1978 Aston Martin V8

Madagascar Brown with Tan Connolly leather with Beige Wilton wool carpeting piped Brown, Beige Broadcloth Wool Headliner, 6.0 Liter V8 Engine, 5-speed ZF manual gearbox, Excellent history and previous long term collector ownership.

In February 1977 Aston Martin unveiled their fastest road car ever, the V8 Vantage. The 170 mph projectile shot to fame as the fastest production road car in the world and is now universally accepted as Aston Martins and indeed Britain's first ever Supercar.

The V8 Vantage was quite a different beast from the standard V8 Saloon Coupe. Besides its hidden modifications and engine upgrades, the V8 Vantage featured twin Cibie H4 Driving Lamps within the blanked off radiator grille (cooling air for the radiator being drawn in beneath the bumper) as well as a deep front air dam and boot lid spoiler at the rear. These aerodynamic additions were essential for a car with 170 mph+ potential. The V8 Vantage features a large sealed bonnet bulge to cover the down draught Weber carburetors. Other mechanical changes from the standard engine included larger valves, revised camshafts and a higher compression ratio, all helping to achieve 380 bhp. The first group of 16 cars have two distinct and unique features, the bonnet bulge opening is sealed with bolt-on cover and the rear spoiler was added to the car after the body was built, these first 16 are known as Bolted-On Flip Tail V8 Vantages.

The second group comprising 42 V540 Vantage production cars (23 European, 11 US, and 8 Canadian spec) the spoiler was made integral to the body and the opening in the bonnet bulge was welded shut during manufacture. These slightly later cars are known as Molded Flip Tail V8 Vantages. Of these 42 Molded Flip Tail V8 Vantages, 16 were produced in RHD form for the UK market, leaving only 26 LHD having been produced. Truly limited production and exclusive to only a few lucky owners when new.

This particular V8 Vantage is one of only eleven V8 Vantage cosmetic examples imported to North America and has been well known in Aston Martin circles for many, many years and only a few extremely long term owners. Additionally, Autosport Designs, inc. has known this Aston since the Mid-1990's having serviced and sold the car for it's previous caretakers These V8 Vantages were delivered with standard specification V8 U.S. federal engines. As was the case with many of these V8 Vantages in the day, the engine was upgraded 6.0 liter high horsepower specification, "Vantagized."

This is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire an outstanding example of one of these extremely rare early series V8 Vantage Molded Flip Tail variant which are noted to be the the most rare of the V8 Vantage model range due to the extremely limited manufacture. This V8 Vantage is fully sorted car, both mechanically and cosmetically and one of the finest we have had the pleasure of owning.

Superb in every way and without disappointment, it is ready for immediate enjoyment and represents one of the finest collectible examples from the V8 era having been Britain's First Supercar. It is complete with extensive history file, photographic history, Owners handbook, Tool roll and Factory jack.