Aston Martin links three DB12 S Coupés to its 1950 Le Mans racers
Aston Martin is bringing three Q by Aston Martin DB12 S Coupés to Monterey Car Week, each styled in tribute to the DB2 competition cars built for the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans. VMF 63, VMF 64 and VMF 65 combine the DB12 S’s 515 kW V8 powertrain with three historic colour schemes, created to mark the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The inspiration comes from three DB2 race cars carrying the British registration numbers VMF 63, VMF 64 and VMF 65. Aston Martin built them for the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours, and they continued racing through the early 1950s both as works entries and in private hands.
In Aston Martin’s 1951 works team, the three DB2s were distinguished by the colour of their grilles. Q by Aston Martin has now carried the same idea over to the modern DB12 S.
Black bodywork with three historic accent colours
All three DB12 S Coupés are finished in Carbon Black. VMF 63 receives Rosso Red accents, VMF 64 uses Speed Yellow and VMF 65 gets Ellwood Blue. The accent colours extend to the grille vanes and painted carbon-fibre side strakes, while Q adds circular “75” racing-number graphics to the front wings. At the rear, each car features a painted carbon-fibre Aeroblade and a foil graphic depicting the silhouette of a DB2.
Q is not attempting to recreate the shape of a 1950 DB2 on a modern car. Instead, it uses historic colours and carefully chosen visual cues to connect each new DB12 S directly with one of the original racers.
The same approach continues inside. The front seatbacks feature colour-coordinated Aston Martin Wings stitching and subtle DB2 silhouette embroidery, while the rear seatbacks carry “75” roundel graphics. The start/stop rotary control and paddle-shifter tips are also painted in the relevant accent colour, while bespoke “75” sill plaques complete the historical theme.
The mechanical package remains standard DB12 S
Aston Martin has announced no bespoke engine or chassis changes for the VMF trio, so based on the specifications released, the cars retain the standard DB12 S mechanical package. Under the bonnet sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 515 kW and 800 Nm. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a rear-mid-mounted eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and an electronically controlled rear differential.
The DB12 S accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 325 km/h. Compared with the regular DB12, power rises from 500 kW to 515 kW, while torque remains unchanged at 800 Nm. The 0–100 km/h time improves by a tenth of a second, while top speed remains 325 km/h.
The S model changes more than just the engine output
The DB12 S upgrades go well beyond the additional power. Aston Martin has reduced gearshift times by more than 50 per cent, introduced S-specific throttle calibration and revised the Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers, steering assistance and electronic rear differential.
A stiffer rear anti-roll bar helps control body movement, while revised camber, toe and castor settings are intended to sharpen front-end response and overall agility.
Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard. The front discs measure 410 mm in diameter and the rears 360 mm, with Aston Martin claiming a 27 kg reduction in unsprung mass compared with an equivalent steel-brake system.
An optional titanium exhaust system saves a further 11.7 kg compared with the standard stainless-steel exhaust.
On the European WLTP cycle, the DB12 S Coupé officially records combined fuel consumption of 11.9 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 269 g/km.
The VMF trio is all about Q’s craftsmanship
The three Monterey cars have not been given more power or separate performance figures beyond those of the standard DB12 S. Their appeal lies instead in Q by Aston Martin’s bespoke work and the direct connection to three specific historic DB2 race cars. VMF 63, VMF 64 and VMF 65 are therefore best viewed as a three-car collection rather than a new DB12 S derivative.
Aston Martin has not announced pricing for the trio or a wider production run using the same VMF theme. Their role at Monterey is to demonstrate how far the Q programme can transform the character of an existing production model without changing its underlying mechanical specification.
That is what makes the three cars interesting. The 515 kW V8 and 325 km/h top speed are standard DB12 S hardware, but the red, yellow and blue detailing ties each car directly to Aston Martin’s 1950 Le Mans story without simply imitating the historic racers.
