1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack Sports Saloon

• Built as an X-Pack by the factory
• Original colour combination
• Continuously maintained but never restored
• Stamped service booklet
• Exceptional history file

A genuine factory-built X-Pack, chassis number '12576' was delivered new to Stratton Motor Company on 23rd September 1987. The car has manual transmission and retains its original colour combination of Chichester Blue with blue-piped Magnolia hide interior. Copies of the original Car Record Card and warranty document are on file, the latter made out to first owner Mr C Rowe of Middlesex. The Aston was originally registered on a private plate ('759 CR'), then as 'E425 NUW' followed by 'RMR 721', and has now reverted to 'E425 NUW'.
One of the most comprehensive we have seen, the accompanying history file testifies to ongoing regular no-expense-spared maintenance rather than more extensive restoration. The stamped service booklet records regular servicing, initially by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited followed by various specialists including HWM, Desmond J Smail, Wren Classics, and Chicane Classics, the latter having looked after the car for the immediately preceding owner from 2012. The 26 entries show the mileage total rising from 769 in January 1998 to 77,434 in September 2018.
The earliest of the numerous invoices in the file dates from 1995 when the car was being looked after by Desmond J Smail for its then owner, a Mr Wise. Desmond Smail continued to maintain the Aston for its next owner, a Mr R Maude-Roxby. Totalling in excess of £30,000, the many Desmond Smail invoices are contained within their own file.
Ownership then passed via Desmond Smail to a Mr A Chick, who mainly employed Aston Service Dorset and HWM to look after the car. The immediately preceding owner bought the Aston from Mr Chick on 8th April 2006, at 50,803 miles and went on to spend approximately £60-70,000 on his Aston Martin. Carried out in March 2019, the most recent of those works included stripping and rebuilding the carburettors.
In 2005, while belonging to former owner Mr Chick, the Vantage had won the Valspar Trophy at the AMOC's concours at Kingston Lacy in September. The car has also featured in three motoring magazines: Classic & Sports Car (March 1999), Classic Cars (December 2003) and Vantage (issue 22, summer 2018). Copies are available.
Vantage's scribe clearly enjoyed his time behind the wheel: "From the big, comfy but still supportive driver's seat there's another stunning view over a small acreage of bonnet, and when you turn the key there's an instant aura of big, lazy power and a classic slightly offbeat V8 note that can go from burble to blare, from Maidstone to Mulsanne. It's actually a pussycat to drive. The clutch is easy, the gearshift long of throw but positive enough. First is on a dogleg, away and back, but that works well, because once you're on the move you're never going to need it again. In fact, on these B-roads, third is all you really need, from 20mph to as fast as you dare."
The current vendor purchased the X-Pack in 2019, and at time of cataloguing the mileage total was 79,888. Since acquisition the Aston has been treated to an extensive service at marque specialists Pugsley & Lewis. Carried out in October 2020, these works included a carburettor clean and adjustment; air conditioning recharge; steering gear and anti-roll bar overhaul; replacing differential mounts; fitting new balanced clutch/flywheel assembly; and various other tasks (see detailed bill for £8,559 on file).
Presented in beautiful condition, this well cared for and fastidiously documented X-Pack is offered with the aforementioned invoices; numerous old tax discs; a quantity expired MoTs; a V5C Registration Certificate; MoT to August 2023; and instructions for the Blaupunkt radio.