"Abandoned" 70s AMV8 - Guildford

[James76G]

Since about 2010 I've been aware of an abandoned 70s era Aston Martin V8 here in Guildford, where I live.

It was parked just off somebody's drive in a dedicated space, covered by a car port and it just sat there, never moving. At some point some gates were put in front of it, and then more recently it was covered over.

It was on my regular running route which was also my driving route out to the A3 so I used to see it a lot. Then sometime this year, it disappeared and because I wasn't commuting (or running!) I hadn't been past for a few months to see it go.

I am no expert, but I recall it having the less tall bonnet bulge which I think makes it a Series 2. It also wore the registration "308 GTL" but I can find no reference to it on the usual reg checking sites.

Here's two grainy photos grabbed from Google Maps that don't really show much:





I'd love to think that it had been rescued for restoration as it always seemed such a shame that it sat there not being used.

It's a long shot but does anybody know anything about it? And assuming not, is there a forum where the 70s models are covered so that I can ask there? I have no hidden agenda and would just like to know what happened to the old thing after seeing it over all those years.

Thanks

[Stick Legs]

From what I can see it’s almost certainly a Series 2.

Lovely car if done right, but that’s the problem, doing it all properly will be dear, and a goodie is about £85k.

But if you want to save it offer the owner no more than £10l

[James76G]

Thanks and I agree, a lovely car when all together.

I did knock on the door to enquire what had happened to it, but was told they were just tenants who had only recently moved in, so weren't even aware of the car.

[EVR]

Should send those two chaps, Tim & Fuzz.

[Jon39]

One guess, which is something that is probably not that unusual.
The car and the owner become older and the point is reached where there is either an unfixed mechanical fault, or the owner is unable to drive any more. Owner does not want to part with the car, but of course without use, so many parts becomes stuck.

Owner goes to live with dependents / departs this planet / home is sold or rented out / car disposed of, or kept by dependents.

What I am really saying is, I don't know.

If you wanted to go any further, you could try a search on the address, to see of the property has been sold.

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 13th October 12:08

[AdamV12V]

Jon39 said:

If you wanted to go any further, you could try a search on the address, to see of the property has been sold.

For £3 on Land Registry you can find out who the owner of the property is. That said asking the tennants to pass on your details to their landlord is probably an easier way to go about it.

[rev-erend]

Are you sure it's not this one with a very similar reg Sat outside JB motors in Send.

[James76G]

rev-erend said:

Are you sure it's not this one with a very similar reg Sat outside JB motors in Send.

Amazing, thank you! It is indeed that one - I knew the Pistonheads hive mind could help. And obviously my recall of the numberplate wasn't quite right.

Is the photo a recent one? If it is it looks surprisingly together given that, according to the DVLA, it hasn't been taxed since 1996.

[Stick Legs]

Series III with a blanked off Vantage style scoop.

[v8vantage]

It's a 1972 Aston Martin V8 with the mechanical fuel injection, chassis # 10743. It has been fitted with the later bonnet from the carburettored cars, more than likely converted to carbs as well as it now has the engine from Aston's carburetor development car.

Edited by v8vantage on Wednesday 13th October 17:02

[Stick Legs]

v8vantage said:

It's a 1972 Aston Martin V8 with the mechanical fuel injection, chassis # 10743. It has been fitted with the later bonnet from the carburettored cars, more than likely converted to carbs as well as it now has the engine from Aston's carburetor development car.

Edited by v8vantage on Wednesday 13th October 17:02

Thanks for that.
Couldn’t see that in the picture.

[James76G]

v8vantage said:

It's a 1972 Aston Martin V8 with the mechanical fuel injection, chassis # 10743. It has been fitted with the later bonnet from the carburettored cars, more than likely converted to carbs as well as it now has the engine from Aston's carburetor development car.

Edited by v8vantage on Wednesday 13th October 17:02

This is brilliant, and interesting re the engine swap thank you. Do you know the car and/or owner or is this just information taken from records?

Intrigued by the earlier photo I took a trip out to Send last night (it's not far) and there was no sign of it and it hasn't returned to its previous resting place, so hopefully it's being sorted out somewhere.

And now that I have the correct registration I found a few more photos of it on Flickr including this one of it in the same place I have been seeing it all these years:



There are some nice ones of it from 1985 here too:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=NTL308

[Jon39]

James76G said:

There are some nice ones of it from 1985 here too:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=NTL308

I suppose the photo at the Send garage, might be have been taken some time ago.

There could be a further story here, James.

I used your link to further photos and saw the car at Bushy Park in 1985 (photo Roy Smith).
That then leads on to Roy Smith's photo album, and pictures of several other Aston Martin models, some of which also appear to be at Bushy Park. Includes a DB Estate. Not the most beautiful DB, but interesting.
Roy Smith presumably is/was a great enthusiast for Aston Martins. Wonder if AMOC might know him.
Some of the photos are family shots with Aston Martins.

Over to you, Inspector.




EDIT - Have just noticed this.
'Roy Smith (Dad) 21st Aug 1929 - 8th June 1995'

Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 14th October 11:57

[rev-erend]

The photo was taken a few months ago but the Aston was parked at JB last week.

I walk my dogs past the garage most days.

JB was one of my drinking buddies and had an impressive car collection.

His sons Darren and Dave now run the garage.

[rev-erend]

The Aston is still at JB, just hidden from view.

Photo taken 10 mins ago..

[Astontony]

Wow how interesting and fantastic that you guys can track down a car so quickly. Give you hope if ever a car went missing that a Piston Header would be on the trail. This is better than any yankey barn find show.

[Antler]

Roy Smith was indeed active in AMOC. Sadly, he died about 10 years ago. (I should add that I never met him - I just remember his name from the AMOC forum and other publications. So I have no idea what happened to his cars).

[Stick Legs]

Astontony said:

Wow how interesting and fantastic that you guys can track down a car so quickly. Give you hope if ever a car went missing that a Piston Header would be on the trail. This is better than any yankey barn find show.

It helps when it’s 1 of only a few hundred cars!

[James76G]

Thank you all for the contributions and especially "rev-erend" for the latest photo of the car "in-situ".

It's great to have found out that the story doesn't end here as I had feared it had been removed to be broken up. Hopefully it gets made roadworthy and finds its way to a new owner soon.

I'm not in the market, but purely out of interest what is the asking price range of a "project" V8 like this?

[Phil74891]

James76G said:

Thank you all for the contributions and especially "rev-erend" for the latest photo of the car "in-situ".

It's great to have found out that the story doesn't end here as I had feared it had been removed to be broken up. Hopefully it gets made roadworthy and finds its way to a new owner soon.

I'm not in the market, but purely out of interest what is the asking price range of a "project" V8 like this?

Nicely restored versions of the V8 can sell for >£200k at specialist dealers and prices are rising. A ‘project’ such as this could cost significantly more than that to restore to a similar standard with a reputable restorer. Obviously less if you can do it yourself, so often a Labour of love, rather than a financial decision.