
Richard Stafford
Senior Specialist, Head of Research
LOT 19 *N
1981 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Sports Saloon Registration no. BAH 307X (see text) Chassis no. V8VOL12323
"People who buy the Vantage will do so in the first place for its performance, and they will not be disappointed. The figures speak for themselves. But they should take extra heart because it is one of the easiest true high performance cars to drive well: and it has been given brakes to match. In comfort too, it has much to offer, and there is a great deal of what is best in the British tradition of designing and building sports cars in its making." - Autocar.
The performance figures Autocar referred to were a 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds and an estimated top speed of 170mph, figures comparable with those achievable by a Ferrari Daytona or Lamborghini Miura.
With the introduction of the Vantage in 1977, Aston Martin's V8 was thrust back into the supercar league. The name had previously been applied to high-power versions of the DB six-cylinder cars, and in the V8's case the Vantage tune delivered around 375bhp. Its superior performance aside, the Vantage was readily distinguishable from the standard product by virtue of its blocked-off bonnet scoop, blanked air intake, front chin spoiler and lip on the boot lid. ZF five-speed manual transmission was standard equipment, though a handful of Vantages were built with the Torqueflite automatic gearbox. With either transmission performance was shattering, the Vantage's 0-100mph time of 12.7 seconds making it the world's fastest accelerating production car at that time.
Its copy Car Record Card reveals that left-hand drive chassis number '12323' was built as a Vantage model to Middle Eastern export specification for the Saudi Arabian market and originally finished in Burnham Green with green-piped fawn leather interior. The car was first registered in the UK in August 1998 and comes with a copy V5 document (although it will require re-registering). It was subsequently exported to the USA and the current owner purchased the Vantage from well-respected marque specialists Autosport Designs Inc of New York, in 2010 (copy bill of sale on file). Having been stored for the intervening period, the car may require some re-commissioning prior to road use. Coming to sale from overseas, the car will attract the low import duty rate of 5% should it remain in the UK.
We are pleased to confirm that some original paperwork will accompany this lot, namely a V5C registration document, an old MoT certificate and a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Retail Certificate of Sale.














































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Senior Specialist, Head of Research
| * | Import low rate |
| VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. | |
| N | NOVA declaration |
| If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (CARS) to undertake the NOVA on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £350 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice. |