Full Photographs and Details Coming Soon

The V8 Coupe was introduced in 1996 and was the natural evolution of the Virage, but with a much smoother look. It shares the same overall look of the brutal Vantage, but less the steroidal width wheel arches and bonnet vents. One of the rarest – and last – of the hand built Aston Martins, only 101 examples were built and are thus instant collector cars. This car is a mid-production build car and is probably unique in that it has just been retrofitted with a single bespoke ECU system, which has made the engine smoother and more responsive.

- The Car -

This V8 Coupe, chassis number 79051, was specified in Rolls Royce Royal Blue with a Magnolia and Pacific Blue Connolly leather interior along with Pacific Blue carpets. Since 2015 after having covered circa 55, 000 miles, this V8 Coupe was put into long term dry storage by the current owner and is now in the last stages of a full recommissioning by Hampshire based marque specialists Chicane.

One of the more interesting aspects of this recommissioning has been the necessity to replace the engine’s twin ECUs with a single bespoke ECU due to the lack of availability of the older units. After the success of doing the same for the 585 V8 engine from the injection V8 Saloons of the late 1980s, a lower idle, smoother delivery and increased mid-range torque are some of the improvements over the original ECU based cars.

The car is now in a very good condition after all the recent works and will likely be the most unique V8 Coupe in existence. Please note, the private number plate is to be retained and the car will be sold with her original registration number of R338 JGK.

- Its History -

Supplied new by main agent Aston Martin Sales of Mayfair in September 1997 and subsequently serviced by Stratstone of Wilmslow in Cheshire until 2003.

In 2003, a new speedometer was fitted at a recorded mileage of 37, 837.

Since then and until 2013, before it was put into dry storage, the servicing was undertaken by The Aston Workshop.

In 2022, the car was delivered to Chicane for the recommissioning works, which included areas of paint work, all four wheels refurbished with new tyres and the engine ECU update amongst others.

- On the Road -

As with all V8 Aston Martins, this car needs a little bit of time before it’s warm enough to be unleashed. Due to the new ECU, idle is lower and it’s docile enough at low speeds with smooth changes from the automatic gearbox as you accelerate. But thanks again to the new ECU, this V8 Coupe pulls strongly with a mid-range surge on demand. Clearly this car doesn’t have the ferocity of the supercharged Vantage nor is it a manual, but the new ECU has certainly tuned the engine to make it more of a driver’s car.

The suspension is firm and keeps the car solidly planted on the road and the steering always points you in the right direction. The brakes will stop the car with ease once warmed up, but it’s also a heavy car and doesn’t take to being thrown around corners and bends. Instead, a gradual turn-in to corners and a squeeze of the accelerator as you exit them sees this car through with ease. But Aston Martin V8 cars are bought for their front engined, rear wheel drive power and sheer road presence above all. Being the last of the truly hand built Aston Martins, there is a specialness about it that will find you reaching for the keys at every given chance.

- Conclusion -

The V8 Coupe heralded the last of the Virage derived evolutions and is one of the company’s rarest models. To experience what Aston Martin was all about prior to the change in direction the company took with the V12 Vanquish, then this car perfectly exemplifies a time of bespoke craftsmanship and style.

This V8 Coupe is available for viewing by appointment at our Hampshire facility and will come with 12 months MOT and a year’s warranty.