The original Aston Martin V8 Vantage is many things. The British automaker described it as Britain’s first supercar when it was introduced in 1977. Others love its capability as a grand tourer. The truth of the matter is, Aston Martin built only 534 units over the course of 12 years, including 166 Vantage Volantes. This is one of them, a rather special example of the breed thanks to an extensive history file.
Bonhams will try to sell this beauty at the Aston Martin Works Sale in May. Care to guess what the estimate on this Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante X-Pack finished in Cumberland Grey is? £220,000 to £260,000, which is $312,575 to $369,350 at current exchange rates. To put the estimate into perspective, that kind of money buys you a seriously luxurious Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II EWB.
Compared to the regular model, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage with the big bore X-Pack treatment boasts 432 horsepower from its 5.3-liter V8, Cosworth pistons, Nimrod racing-type heads, straight-through exhaust, and 50 mm carbs instead of 48 mm Webers. In its heyday, this was the fastest convertible money could buy. It also looks like it’s worth a million bucks. The flared wheel arches and extended front spoiler help with that, as does the Cumberland Grey paint job.
Over the years, chassis number 15595 has been serviced only by recognized Aston Martin specialists. The previous owner made some repairs to the bodywork in 2002 and rebuilt the engine in 2003. The history file also contains photographs of the restoration, which should please the man who will bid the most.
These said, during a time when American manufacturers were recovering from the so-called Malaise Era, Aston Martin showed the world that the muscle car was far from being dead. If you’re interested in this blast from the past, more info about it and the Aston Martin Works Sale is available on the Bonhams website.
Compared to the regular model, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage with the big bore X-Pack treatment boasts 432 horsepower from its 5.3-liter V8, Cosworth pistons, Nimrod racing-type heads, straight-through exhaust, and 50 mm carbs instead of 48 mm Webers. In its heyday, this was the fastest convertible money could buy. It also looks like it’s worth a million bucks. The flared wheel arches and extended front spoiler help with that, as does the Cumberland Grey paint job.
Over the years, chassis number 15595 has been serviced only by recognized Aston Martin specialists. The previous owner made some repairs to the bodywork in 2002 and rebuilt the engine in 2003. The history file also contains photographs of the restoration, which should please the man who will bid the most.
These said, during a time when American manufacturers were recovering from the so-called Malaise Era, Aston Martin showed the world that the muscle car was far from being dead. If you’re interested in this blast from the past, more info about it and the Aston Martin Works Sale is available on the Bonhams website.