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Silverstone Auctions RAF Museum London Season Opener 2022
1978 Aston Martin Volante (Manual) to Vantage Specification

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1978 Aston Martin Volante (Manual) to Vantage Specification

Lot Number: 624

1978 Aston Martin Volante (Manual) to Vantage Specification

The 2nd production right-hand drive Volante, factory manual and upgraded to Vantage specification in the 1990s.

NOT SOLD

LIVE AUCTION: This lot was auctioned on Sunday 6th March, 2022 at 2.00pm GMT at RAF Museum London

BODY COLOUR
Buckingham Green
DRIVE
RHD
REG NUMBER
AVG 149S
ODOMETER READING
2985 Miles

SUMMARY

The 2nd production right-hand drive Volante, factory manual and upgraded to Vantage specification in the 1990s.

DESCRIPTION

The 2nd production right-hand drive Volante and the first to be specified with a manual gearbox
Delivered new by St. Helier Garages Ltd., Jersey to a Dr. Kirch on the 21st February 1979, who, on his return to the UK, registered the car on 4th February 1982
Converted to V580 Vantage specification by the Stratton Motor Company in 1998 at a total cost of £26,000
Repainted in Buckingham Green in 2003 as an homage to the venerable Prince of Wales Specification V8 Vantage Volante at a cost of some £30,000
The detailed history file includes the original service book and historical invoices from the UK’s best independent Aston specialists
Recent attention includes a new A/C pump, steering rack, mohair roof and fuel pump
Regretfully for sale to fund the restoration of a DB6, this matching numbers car is offered to auction with an odometer reading of 102,985 miles (atoc) and a fresh MOT.

The first Aston Martin V8 Volante rolled off the production line at Newport Pagnell in 1978 to worldwide acclaim and went on to be Aston's saviour as, much like its older siblings, the DB5 and DB6, the V8 Volante kept the order books full by conquering the North American market. As the convertible version of the new luxury Oscar India V8, the car had the brutish good looks of an aristocratic rugby player and the interior refinement of a gentleman's club. If the contemporary Ferrari of its day was likened to a 'prancing playboy in snakeskin loafers' the Aston V8 Volante was the solid chap in burnished brogues, equally at ease in town or country.

When Timothy Dalton took over as James Bond in the 1987 film "The Living Daylights" he did so behind the wheel of the most appropriate car of the era, a V8 Vantage Volante. Bestowing the virtues of its heritage, luxury and power, the V8 Vantage Volante helped ease Mr Dalton into the role of the quintessentially British spy. The car was to feature prominently throughout the film, with the "Winterised" version eventually falling foul of its own self-destruct button. When HRH Prince Charles ordered his new Vantage Volante in 1987 he preferred the Vantage engine but with the more understated styling of the standard Volante such as this car, and a further twenty-one Prince of Wales specification cars were produced, which have become highly sought after.

This delightful car has the dual distinction of being not only the second production right-hand drive Volante but the first of just twenty-eight right-hand drive manual carburettor Volantes out of a global production of 901 cars. Delivered new by St. Helier Garages Ltd., Jersey to a Dr. Kirch on the 21st February 1979, who, on his return to the UK, registered the car on 4th February 1982. Diligently maintained and regularly appearing at AMOC events with subsequent owners, the car’s fourth owner, noted newspaper baron Eddie Shah, was to set in course the next chapter of the Volante’s journey. He commissioned the Stratton Motor Company to upgrade the engine to Vantage V580-specification and fit the corresponding exhaust system at a cost of £26,000 in 1998.

As is common with virtually all Aston Martins of this period, the decision was made to change the colour from Storm Red to perhaps the best colour of Buckingham Green. During this cosmetic restoration carried out by Aston Workshop in 2003, that cost £30,000, a Vantage front grille was added too. The car now resembled a Prince of Wales specification Vantage Volante in both looks and performance, save the factory correct "cookie cutter" alloys as oppsed to the Ronal wheels of the later PoW cars. Bought by our vendor, a true Aston enthusiast, in August 2020, he has since fitted a new alternator, steering rack, air conditioning unit, viscous fan, blower motor and power steering pump. Cosmetically new green carpets were fitted and the re-trimming of the front seats was topped off with a new mohair hood.

The history file is incredibly detailed, and together with the well-stamped service book, includes reams of historical receipts from the factory and leading Aston independent garages, it is patently obvious that diligent past owners have taken this car to the best names for works. Some £80,000 worth of receipts are present for expenditure over the last twenty years alone. Regretfully offered to auction to fund the restoration of a DB6, our vendor has travelled some 4,500 miles in the car and the odometer has gone “round the clock” with a reading of 102,985 miles at the time of cataloguing and a new MOT will be issued prior to the sale.

We feel that this matching numbers motor car is perhaps unique in the market with its historically important status as the first manual right-hand drive Volante and its upgraded Vantage specification engine. With just twenty-seven PoW specification Vantage Volantes produced, and commanding twice the money, this delightful car is in no way a replica but a car that stands on its own four wheels as a subtly styled example of the model in superb condition.

SPECIFICATION

Lot Number: 624
Make: ASTON MARTIN
Model: V8 VOLANTE
Registration Number: AVG 149S
MOT Expiry: Exempt
Chassis Number: V8C0R15042
Engine Number: V/540/5042/S
Transmission: Manual
Body Colour: Buckingham Green

GALLERY

CONSIGNOR

Arwel Richards
Car Specialist
07434 960868
arwel@iconicauctioneers.com

For further information regarding this lot please contact Arwel.

CONTACT

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SEE IT IN ACTION

Vehicles can be collected from the RAF Museum on Monday 7^th March between 9am and 2pm.

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Any vehicles not collected by 2pm on Monday 7^th March will be taken to EM Rogers storage facility in Northampton for a fee of £175 plus VAT. Storage will be charged at £10 plus VAT per day from Monday 7^th onwards.

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