The so-called Series 3 of the Aston Martin V8 launched in 1973, its tall bonnet bulge necessary to accommodate a quartet of twin-choke Weber carbs, and with over 300bhp the performance was muscular. And in October 1978 the Series 4 arrived, nicknamed ‘Oscar India’ for 'October Introduction'.
This specification is recognisable by its closed power bulge instead of the open bonnet scoop and the spoiler integrated into the tail. These updated cars also (usually) came with Chrysler’s 3-speed Torqueflite transmission, as well as tasteful wood trim in the cabin – something unseen in an Aston since the DB2/4 of the 1950s.
The ultimate iteration of the V8 formula? Yes, the Oscar India might just be. And this example, with a recent full overhaul of its brakes, is in lovely condition and is ready to be enjoyed.w9qfOZuUDcmvBJvkNQTFgjsFJMkk8qVLHJzH1xUp.jpeg2.1 MB
The History and Paperwork
Correct V5
MOT to October 2023
Record of all former keepers
Sheaf of old MOT certificates
Insurance valuation documentation
Letters from 1994 detailing print-outs of older service history
2018 – invoice for MOT, servicing and maintenance - £490
2017 – invoice for extensive works including carburettor rebuild, fuel tank refurb, fully overhauled braking system, servicing, pumps, ancillaries, and rolling road tune-up - £26,763
2010 – invoice for servicing, gaskets and crypton tune - £1,802
Substantial history file containing many other receipts and invoices
The quality hand-built nature of this car is evident throughout; it reportedly took a full 1,200 man-hours to craft each example of the AM V8, and it shows.
The magnolia leather trim is in good condition with a gentle patina, and the details in the cabin speak of a vehicle built for high-roller lifestyles. Flipping open the glovebox you’ll find a hinged vanity mirror for perfecting your mascara, the carpets are deep and the cabin is pleasingly spacious and airy.
The electric windows are some of the quickest-operating that we’ve seen in an Aston. The headlining is in good condition with no sagging, the dash is solid and uncracked, and the wood trim has a lovely finish and has weathered the years well.
Finished in Canterbury Blue, this Oscar India is at once imposing and devastatingly pretty.
The paintwork appears to be in good order throughout (with the only notable blemish being a few surface scuffs to the nearside front wing aft of the headlight), and the underside of the car looks to be reassuringly solid too.
The panel fit is uniformly good, with the doors hanging correctly and the boot and bonnet sitting straight. All of the light lenses are in good order, and the window glass is sound and surrounded by chrome trim which isn’t corroded or pitted.
The wheels look fabulous finished in white, and wear matching Avon Turbospeed tyres with good tread. And most importantly, the wing badges inform every passer-by that there’s a V8 underneath all that bonnet acreage – just in case they couldn’t tell from all the malevolent rumbling.jcPrk2tstih1HGeDJalQ4IM188wp6Vt0TU8WX9L4.jpeg2.04 MB
The Mechanicals
Beautifully smooth runner
Fully overhauled braking system
The inherent duality is key to this car’s character; yes, it’s an opulent and cosseting grand tourer, but it never lets you forget that it’s packing a muscular V8.
The way it gently rocks from side to side at idle helps you to feel at one with the mighty performance on offer, and yet the smoothness of the transmission and comfort of the ride means that it doesn’t feel like a muscle car… it feels like a Monte Carlo cruiser that’s just a little bit naughtier than the equivalent contemporary Jaguar or Mercedes.
The engine is happy to fire up and settles into an even idle; once it’s warmed up it pulls strongly through the gears, the auto ’box shifting cleanly.
All is well with the brakes and the steering (in fact, if you peer underneath you can see that pretty much everything throughout the braking system has been recently replaced), and the car rides extremely well, the suspension doing an excellent job of bolstering the Aston’s grand-tourer credentials.
The magnificence of the Oscar India is that it sits in the perfect position in Aston Martin’s history to be a perennial conversation starter; any DB4, DB5 or DB6 is bound to elicit lazy James Bond references in general everyday pub chat, but the Series 4 V8?
The last of the carburettor-fed models, this is very much its own thing, at once classically styled and yet far more modern in appearance than its venerable age would suggest.
And this particular one is a real honey – the spec is sublime, the mechanicals are robust and dependable, it’s recently had a huge amount of money spent on making it mechanically tip-top, and today it drives like an absolute dream.
The rare and sought-after Oscar India is the connoisseur’s Aston.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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