Description
This car is Lot 174 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at The Goodwood Auction on Saturday September 13th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Friday September 12 from 09:00 until 17:00, Saturday September 13 from 09:00 at The Goodwood Revival.
Lot 174
The Earls Court London Motor Show
1973 Aston Martin V8 Series 3 Sports Saloon
Registration no. XGF 296M
Chassis no. V8/ 11043/ RCA
Comprehensively restored over the last few years
Matching Engine and Chassis Numbers
Recent engine rebuild by Aston Martin Works
Restoration records available
The Aston Martin V8 was slated to replace the DB6, and a William Towns designed, muscular GT car was created for exactly that purpose. The car was ready by 1967 but the Tadek Marek-designed V8 engine wasn't. Consequently, the new design was launched with the 4L, straight-six Vantage engine carried over from the outgoing DB6. These cars were named the DBS.
By 1969 the new V8 was finally ready, however, and so the DBS V8 became Aston's flagship model for the next four years. In this application Marek's 5, 340cc engine was fitted with Bosch fuel injection. The DBS V8 featured a quad headlamp setup and was the last car of the David Brown era with the long-time owner selling the business in 1972. Brown paid off all the company's debts at that stage, thought to amount to around £5M, and sold the company for £101 to Company Developments, a Birmingham-based investment bank consortium.
With Brown's departure the DB nomenclature was no longer deemed appropriate and so the car became the AM V8. The look changed, too, with the AM V8 now sporting twin 7-inch, quartz iodine headlamps. In true Aston Martin style, the stores had 17 sets of DBS V8 badges still in stock and so the first 17 AM V8s were thus badged. Such is the confusion over model delineations during this period, the Aston Martin Owners' Club retrospectively applied some series numbers to the cars. This V8 car became the "Series 2."
For reasons not entirely clear, the Bosch fuel injection was dropped during 1973 in favour of four, twin choke, and downdraft Weber carburettors. This was the Series 3 car with a couple of easy to spot external traits differentiating it. The bonnet bulge became deeper with the Series 3 to accommodate the quad Webers. At the rear, the 30 louvres below the rear window of the Series 2 were now replaced with a protruding lip just ahead of the boot lid.
Significantly, this unique V8 had featured on Aston Martin's stand at the 1973 London Motor Show at Earls Court. Aston Martin's accompanying correspondence reveals that the car was originally finished in Cosmic Fire Ascot Grey with blue trim, and that it was equipped with Weber Carburettors, automatic transmission, electric sliding sunroof, lockable centre armrest, overriders, door mirrors and quartz iodine fog/ spot lamps. The car was sold new on 13th November 1973 to Arnold G Wilson Ltd.
Records suggest the first owner kept the car for 26 years, up until October 1999. Several owners followed until the car resurfaced again in 2010 when its restoration journey began. The immediately preceding owner bought the V8 at auction in April 2020 (invoice on file), at which time it was described as a 'stalled restoration'. Much of the bodywork had been done and many parts had been powder coated and were ready for installation. The preceding owner then had all the work completed to a fastidious standard at a documented cost of over £100, 000 spent with recognised specialists (chiefly Alan Mann Racing), which included almost £16, 500 spent on a full interior re-trim in blue leather by Trimmania. Their work succeeded in faithfully maintaining originality while bringing the cabin up to an excellent standard of fit and finish.
The current vendor purchased the Aston in 2023, and since acquisition has spent circa£50, 000 at Aston Martin Works on an engine rebuild (bill on file). Accompanying invoices detailing the work carried out between 2020 and 2023 predominantly relate to the mechanical systems. There are also lengthy manifests of new or reconditioned parts sourced for the rebuild.
Today this matching-numbers V8 is presented comprehensively restored by marque specialists. The result is classic Aston Martin that is surely one of the best of its type currently available. This is a car that will turn heads wherever it goes and delight the fortunate next owner.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
