1978 Aston Martin V8 Series 3 Sports Saloon

• Automatic transmission
• Present ownership for 20 years
• An older restoration
• Recently re-commissioned

Always intended to house the new Tadek Marek-designed V8, the DBS first appeared with the 4.0-litre six of the concurrently produced DB6. Styled in-house by Bill Towns, the four-seater DBS employed a platform chassis with independent suspension all round: wishbone and coil-spring at the front, De Dion with Watts linkage at the rear. Bigger and more luxuriously appointed than the DB6, the heavier DBS disappointed some by virtue of its slightly reduced performance, but nobody complained when the V8 arrived in 1969. With an estimated 345bhp available from its 5,340cc, fuel-injected, four-cam motor, the DBS V8 could reach 100mph in under 14 seconds and had a top speed of 160mph: a staggering performance in those days and one fully justifying the claim that it was the fastest production car in the world.
Company Developments' acquisition of Aston Martin in 1972 ushered in a change of name: out went DBS V8, in came AM V8. Boasting electronic ignition and air conditioning as standard, the restyled Series 2 now featured two instead of four headlamps and recalled the looks of the earlier DB six-cylinder cars.. Introduced in 1973, the Series 3 employed a quartet of Weber 42 DCNF carburettors instead of the previous Bosch mechanical fuel injection, the change bringing with it increased torque and necessitating a larger bonnet bulge. Despite the switch, fuel economy improved and even in automatic-transmission form the Weber-equipped car proved almost as quick as the preceding manual version.
The vendor has owned this automatic transmission V8 for the last 20 years. Extensive restoration work had been carried out in 1992/1993 just before he purchased the car: bare-metal windows-out re-spray following replacement of the sills; lower front and rear wings; and rear suspension pickup points. During the vendor's ownership the steering rack and brake callipers have been overhauled, while recent re-commissioning included reconditioning the brake servo and master cylinder; changing the engine and gearbox oil/filter; and general servicing/making good. The car further benefits from the fitting of a JMB uprated water pump; an uprated alternator with integral regulator; a Taylor Engineering auxiliary electric vacuum pump for the braking system; and exchange Lucas spot lamps.
The vendor advises us that the chassis has been rust-proofed by Before 'n After, and that the paintwork is good but would benefit from a re-spray. The interior likewise would benefit from improvement. Accompanying paperwork consists of recent bills; MoTs for the period 2003-2018; itemised record of general work for the period 1985-2002; current MoT; and a V5C document.