972 and ended up building just 71 examples over the next 12 months.

The Vantage was effectively a modified version of the DBS, but while at this time you would find V8 engines in these models, the Vantage was instead endowed with a straight six.

Other noteworthy features include its wire wheels, which would never appear on a new Aston Martin after its production run ended and its unusual headlight arrangement.

While this model was available during the 1970s, the Vantage tag actually began life back in 1951 when the DB2 Vantage was launched.

This was essentially a DB2 with an upgraded, tuned engine which could output 125bhp and the use of the Vantage tag came about because the Aston Martin designers simply wanted to find a suitable word for higher power models and used a thesaurus to help them out.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s there were various Vantage iterations of the DB4, 5 and 6, before the initially discussed model emerged.

In 1977 the V8 Vantage entered the fray and this would prove to be one of the more enduring models, lasting in its various guises until 1990.

The Aston Martin Virage arrived at the start of this decade and would also get its own V8 Vantage model from 1992.

The most recent iteration of the Aston Martin Vantage was launched in 2009, this time with a V12 engine, giving it some of the most impressive performance stats to ever have graced this venerable range. The Vantage marque remains an indicator of superiority to this day.