Nine Astons for sale
Picture of V8s up for auction
On 3 March, we reported that Bonhams is to sell nine commemorative, hand-built Aston V8s, all owned by one person. Now, more detail has emerged, along with a picture.
They were privately commissioned in 1987 with the aim of celebrating the 21st anniversary of V8 production. Believed to be the only time that such a series of vehicles has been built, the nine V8s are all consecutively registered and finished in identical Hunter Green coachwork with tan leather upholstery, burr walnut veneer and dark green carpeting.
The collection has been fastidiously maintained by the present, second owner. Each car – showing minimal mileage – carries a card in the glove box recording every occasion it has been used. Last year, all nine models were featured at Aston Martin's new factory at Gaydon in Warwickshire during a visit by Prince Charles.
1990 marked the launch of the Virage and the end of production of the existing V8 range which had all developed from the original 1969 V8 Coupe. The V8s proved immensely popular and were in production for 21 years.
For the past 10 years the collection has been housed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled environment by the current owner and every model is offered effectively 'as new'.
The collection comprises:
- Aston Martin V8 Coupe
- Aston Martin V8 Volante
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante Prince of Wales Specification (POW)
- Aston Martin Lagonda
- Aston Martin Vantage Zagato
- Aston Martin Vantage Zagato Volante
- Aston Martin Virage Coupe
Although the vendor has expressed a preference to sell the collection in its entirety as one lot, the vehicles will be offered – subject to an acceptable private treaty offer – individually as consecutive lots at the auction.
The story is that the owner commisioned one of each type for that year and then his accountant went and had them registered with consecutive G plates, thus turning them overnight into a gaggle of second hand motors and a 10 year Christmas bonus for a bunch of lawyers.
They've been wheeled out at several StJohn Horsfal events over the years and stored for a while up at Beaconsfield alongside Old Number 1, another lawyers field day.
Nice collection, not really worth any premium though. All the hallmarks of a fire sale to dump 9 G reg, secondhand, mill stones.
>>> Edited by Horse_Apple on Tuesday 22 March 11:03
Horse_Apple said:
I wonder if the 10 year law suit has been settled?
The story is that the owner commisioned one of each type for that year and then his accountant went and had them registered with consecutive G plates, thus turning them overnight into a gaggle of second hand motors and a 10 year Christmas bonus for a bunch of lawyers.
Sorry for being thick, I don't understand. Did the act of registering them devalue them?
britten_mark said:
I wonder if the 10 year law suit has been settled?
The story is that the owner commisioned one of each type for that year and then his accountant went and had them registered with consecutive G plates, thus turning them overnight into a gaggle of second hand motors and a 10 year Christmas bonus for a bunch of lawyers.
Sorry for being thick, I don't understand. Did the act of registering them devalue them?
me neither
britten_mark said:
Sorry for being thick, I don't understand. Did the act of registering them devalue them?
That was the arguement. It's a long time since I was told the story but it has something to do with how they would be booked as assets on the accounts and their tax treatment. Once they were registered they just became depreciating company cars rather than a strategic investment or some such.
An accountant would be need to explain the difference from a tax/investment purpose but it was a long standing joke in the BRDC for quite a while.
The accountant who registered them would be ideally suited
If you ever get the chance, have a look in one of the many "car storage hangers", which have things like Countach, RS200, Testarossa, Rolls Corniche, Silver Spirit, Maserati BiTurbo (the 80's, remember...) XJ220 all with 0 miles on the clock, in "perfect" condition.
The owners must be feeling awful, as none of those cars (possibly except the RS200) have ever got close to what they paid for them, and they are unlikely every to.
4wd said:
Some people are so anal. Just drive the bloody things - it's a car not an oil painting.
Very true, and in 99% of occasions I'd agree with you...except.
Even in the late-80s the old V8s were NOT the last word in handling and performance. The Vantage's had a lot of power, a lot of (fantastic) noise, and some decent punch, but show them a corner and they went all 2CV on you. And the build quality was variable as they were effectively coach-built at that time.
So that generation of Astons has always had more appeal for being "proper" Astons and unreconstituted dinosaurs in an era of aerodynamics, increasing fuel-economy, and increasingly agile cars. Rather than for the drivers machines which they weren't...certainly not in comparison to the then-current competition.
Me...I love 'em - that was the car I lusted after as a little kid - big V8 Vantage, complete with power-bulge, big spots inboard of the main headlights, those wire-spoke wheels and acres of wood...oh, and THAT exhaust note.
Jeremy Clarkson in his latest DVD shows a V8 Vantage Volante and it looks gorgeous. The sound is also fantastic and I have to agree 150% with you.
Aston67
jhoneyball said:
Havoc -- ever been out in a late 80s vantage? They do handle...
If that's an offer (of a passenger ride i mean!), where do I sign up?!? Would be a childhood dream come true!
Have been in a DB7 Vantage Volante, but the owner had only recently got it and clearly felt more comfortable in a straight line...a 130+mph straight line mind!!!
Great little family garage down in kent, always has interesting things in. Had a look at the Vantage Volante PoW on Sat, also had in a mint 930, a D-type and a C-type arrives in next week Reps for the Jags though, the D a custom built, with 3.8 bottom and 4.2 heads and the C a Heritage with a full 4.2 in. The Aston looked stunning 
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