1986 Aston Martin V8 Volante

1986 Aston Martin V8 Volante
VIN. SCFCV81C8GTL15449
Engine no. V/585/5449/LFM
5,340cc DOHC V8 Engine
Weber-Marelli Fuel Injection
300bhp at 6,000rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Desirable narrow-body, 5-speed manual LHD US-delivery V8 Volante
*Sinister, triple black livery
*Fitted with European chrome bumpers
*Brute force sheathed in British refinement

THE ASTON MARTIN V8 VOLANTE

Aston Martin had initially intended the DBS to house its new V8 engine, but production difficulties meant that the car first appeared with the DB6's 4.0-liter six. Bigger and more luxuriously appointed than the DB6, the heavyweight DBS disappointed some by virtue of its slightly reduced performance, but there were no complaints when the V8 finally arrived in 1969. With an estimated 315bhp available from its 5,340cc four-cam engine, the DBS V8 could reach 100mph in under 14 seconds, running on to a top speed of 160mph, a staggering performance in those days and one which fully justified the claim that it was the fastest production car in the world. After Aston Martin's acquisition by Company Developments in 1972, production resumed with the Series 2, now known as the Aston Martin V8 and distinguishable by a restyled front end recalling the looks of earlier Astons. The most successful Aston Martin ever, the V8 survived the changes of ownership and financial upheavals of the 1970s, enjoying a record-breaking production run lasting from 1969 to 1988, with 2,919 cars sold.

Described by former Aston Martin Chairman Victor Gauntlett as "a stylish thoroughbred, beautifully built, luxurious, fast and immensely safe," the V8 was built in several variants, one of the more exclusive being the Volante Convertible. Introduced in response to customer demand for such a car, the Volante first appeared in June 1978. Arguably the ultimate in soft-top luxury, the newcomer boasted a lined, power-operated top which, when erected, endowed the walnut embellished interior with all the solidity and refinement associated with the saloon version. Although its open-car aerodynamics meant that top speed suffered with the top down, the Volante's 150mph maximum nevertheless ranked it among the world's fastest convertibles.

The V8 Volante received periodic upgrades and refinements as the Saloon or Coupe version did, adopting the era-defining BBS wheels in 1983, and then switching to Weber-Marelli fuel injection – and a flatter bonnet – in 1986.

V8 Volante and Vantage Volante chassis numbers ran from '15001' to '15849', and counted a total of 849 cars. The last V8 Volantes were built in 1989.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Factory records show that left-hand drive chassis number '15449' was manufactured for the United States market and delivered complete with the optional Vantage front air dam, while the original finish is recorded as 'Cannock Black – Masons'. Sold new to Texas, the triple black V8 Volante spent the first score of years in the US—with roughly the first decade spent in the Houston area and the split between Miami and upstate New York—before it was acquired by a German Aston Martin enthusiast and owner of a number of modern examples in February 2006. During its tenure in Germany, the bumpers were changed to the European specification. Keeping the car until 2013, it was garaged and serviced annually by a local specialist, with receipts for general mechanical and cosmetic services totaling in excess of €20,000.

Sold at Bonhams' Aston Martin Sale in 2013, it returned stateside and soon found its way into the current owner's garage. Driven less than 600 miles in the present ownership, it received a thorough mechanical and cosmetic service—including fresh oil, brake fluid, and anti-freeze as well and new air cleaners, spark plugs, differential lubrication, and extensive interior cleaning and leather treatment as well as paint detailing and touch-up—at the end of May of this year at a cost of over $3200. This sinister, triple black, US-delivery example of the V8 Volante with the rare and desirable 5-speed from new—and now fitted with the attractive European chrome bumpers—is the perfect addition to any collection and no doubt represents one of the most sought-after varieties of the V8 among enthusiasts.