1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante

Registration No: B144 WWT
Chassis No: SCFCV81C6FTR15398
MOT: October 2025

• ex-Aston Martin Owner's Club Chairman ownership
• Just 48,000 miles and four former keepers from new
• A notably nicely presented example with some £8,000 worth of expenditure in the last three years
• Previous full repaint and still presented in its original colour scheme
• Offered with an extensive history file
• One of just 439 Weber-carburettor fed V8 Volantes made

Introduced in June 1978, the Aston Martin V8 Volante was among the most stylish 2+2-seater convertibles that money could buy. Utilising a strengthened version of its two-door Saloon sibling’s sheet steel platform chassis, the newcomer was equipped with independent coil-sprung front suspension, a De Dion rear axle, four-wheel disc brakes and power-assisted rack and pinion steering. Sporting a ‘power bulge’ bonnet to accommodate the quad Weber carburettors that sat atop its 5340cc DOHC V8 engine, the soft-top was typically ordered with three-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission. Reputedly capable of over 140mph and 0-60mph in 7.7 seconds, the V8 Volante featured sumptuous leather upholstery and a beautiful burr walnut dashboard / door cappings. A smash hit with America’s rich and famous, most of the 439 carburettor-fed cars completed between 1978 and 1986 were to left-hand drive specification.

Supplied new on the 1^st April 1985 to the first owner, a business by the name of Cooper Metals, through Aston Martin main agents JCT600 (Car-Tech Centre) of Shipley, chassis 15398 was finished from the factory in the beautiful colour scheme of Forest Green paintwork complemented by a Beige leather interior upholstery with Dark Green piping and Green carpets. Serviced at Aston Works Service in Newport Pagnell for the first and second services, thereafter, service work was shared with other stalwarts of the marque; Ian Mason and Chapman Spooner, being serviced almost every year until 1998 and having covered 44,053 miles. Over the subsequent years, the Volante has clearly been cherished, making use of skilled Aston Martin specialists. In 2002/3, chassis 15398 was again entrusted to Ian Mason for significant mechanical maintenance, including removal of cylinder heads and conversion to unleaded fuel, as well as a comprehensive top-end overhaul undertaken including a carburettor refresh and a differential overhaul. The front suspension was also dismantled with brake and shock absorber renewal completed and sill restoration, amongst much further work, all of which totalled some £26,800.

Stored off the road from c.2006 until 2016, the Volante was then entrusted to Byron International, who at the time were marque aficionados and brokers of some of the world’s finest Aston Martins, with ‘B144 WWT’ changing hands through them in 2017. During this process, the originality of the Volante was noted – for example, there were tabs on the seat runners that were on the car when new and normally would not stand the test of time. Lavished with a full repaint in its original colour combination shortly after, most recently the Aston Martin has received some £8,000 worth of expenditure in the last three years with improvements being completed by a classic car specialist and including servicing, a new high torque starter motor, renewal of drive belts, overhauls of the water and air pump, air-conditioning re-gas, improvements to the electrics, alloy wheel refurbishment, and new tyres.

With minimal mileage covered since the extensive mechanical overhaul by Ian Mason (some 3,000 miles), ‘B144 WWT’ is offered now having covered just 49,000 miles from new and with only four former keepers, one of which was a former Chairman of the Aston Martin Owner's Club. Furthermore, if any V8 Volante was not exclusive enough, this example was chosen as the lead car for Autoglym's advertising campaign in 1989, with an original copy of the advertisement in a Classic & Sports Car magazine accompanying, showing the chauffeur fitted out, appropriately, in a Gieves & Hawkes suit. Offered with an extensive history file that documented the Aston Martin's early life in full detail, the file further includes MOT certificates back to 1989, a large collection of invoices, ownership history, and a current V5C document. Supplied with a no advisory MOT certificate until October, the tool kit, and jack, chassis 15398 was last serviced at 47,316 miles by a classic car specialist. This very nicely presented example is certainly worthy of close inspection! A simply exquisite motorcar, it is perfect for a long-distance journey in style.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452