Description
This original ‘Oscar India’ Vantage was sold by Aston Martin main agents Robin Hamilton of Burton-On-Trent to the first owner Mr Robert Atkin of Lincoln on 17th December 1982, finished in Madagascar Brown metallic coachwork with Magnolia hides and ZF five speed manual transmission
First registered ‘AFA 45Y’ on 1st January 1983, the original service booklet is accompanied by the original AML warranty card and shows the first service was undertaken by Robin Hamilton on 27th January of that year at 1116 miles
The Vantage was sold after just four months to ‘Hit and Run Music Ltd’ of Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1 on 13th April, the music production company of respected historic racer, Aston Martin collector, manager of Phil Collins and rock band Genesis, Mr Tony Smith Esq
The Vantage was immediately assigned with the cherished registration ’37 FLY’ which would remain on the car for the next eight years until its sale to third owner, Mr Shires of Caterham on 17th September 1991. Eagle eyed Aston enthusiasts will note the registration ’37 FLY’ also appeared on the 1955 Aston Martin DB3S/ 103 that was previously owned and campaigned by Mr Smith in the early nineties
Further service works were undertaken by marque expert Ian Mason between June 1983 and June 1987, by which point the mileage was noted at 28, 429 miles. Letters on file between Mr Smith and David Eales, service manager of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, dated May and June 1989 discuss Mr Smith’s intention to return the Vantage to the factory for a 6. 3 Litre engine upgrade with large bore exhaust, large bore intakes and handling modifications.
Within the letters Mr Smith states ‘When we spoke on the phone I did say I wanted to change the wheels and also adopt a Zagato suspension system as per Simon Draper’s car’ to which Mr Eales replies ‘I would confirm we will be most pleased to modify your wheel and suspension when your car is here and the additional handling improvements previously referred to are improvements on our ‘current’ specification which if successful I will naturally offer this option’
The Vantage returned to the works at Newport Pagnell in October 1989 showing 38, 763 miles and ten page invoice on file details ‘prepare and rebuild engine to 6. 3L specification, updating ignition and cooling systems, fitting five new Ronal wheels, fitting Vantage handling kit with new shock absorbers and specialist handling kit road springs with front and rear anti roll bar, large bore exhaust and large bore air intakes’ at a cost of £41, 000, which equalled almost half the price of a brand new Vantage 580X saloon at that time!
The 6. 3L engine gave a huge gain power to 440bhp and offered scintillating performance with its upgraded handling setup and was subsequently repainted in Balmoral Green before it was sold via marque exponents R. S. Williams in October 1991
Purchased by Blackwall Green ltd of Minories, London EC3 on 10th February 1993, further RSW invoices document the rear axle ratio was changed to 3. 07 and a new speedometer fitted at 53, 128 miles on 17th November of that year. Further maintenance was undertaken by RSW and Ian Mason before the car was sold in May 1995 via Nicholas Mee to Mr Claus Hecht-Johansen of Berkshire
The Vantage returned to Nicholas Mee and was sold by him in April 2004 to Luxembourg and later joined the respected collection of Mr Gerard Lopez in May 2006 where it would remain for the following few years
By 2018 the Vantage was sold to a collector in Madrid and benefitted from substantial improvement work during his ownership that included a new clutch, engine out full engine bay detail, brake system overhaul, complete suspension rebuild with RSW handling kit, new dampers, bushes and anti-roll bars, new engine/ gearbox and diff mounts completed by Emilio Benito Racing in Madrid between 2021/ 24 using only parts supplied by RSW
The most recent works were completed by RSW on 12th August 2024 and included a major service, carburettor tune, new brake/ clutch master cylinders plus various other jobs at a cost of £9400, furthermore an inspection of the chassis confirmed the Vantage is in excellent structural condition
Offered with extensive and interesting history from new, this 6. 3 Vantage has now covered 73, 500 from new and is one of the best Vantage saloons we have ever driven, a seriously exciting car to drive with exceptional performance that presents beautifully in one of the finest colour combinations for the model
