Vehicle Description
Chassis No. V8C0L15209
Engine No. V580 5209 LFM
Affectionately known as a "Brute in a Suit," Aston Martin's
muscular and long-lived V8 was produced for two decades, a
testament to the good looks and engineering prowess and the
resulting popularity from that formidable combination. Such was the
popularity of the convertible offered from June of 1978, Aston
Martin would build the coupe to individual demand just a few short
years after the Volante's debut.
According to a digital copy of its Aston Martin build card on file,
which is available for review, this US-specification V8 Volante,
chassis number V8C0L15209, left Newport Pagnell finished in
Madagascar Brown with the interior trimmed in Natural colored
leather and a matching convertible soft top. According to a plaque
affixed to the center console this Volante made an appearance in
the Hollywood film Green Ice. By 1995 it passed into the hands of
well-known audiophile Mark Levinson. Service records on file show
regular servicing by Levinson at both Autosport Designs and Vantage
Motors Inc. By 1998 it was sold to Kean Rogers, a well-known author
of Aston Martin books. While in Rogers' ownership, the car was
returned to Europe in the late 1990s to participate in an Aston
Martin Owners Club trip to Le Mans.
Sometime thereafter it is reported that Rogers entrusted this V8
Volante to Essex, England-based Aston Martin specialist Rikki Cann
for a complete restoration with significant upgrades. The body was
stripped, and necessary repairs were made with a conversion to
European chrome bumper specification before refinishing the car in
a metallic color named Grace Green, well suited to the Volante's
curves. The interior was retrimmed by Lincoln Scott of East Sussex
in tan Autolux leather with dark green piping matching its dark
green Wilton wool carpets. A new dark green convertible top, well
matched to the new body color was installed at this time.
The chassis was stripped and received similar treatment with
repairs and epoxy paint, but not before additional reinforcements
were added to provide strengthening for the matching numbers
engine, now rebuilt to X-Pack 5.5-liter Vantage specification.
Beginning with a full teardown, the engine was fitted with
replacement V580X cylinder heads and high-lift camshafts. Feeding
the now Vantage-spec engine are four Weber IDF 48 mm carburetors,
matching manifolds, and a large bore airbox, with the rebuilt
engine breathing through a new big-bore stainless steel exhaust
system.
Following its acquisition by Tom Papadopoulos in 2008, it was later
sold to New York-based collector Adam Lindemann in 2011. In 2016
Lindemann, along with Autosport Designs, made further modifications
to the car with a conversion to the subtle "Prince of Wales" (PoW)
specification and upgrades to match the three "Ecurie Ecosse" cars
produced by Aston Martin that featured a spoilered trunk lid and
blanked front engine grille - an absolutely outstanding visual
presentation.
By the autumn of 2019 this V8 Volante passed to the consignor and
most recently visited Steel Wings of Ivyland, Pennsylvania in
January 2023. While there, both the rear differential and
transmission were removed for a reseal and, while removed, the
driveshaft received fresh universal joints, the clutch was removed
for an inspection, and the rear brake calipers were rebuilt. Today,
this ever-popular, factory left-hand-drive V8 Volante has been
imbued with many of the finest bespoke features available through
the 1980s on Aston Martin's popular V8 convertible. Restored to
Vantage specification, this factory five-speed manual transmission
example includes restoration and service records from 1995 and
digital copies of its Aston Martin record card and original
production record entry.
