Description
This striking 1987 V8 Vantage is one of 137 ‘580X’ saloon models constructed by the works between 1986-1990 and was originally supplied by main agents Reg Vardy Ltd of Tyne and Wear to Mr Peter Wilkinson of Harrogate on 1st August 1987, confirmed by the original warranty card and receipt note retained on file
Finished in Suffolk Red coachwork with Magnolia (3997) hides piped with Burgundy (3171) and desirable 5 speed ZF manual transmission, the Vantage was first registered E77 BBB and would remain with the first owner until 13th January 1995, at which point it it had covered 38, 914 miles
The second owners were Mr and Mrs Royall of Wolverhampton who purchased the car following a pre-purchase inspection on 11th January 1995 by marque exponents Aston Engineering (on file) whose conclusion was ‘obviously a genuine car with no major faults that has been dealer serviced and has gradually deteriorated in keeping with age and mileage and in need of 40K miles service’
The car was subsequently purchased by Mr Royall for the princely sum of GBP 40, 000 and immediately assigned with his cherished registration ‘JR 6734’ before being sent to Aston Martin Works for a further report and 40K miles service plus various other jobs, all invoices on file. The Vantage would continue to be maintained by the AMWS throughout his ownership until it was sold to third owner Mr Paul Wilson of Leicestershire on 10th March 1999
Further service records on file show continued maintenance by Aston Engineering and AMWS and the assignment of cherished registration PIW 500 before the car was then acquired by its fourth owner on 20th December 2001, Mr George Miller of Hertfordshire with mileage at 44, 500 miles
The Vantage returned to AM Works Service for servicing on 25th April 2002 at 47, 308 miles and benefitted from a brake system rebuild by Car Care Works (Chiltern Aston Martin) in February 2003 and would remain in Mr Millers ownership until 19th February 2005 when it was acquired by its fifth owner Mr David Fox, and assigned with cherished registration 691 AMX, with mileage now at 51, 227 miles
The Vantage would remain in the custody of Mr Fox for the following eleven years and received substantial investment and improvement during his ownership by the careful hands of marque specialists Trinty Engineering and Rikki Cann, who in November 2005, fitted the car with a handling kit, new brake discs, alloy radiator, LED dash light upgrade and more at a cost of £15, 500. Further upgrades shortly after including the fitment of a Nardi steering wheel and air conditioning rebuild
By June 2007 the car returned to the workshops of Rikki Can and received a full engine rebuild to 5. 7L with new pistons, conrods, new bearings / chains, big bore intakes etc at a cost of £18, 213 with mileage at 59, 647. The Vantage continued to be maintained annually by Cann and received a gearbox rebuild in May 2009 at 63, 767 miles
In March 2014 the Vantage benefitted from extensive body and chassis restoration by Cann with replacement inner and outer sills, floor sections, wing bottoms, front cross members, pedal box outriggers, radius arm mounts and subsequent paint work at a cost of £14, 000 at 70, 741 miles and in April 2016 was fully retrimmed in correct Connoly leather and Wilton carpets in its original colours. Extensive documents on file show in excess of GBP 100, 000 restoration works undertaken during Mr Fox ownership
The Vantage was then acquired by Aston Martin Works Service from Mr Fox in June 2017 at 73, 363 and benefitted from a further £17, 000 of maintenance at the works detailed by multiple invoices and a letter from the Works on file. The Vantage appears to have remained with AMWS for some time after noted as being ‘kept for sales directors use’ and later featuring in a seven-page article in Vantage magazine Spring 2019, a copy of which is included within the file
Acquired by the vendor in 22nd April 2022 from Aston Martin Works Service directly at 74, 249 miles, the Vantage has been used for high days and holidays in the current ownership covering approximately 2500 enjoyable miles that time
This rare Vantage is offered in excellent condition today with substantial service and restoration invoices and has been very well cared for throughout its life, as evidenced by the huge file that accompanies it. Interested parties should note the car is now assigned with desirable registration XPK 33 which accompanies the car
