With the end of production of the DB6 in 1970, Aston Martin no longer had a convertible as part of its range. That being one of the (numerous) turbulent times for the company, the funds to develop a new ‘Volante’ didn’t become available until later in the decade and, in the meantime, left a gap in the market for enterprising coachbuilders.
One such outfit was Banham Conversions who carried out convertible conversions to a variety of models including the Aston Martin DBS and V8 Coupe, as well as the Ferrari 400 and Rolls Royce Corniche. This example is believed to be one of only four conversions carried out by Banham to the V8 Coupe, likely as a result of the factory Volante appearing in 1978.
In current ownership fourteen years, this car has the invoices to demonstrate a good deal of maintenance over the years and a great deal since the vendor took it on. In that time it’s been treated to an overhaul of the chassis, a respray, new hood and full retrimmed interior. Since being returned to its former glory it sadly hasn’t seen as much use as the owner intended and he now needs the room for a new arrival to his collection. That means that this is your chance to benefit from the fruits of his labours and considerable expenditure and to enjoy this fine looking and rare convertible.
Given how little mileage the car has seen since its full retrim, it’s no surprise to see that the upholstery is in prime condition. Finished in tan leather, it’s matched by tan edging to the green carpet. Ahead, the attractive dashboard is fronted by a delightful Moto Lita three spoked wood rimmed steering wheel.
Everything is fully functional, with the exception of the air conditioning which, although it has all the requisite parts installed, hasn’t functioned since the current owner came into possession but he’s never regarded it as a priority as he prefers to drive with the roof down.
The dash is original, save for the later head unit which does the job nicely. During the restoration process the hood was renewed by removing all of the fabric and sandblasting the metal frame. The hood was then rebuilt and includes an additional insulation layer which improves refinement when driving with the hood up.
The pristine boot has also been retrimmed, with an additional side panel installed to conceal the battery which makes it look much tidier.The battery has also had an isolator switch fitted to prevent battery drain when the car is stored.MgunL6mt76VLmOojOm6qKRgzqRfjOZGbVFtQwPCG.jpeg65.26 KB
The Exterior
Beautiful condition
Very straight bodywork
Paintwork fully refreshed
Mirror-like chrome
The passage of time seems only to improve the design of the seventies Astons in our eyes and, presented in Buckingham Green, it is a real looker. Having had its paintwork taken care of, it has a deep lustre and the adjacent chrome work is also in great condition. The hood is finished in a matching green, is unmarked and comes with a bespoke cover for when it is retracted.
One interesting artefact of the convertible conversion is that it was necessary to remove the second fuel tank in order to accommodate the hood mechanism and so opening the nearside filler cap door reveals no filler cap!
With a good deal of sidewall in the tyres to protect them, the wheels are all pristine condition, while the tyres themselves have plenty of tread remaining. In its current ownership the car has been kept in a heated garage and so underneath, following the restoration, remains in solid condition, having had a rustproofing coat applied as the last stage of the work. Overall, it’s a fantastic looking car in great condition.KU7sQdP4YmQMyJHGm1rFNHbMfJAiu1J8im9Gnrdb.jpeg69.25 KB
The Mechanics
Restored engine bay
Improved routing of the choke cable for smoother operation
Drives very well
Authentic exhaust note
As part of his standard approach to restorations, the owner, who has a collection of other classics, likes to remove the ancillary components in the engine bay in order to give it a good clean and to replace pipes and washers where necessary to ensure that it looks its best. Having applied that process here, under the bonnet looks very good, although retains a level of original patina which means that it doesn’t look over-dressed.
One small feature is that the car can require a specific approach to starting which has not been addressed as the owner regards it as a useful security feature, though the details will obviously be revealed to the new owner. Once this has been applied, the engine fires first time and the car drives very well with no untoward noises and a smooth gear change. The exhaust hails from the days before ‘exhaust tuning’ and is beefy but too intrusive and the owner describes the car as a pleasure to drive.
A rare classic Aston in beautiful condition that’s ready to use come rain or shine.
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