1999 Aston Martin V8 Volante

The 1998 Aston Martin V8 Volante Long Wheelbase sits at a fascinating crossroads in Aston Martin history—part old-world craftsmanship, part modernised grand tourer, and effectively the last of a lineage that stretched back decades.

Origins: The end of the “old Aston Martin”

By the mid-1990s, Aston Martin was undergoing a major transition.

The long-running Virage/V8 family (dating back to the late 1980s) was ageing

The new, more modern DB7 was beginning to reshape the brand’s future

Production was still based at Newport Pagnell, where cars were largely hand-built

The V8 Coupe (1996) modernised the Virage platform, and from it came the Long Wheelbase (LWB) Volante, introduced at the 1997 London Motor Show

This made the LWB Volante one of the last traditional, coachbuilt Aston Martins before the company fully transitioned into the 21st century.

Why the Long Wheelbase existed

Earlier Volantes (convertibles) had a reputation for being:

Beautiful, but

Cramped in the rear, and not truly usable as 4-seaters

Aston Martin responded by stretching the chassis:

+200 mm wheelbase

Much improved rear legroom

Increased luggage capacity

This transformed the car into a genuine luxury grand tourer for four adults

In essence, it was designed as a continental touring convertible, not just a weekend toy.

Engineering and character

Despite its elegance, the 1998 LWB Volante was still very much a traditional Aston:

5.3L naturally aspirated V8 (~350 bhp)

0–60 mph in ~6.5 seconds

Top speed around 150–155 mph

4-speed automatic gearbox (no manual option)

It was:

Heavy (~2,000+ kg)

Smooth rather than aggressive

Built for effortless high-speed cruising

Inside, it represented peak old-school luxury:

Connolly leather

Walnut veneer (one of the last Astons to use it extensively)

Fully electric soft top

Rarity and production story

The 1998 model year sits right in the middle of a very short production run:

Built 1997–1999

Only about 63 examples produced

Very expensive (~£170,000 new)

Other key points:

Most were exported outside the UK

Not officially sold in North America at the time

Each car was hand-built, adding to exclusivity

This makes the 1998 cars among the rarest modern-era Aston Martins.

Historical significance

The V8 LWB Volante represents several “lasts”:

1. Last of the hand-built Newport Pagnell Volantes

It was among the final convertibles built at the historic factory before production moved and methods changed

2. Final evolution of the classic Aston V8 line

Its roots trace back to the 1970s Aston V8, making it the end of a 30-year engineering lineage

3. The last “traditional” Aston feel

After this, Aston Martin shifted toward:

More modern platforms

New factories (like Gaydon in the 2000s)

Higher-volume production

This outstanding one owner car with day one documents and service history has been cared for and more, it is as good as it left the factory.

The car comes with a large number of non standard options specified by the owner when new. He went to the factory and went through everything he wanted and made sure they were to his high standards which they still are today.

The car has been main dealer service from new as regular as clock work. The car has all its books, tools keys, original build record details.

An outstanding example in prime condition.