The Aston Martin V8 first appeared back in 1970 with the advent of the DBS V8, and such was the success of the car that a convertible version was always considered. Aston Martin’s concern over building such a fast-powerful convertible car was eventually overcome and the long awaited V8 Volante first appeared in June 1978. The first series cars had the Weber carburettor 5.3 litre V8 engine with either the Chrysler Torqueflite 3 speed automatic or, at extra cost, the ZF 5 speed manual gearbox. They were also introduced with basically the same enhanced specification as the ‘Oscar India’ saloons which appeared later that year. Only 441 examples of these Weber Carburettor V8 Volante’s were built, the majority of which were destined for foreign markets in LHD form with only 157 cars being completed as RHD and only 19 of those with a manual gearbox and just 9 examples with the 540 ’S’ engine!!
This V8 Volante left the factory in August 1979 in its original Storm Red paintwork with V540 ‘S’ series engine, Manual Gearbox, Magnolia piped Burgundy Hide, Off White Hood and Beige Onslow carpets.
It was first registered to a Mr Trevor Enstone of Enstone Auto Engines Ltd, Openshaw Manchester who has been it’s one and only registered owner! The car remains in a remarkably good original condition with just 27,000 miles from new, a testament to its ownership and borne out by the service records and numerous MOT certificates to be found in it’s history file.
This is an extremely rare Aston Martin V8 Volante with factory manual gearbox, one of just 9 examples built in this form, in a wonderfully original condition with just one owner and a mere 27,000 miles from new!