1984 Aston Martin V8 Series 4 'Oscar India'

• Purchased new by its first and only registered keeper on 07/03/1984 via Aston Martin Sales Ltd.
• The owner, the Chairman of the National Bank of Dubai, kept the car at his Bishops Avenue residence
• Delivered in Salisbury Blue coachwork with magnolia hide and automatic transmission
• Chiltern Aston Martin lightly recommissioned the car in 2016 at a cost of ú16,670
• With a warranted mileage of just 10,443, the history file is one of the finest we have seen
• Original owners handbook, original service book, warranty card, copy of service receipts and tool kit
• A rare opportunity to purchase an unmolested, low mileage AM V8 in one of the best colour combinations

One could describe the Aston Martin V8 Series 4, often titled 'Oscar India' (October Introduction in phonetics), as the Mustang that went to Eton. The exterior, particularly the front, may have had a touch of the Mustang about it but the interior was unmistakably Mayfair. The first Aston Martin in decades to combine sumptuous Connolly leather and polished Walnut facings, the interior of the Oscar India, launched in 1978, provided the driver with all of the comforts of the era and the grunt of the legendary Tadek Marek designed V8.

Compared to the contemporary exotica on offer from Italy, Aston's V8 would cruise unassumingly, with only the burble and the occasional pop from the twin exhausts on the overrun alluding to the turn of speed available under the discreetly bulging bonnet. Few cars genuinely suit an automatic gearbox but the standard Aston V8 is a car that perfectly mates the 5.3-litre V8 to the Chrysler-derived 3-speed Torqueflite automatic gearbox. Gears change with barely a quiver and the kick-down can be executed without fuss.

Purchased new by its first owner and only registered keeper the Chairman of the National Bank of Dubai, through Aston Martin Sales Ltd., it was delivered on the 06/03/1984 in Salisbury Blue with magnolia hide and automatic transmission. It was maintained by the Aston Martin Works Service department at Newport Pagnell for many years with service invoices on file from 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993, by which time the mileage read just 8,696 miles. In keeping with the demands on the time of an international businessman with a substantial collection, the car was little used but correctly stored in a temperature-controlled garage at his residence on Bishops Avenue, one of London's most well-known and desirable addresses.

The car was latterly maintained by Aston Martin specialist Ian Mason until 2016 and Chiltern Aston Martin was instructed to lightly recommission the car at a cost of ú16,670 for various works which included reconditioning the radiator, new coolant hoses, new inlet manifold, vacuum hoses, new front wheel bearings, re-bushed front suspension, rear brake servos, overhauled steering rack and a major service. With the first owner's passing in 2018, the Aston is now available and is offered today as effectively a one-owner car, indeed the V5c still shows one registered keeper. The odometer indicates just under 10,500 miles and it's presented to auction with one of the finest history files we have seen containing the original owner's handbook, service book, warranty card, invoices, tool kit and an advisory-free MOT until July 2020.

To conclude, this is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most original, unmolested and well maintained Aston Martin V8s available. This car's superb condition, interesting provenance, comprehensive history and low mileage sets it apart and it's now ready to grace the finest of collections or possibly do what V8 Astons do best and head for the open highway.