Maybe it’s a byproduct of seeing international man of mystery James Bond in an Aston Martin all these years, or the fact that Astons have always had the air of quiet menace about them. But with Britain’s angriest celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay spotted in not just one limited-run Aston Martin supercar but two in recent times, the picture certainly paints itself. First spotted in a $1.5 million Aston Martin Valour and more recently in a $2.5 million Aston Martin Valiant, it’s safe to say Ramsay is a fan.
Or more accurately, Aston Martin is a fan of the Michelin-starred chef, considering only 110 Valour units were made to tribute Aston’s 110-year heritage, while only 38 Valiant units are slated for production. Gordon Ramsay may just be the first European owner to boot. The Aston Martin Valour, for those uninitiated in the world of limited-run Astons, has a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 under its long, low hood. One could say it’s an engine Ramsay has fallen in love with, considering the same V12 unit does duty in the Valiant, with 29 horsepower more for a total of 734 horsepower.
In the whole scheme of things, the Valiant is a more hardcore version of the already-sinister looking Valour, much the same way the Aston Martin Muncher was the track-version of the 1980s’ DBS V8 sports car. Fun fact: Aston Martin actually built the Valiant on request from Fernando Alonso, the British team’s in-house F1 driver and former world champion. Alonso had reportedly asked for a lighter, more playful version of the Valour, something Aston delivered with the Valiant.
As far as special-edition Aston Martins go, these are right up there with the most illustrious. And as far as celebrity chefs go, Gordon Ramsay is one with the most charisma and sensibility, making this a match made in heaven. Or hell.
