Description
This Volante was originally specified in left hand drive V585 EFI specification destined for Switzerland and completed on 7th November 1986, finished in Jubilee Silver with dark blue hides. Upon completion the car was used by the factory for press photography displaying the factory registration ‘AML 1’ and was almost immediately converted to right hand drive UK specification in the service department at Newport Pagnell in 1987 as documented on the works record
Retained on file is a copy of the original sales invoice from Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd to Aston Martin Sales Ltd on 11th January 1988 ‘Aston Martin V8 Volante Automatic Convertible, finished in Jubilee Silver with Dark Blue leather, Dark Blue Hood and set of fitted luggage, ex Works price £68, 227’
The original Warranty card on file was issued to first owner Mr Robert Cooper of Cooper Metal Holdings, Swindon, on 26nd February 1988 with registration E612 KYH. Mr Cooper was a well known and loyal Aston Martin client and has enjoyed numerous new Aston Martin motorcars for over forty years. The Volante remained with Mr Cooper until it was replaced in 1989 by his brand new V8 Vantage Volante ‘Ecurie Ecosse’, the last of three special order examples built following a bespoke request from the McCaig brothers who owned the Ecurie Ecosse racing team
Due to a surge of interest in the final series of 580X V8 Vantage and Volante models in the late eighties, new cars and the even rarer ‘Prince Of Wales’ specification cars were difficult to obtain and Aston Martin main agents such as Stratton and Chapman Spooner offered their clients the chance to upgrade their existing cars, hence a number of 580X Vantage Volante’s had their flairs removed and were rebuilt with ‘PoW’ coachwork
During a recent conversation Roger Bennington, MD of Stratton Motor Co recalls they converted a number of Volante’s like this in period and the cost conversion was cGBP 25, 000 which was a substantial amount in proportion to the values at the time
In addition to the ‘PoW’ upgrades available from the aforementioned dealers a handful of Volante’s were also upgraded with 580X Vantage Volante bodywork which was also a complex and extremely costly upgrade with new panels supplied by the factory
Our Volante was sold via Straight Eight in 1989 and over the winter of that year and was the subject of a comprehensive upgrade programme to latest 580X Vantage Volante cosmetic specification, refinished in Salisbury Blue and understood to have been one of a handful of cars upgraded in the period at the request of main agents Chapman Spooner by highly respected Aston Martin specialist Lincoln Scott
The Volante was sold to Mr Murphy of Cossington, Leicestershire and was serviced by Chapman Spooner on March 7th 1990 at 2700 miles, again on March 11th 1991 at 5186 miles and then AML Ltd on 15th May 1992 at 9329 miles at which time it was briefly registered ‘1 AM’ as stated on the MoT certificate February 1991-1992
The next owner was Mr Paul Southgate of Essex between 1994-98 where it joined his private collection sharing garage space with a Lamborghini Countach and Espada. Throughout Mr Southgate’s ownership the Aston was serviced by Aston Martin Sevenoaks on 6th January 1994 at 11, 612 miles and was later sent to Aston Martin exponents RS Williams on 6th March 1996 for full mechanical conversion from electronic fuel injection to carburettors setup (whilst retaining its original matching numbers engine and gearbox) and fitted with the latest RSW handling pack and Brembo big brake conversion, the cost of which today would exceed GBP 25, 000
The Volante was later serviced by Carrera Sport of Haywards Heath on 14th July 1998 at 18, 610 miles and sold to the previous owner in October of that year via Aston specialist dealer Byron International in October 1998 with mileage at 19, 000 miles
The Volante would remain with its former keeper for the next twenty five years covering just 9700 miles during their ownership and totalling 28, 781 miles by October 2023. During their tenure the Volante benefitted from a chassis restoration and maintenance by marque expert John Etheridge and Nicholas Mee. The car was professionally stored from August 2002 to October 2023 in a temperature controlled environment, regularly started and MoT tested every year until its sale on 27th October 2023
Over the past twelve months the Volante has been the subject of extensive recommissioning programme at a cost in excess of GBP 50, 000 with marque specialists Quantum Works and R. S. Williams with supporting photos and invoices. An inspection of the car in the workshop in October 2023 revealed it had excellent structural condition, excellent original interior/ carpets/ hood, excellent bodywork and a very healthy engine, a testament to the excellent conditions at Tigastore but in need of a full recommission following a long period of stoarge
The engine was subsequently removed, water pump/ ancillaries rebuilt, engine bay and engine fully repainted and detailed with all relevant ancillaries replated, carburettor fuel system rebuild and tune, gearbox rebuild with quick shift kit, air conditioning rebuild with new hoses, new alloy radiator, new oil cooler, uprated ignition, RSW big bore exhaust system, Nardi steering wheel, new Michelin Pilot Sport tires, original Ronal wheels refurbished, RSW wheel spacer kit, new wishbone and differential bushes with geometry setup, full brake rebuild with new servos etc, Blaupunkt DAB radio to name but a few items!
Supplied with the original service book, every MoT certificate from new warranting the low 31, 500 original miles, extensive service history and original Tanne and Krolle fitted luggage, this superb Volante is now ready for immediate enjoyment and both presents and drives extremely well
