1980 Aston Martin V8 Volante

Key Features:

• It is presented in its original Tourmaline Blue color with Magnolia leather and an Off White hood.
• Right-hand-drive, UK-market convertible.
• The car has matching numbers and an extensive history file, including photographs of its refresh and two service books dating back to 1980.
• It was built on October 19, 1979, and despatched on January 11, 1980.
• Fitted with a three-speed automatic gearbox, it complements the 5.3-liter V8 engine.
• Only 157 right-hand-drive examples were built with Weber carburettors before the model switched to fuel injection.
• The car was first bought from Victor Wilson Ltd of Edinburgh in November 1981 by James McNeil.
• McNeil initially registered the car under his Glasgow-based business, Apollo Window Blinds Ltd, and later in his own name in 1989, keeping it until 2010.
• In 2018, its underside, suspension, and brakes underwent an extensive refresh.
• The diamond-cut wheels have been refurbished.
• Recent work under current ownership includes re-foaming the front seats, replacing carpets and underfelt, refurbishing door cards, fitting a new fuel pump, and new power-steering hoses.
• The car was featured in issue 228 of Octane magazine, with Robert Coucher praising its powerful engine.
• MOT’d and road legal.

Model History:

• The convertible Volante was introduced in 1978 to broaden the appeal of Aston Martin’s V8 range.
• The V8 range originated from the William Towns-designed DBS V8, introduced in 1969, and evolved throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
• Styling and mechanical aspects were updated, including a temporary switch from fuel injection to Weber carburettors.
• A Vantage model, offering supercar performance, was launched a year before the Volante.
• Aston Martins from this period were largely hand-built at the Newport Pagnell factory, with approximately 1200 hours going into each V8 Volante.
• The V8 Volante featured an aluminium body and a 5340cc quad-cam V8 engine producing 300bhp.
• It was available with a choice of a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic gearbox.
• The car could reach 60mph in seven seconds and had a top speed over 140mph.
• Distinctive features of the Volante included a closed bonnet bulge (later adopted by the Series 4 ‘Oscar India’ coupé) and a burr walnut dashboard.
• The Volante’s chassis was strengthened along the sills and around the windscreen pillars.
• The Series 1 Volante was produced until 1986, when it received upgrades similar to the incoming Series 5 coupé.
• Production of the V8 model ceased in 1989, having significantly contributed to Aston Martin’s survival during challenging financial times.

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