Highlights

Highly presented and maintained Series 1 car
Immaculate underside including sills - See new photo's added
Attractive Tourmaline Blue over magnolia and blue leather
One of just 157 right-hand drive V8 Volantes
Comprehensive photographic record of suspension and brake work
Impressive service history with dealer stamps dating back to 1980
Featured in Octane magazine
Serviced in October 2025

The Appeal

The late arrival of the V8 Volante finally gave Aston Martin buyers open-top appeal to match the car’s mechanical and aesthetic perfection. Based on the Series 4 ‘Oscar India’ model, the Series 1 Volante got the beefed-up bonnet and quartet of carburettors but avoided the later drift into spoilers and associated addenda. Just 439 were built, of which only 157 were the considerably more desirable slim-bumpered right-hand drive models.

As this highly original, low-mileage Tourmaline Blue car shows, it is a beautiful package with exquisite detailing, including stylish alloys, fog lights, and, again, those slim bumpers. The car retains its factory-correct colour scheme, as confirmed by a BMIHT certificate, and is mated to a beige fabric roof and a two-tone Magnolia and blue leather interior.

The key with any classic Aston Martin purchase is provenance and maintenance. This car has been used sparingly and maintained to a very high standard. The details are provided below, including a service in October 2025. Other recent work since 2022 includes the suspension and brakes. The interior was refreshed in 2023 at a cost of nearly £4,000.

The world of high-performance, four-seat, hand-built convertibles is very small. The V8 Volante is amongst the rarest and most desirable, and the early Series 1 is the one you really want. Add in this car’s provenance, RHD specification and aesthetics, and you have a highly appealing example.

History and Paperwork

First registered on 8th January 1980
Only six registered keepers
Current keeper since October 2022
Extensive well-organised, leather-bound maintenance file as shown
Service history with dealer stamps dating back to 1980
Service booklets and MOT certificates from 2011
Five registration certificates
Original sales brochure and wiring diagram
British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate confirming specification
Featured in an Octane magazine article with copy included
Original sales agreement
Two original sets of keys with Aston Martin key fobs
Chassis No: V8C0R15133
Engine No: V/540/5133/S
V5C
Registered as a Historic Vehicle: exempt from road tax and MOT
Fitted car cover included
68,460 miles indicated: October '25 service event records 68,500 miles (odometer reading rounded up)

Summary of maintenance history:

October 2025 at c.68,500 miles by Ed Watson & Co Classic Motor Engineers:

Driver’s door electric window motor repaired
Levels, lights and tyre pressure checks
Engine oil replaced
Antifreeze being topped up

December 2023, at c.68,000 miles by Ed Watson & Co Classic Motor Engineers:

Engine oil and filter change
Replacement windscreen washer bottle and pump

September 2023, £3,840 spent:

Re-foaming the front seats
Fitting and tailoring new carpets
Repairing both door cards

April 2023 £3,060 of work:

New fuel pump
Brake service
Renew hydraulic and power steering hoses
Fix a leak
Replace window motors
Replace the handbrake cable.

Other notable repairs:

December 2022 repairs to the leaking automatic gearbox sump gasket
October 2024 repairs to driver’s seat back frame

Dates and mileage from the history file:

Oct 2025 - 68,500 miles - Ed Watson & Co Classic Motor Engineers
Dec 2023 - Mileage not recorded - Ed Watson & Co Classic Motor Engineers
Aug 2015 - 65,542 miles - Diack Autos Station Road Garage
Sep 2014 - 65,142 miles - Diack Autos Station Road Garage
Jul 2013 - 64,992 miles - Diack Autos Station Road Garage
Jan 1995 - 59,543 miles - Pagamenos S.A.
Dec 1993 - 58,661 miles - Bel-Air Motors
Jun 1992 - 55,957 miles - Narwoods of Pulborough
Jan 1990 - 54,650 miles - Hyde Vale Aston Martin
Jan 1989 - 53,586 miles - Hyde Vale Aston Martin
Apr 1987 - 52,031 miles - Hyde Vale Aston Martin
Jun 1986 - 49,872 miles - Victor Wilson Limited
Mar 1985 - 47,608 miles - Jackie Connolly
Dec 1982 - 34,218 miles - Little’s
Jun 1982 - 28,015 miles - Little’s
Mar 1982 - 23,452 miles - Victor Wilson Limited
Jul 1981 - 17,652 miles - Victor Wilson Limited
Dec 1980 - 10,659 miles - Victor Wilson Limited
Aug 1980 - 6,773 miles - Victor Wilson Limited

The Condition

Factory correct Tourmaline Blue paintwork in very good condition as shown
Bodywork presents very well for a car of this age, including the underside as shown
Beige fabric soft-top roof with electric operation reported to be working correctly
Roof is in good order with only very light age to note, as shown
Desirable slim chrome bumper UK-market Right hand drive car with bright chromework
Exterior fittings, including lights, chrome and trim, are in good order
Underside as shown in photos
Factory 15in alloy wheels with machined lips in very good condition
Recently fitted with Avon Radial tyres
Factory correct Magnolia and Charcoal Blue leather interior
Blue carpets, wood veneer inlays, and chrome trim highlights
Recent re-trimming work, including replacement door panels, new carpets, and a refreshed boot area
Original leather seat upholstery shows some typical age-related wear and stretching
Front seats re-foamed in September 2023 at a cost of £3,840, including fitting and tailoring new carpets
A small crack is present in the small front auxiliary light
Features twin front spotlights, electrically operated windows, air conditioning, and an electrically operated convertible roof
Electric mirrors are currently inoperative and must be adjusted manually
New tonneau cover has been fitted

The V8 body shape evolved considerably from the original DBS to the final cars, but this car makes a strong case for the Series 4 ‘Oscar India’ with its notable bonnet bulge being the best blend of early and late features. The tasteful Tourmaline Blue metallic paintwork and beige roof are factory correct, and the car runs on pretty 15in alloys with machined lips and a new set of matching Avon Radials. It is all, as you can see in the photos, in very good condition.

Inside, the sense of a highly original car with sympathetic fettling continues. The two-tone Magnolia and blue leather interior is in very good order, helped by a 2023 refresh costing £4,000. The veneers and switchgear are all well presented, and there is a stylish Pioneer 9300 stereo fitted. The driver’s window motor was recently repaired, and we are told that the other electrics, except the mirrors, work correctly. The electric roof operates without issue.

The Mechanics

5.3-litre (5,340cc) Tadek Marek V8 engine
Three-speed Chrysler Torqueflite automatic transmission
Fed by four twin-choke Weber carburettors
Very well maintained to October 2025 by specialists as detailed above
Long list of recent maintenance and improvements detailed above
April 2023 work (£3,060) included replacement of fuel pump, brake service, renewal of hydraulic and power steering hoses, and replacement of handbrake cable
Automatic gearbox sump gasket replaced in December 2022
Extensive work on the suspension and brakes was completed in 2018 with photographic documentation

Beyond the gorgeous William Towns aesthetics, a key reason to want any V8 is Tadek Marek’s superlative 5.3-litre hand-built V8 engine. The Series 1 Volante got the quartet of carburettors and was one of the fastest production cars in the world.

This car has the maintenance provenance that we suspect buyers will be looking for. We’ve detailed the recent work above. It is all contained within a thick leather-bound bespoke folder and dates back to the car’s early days. All work has been undertaken by main dealers and well-regarded marque specialists.

The car was last serviced by specialists in October 2025. Other notable recent work includes a new fuel pump, brake work, replacement hoses and suspension work.

** Interested parties should note this lot is currently on view near Winchester, Hampshire. Vehicles must be collected by 28th March 2026 (subject to payment of the lots). From 28th March, vehicle storage charges apply to the buyer.

Charges: £ 14 + VAT for the first 14 days. Thereafter, £ 50 + VAT per car per week.

Buyers should satisfy themselves that they have collected all relevant log books, documents and keys relating to their lot(s) at the time of collection. **

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