19th Apr, 2012 16:00
Imperial War Museum Duxford
1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante 'X-Pack' 6.3
Sold for £123,750
(including buyers premium)
Lot details
Registration No: F968NPG
Chassis No: SCFCV81V7KTR15745
Mot Expiry: March 2013
Hailed as the world's fastest four-seater convertible upon its launch at the October 1986 Birmingham Motor Show, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante proved capable of 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds and 164mph. Utilising much the same sheet steel platform chassis, independent front suspension, De Dion back axle, ventilated disc brakes and power-assisted rack and pinion steering as its tin-top sibling, the newcomer possessed even greater road presence thanks to a menacing front air dam, prominent rear 'flip tail' spoiler, extra wide wheelarches and dramatic sill extensions. Available with a choice of five-speed manual or automatic transmission, the V8 Vantage Volante could also be had in US emissions friendly fuel-injected or high-performance 'X-pack' (580X) guises. Those cars built to the latter specification shared their specially reworked 5340cc 'quad cam' V8 (four 48mm Weber carburettors, Cosworth pistons, larger inlet ports and higher lift camshafts etc) with Aston Martin's contemporaneous limited edition V8 Vantage Zagato flagship.
Arguably among the ultimate interpretations of this legendary V8 Vantage Volante 'X-Pack' series, 'F968 NPG' was first registered on 29th November 1988. Returning to the famous Newport Pagnell factory the following year to be fitted with a handling kit and straight through exhaust pipes, it was further upgraded by Works Service and marque specialist R.S. Williams during 1992. Belonging to well-known Aston Martin collector and guru Simon Draper at the time, work comprised a conversion to 6.3-litre 'Zagato' specification and should have yielded circa 465bhp and 460lbft of torque. As befits so special a powerplant, it is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox rather than an automatic one.
Boasting a warranted low mileage of just 32,000, the four-seater is finished in non-metallic Dark Blue complemented by Magnolia leather upholstery. The carpets are Oatmeal and the power hood is fashioned in Dark Blue mohair. The hood bag is finished in Magnolia and, like the seats, piped in Blue. Treated to a new differential, brake discs and callipers not long ago, the Aston Martin is reportedly accompanied by circa £80,000 worth of bills.
During its three-year production run, a mere 167 examples of the V8 Vantage Volante were built. Of these, 58 were left-hand drive export models fitted with the less powerful Weber Marelli fuel injection engine. That means only 109 were supplied with the full 'X-Pack' (580X) unit, of which 30 had automatic transmission and 79 sported manual transmission. All this makes 'F968 NPG' a pretty rare car even before the 6.3-engine conversion is taken into account; the extra cubic centimetres providing a very noticeable boost both in terms of responsiveness and outright performance. Eye-catching alloys, Alpine radio-cassette with remote control, alarm, immobiliser and tracker unit form just part of the car's impressive specification.
The phenomenal success of Aston Martin in recent years has rekindled interest in all the pre-DB7 models, and in an age increasingly dominated by talk of ever smaller-capacity force-fed internal combustion engines, electric motors and fuel cells, there's nothing quite like the sight and sound of a normally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 to set the pulse racing.
PLEASE NOTE: Since the catalogue went to press we have discovered that this lot was supplied new to Simon Draper Esq. during late November 1988 for the princely sum of £113,644.53. Finished in a non-standard colour - Dark Blue Imnont BL 462A - its bespoke specification also comprised a body-coloured mesh grille (in lieu of a blanking plate) and optional mohair hood. The engine currently installed aboard `F968 NPG' (number V580/0051/X6.3) was upgraded to 6.3 litre specification by A. Shackell of Aston Martin Lagonda Service Department and transplanted from Mr Draper's contemporaneously owned Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato (registration number `E607 KYH') to this V8 Vantage Volante by marque specialist R.S. Williams Ltd during February 1992.
Registration No: F968NPG
Chassis No: SCFCV81V7KTR15745
Mot Expiry: March 2013
Hailed as the world's fastest four-seater convertible upon its launch at the October 1986 Birmingham Motor Show, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante proved capable of 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds and 164mph. Utilising much the same sheet steel platform chassis, independent front suspension, De Dion back axle, ventilated disc brakes and power-assisted rack and pinion steering as its tin-top sibling, the newcomer possessed even greater road presence thanks to a menacing front air dam, prominent rear 'flip tail' spoiler, extra wide wheelarches and dramatic sill extensions. Available with a choice of five-speed manual or automatic transmission, the V8 Vantage Volante could also be had in US emissions friendly fuel-injected or high-performance 'X-pack' (580X) guises. Those cars built to the latter specification shared their specially reworked 5340cc 'quad cam' V8 (four 48mm Weber carburettors, Cosworth pistons, larger inlet ports and higher lift camshafts etc) with Aston Martin's contemporaneous limited edition V8 Vantage Zagato flagship.
Arguably among the ultimate interpretations of this legendary V8 Vantage Volante 'X-Pack' series, 'F968 NPG' was first registered on 29th November 1988. Returning to the famous Newport Pagnell factory the following year to be fitted with a handling kit and straight through exhaust pipes, it was further upgraded by Works Service and marque specialist R.S. Williams during 1992. Belonging to well-known Aston Martin collector and guru Simon Draper at the time, work comprised a conversion to 6.3-litre 'Zagato' specification and should have yielded circa 465bhp and 460lbft of torque. As befits so special a powerplant, it is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox rather than an automatic one.
Boasting a warranted low mileage of just 32,000, the four-seater is finished in non-metallic Dark Blue complemented by Magnolia leather upholstery. The carpets are Oatmeal and the power hood is fashioned in Dark Blue mohair. The hood bag is finished in Magnolia and, like the seats, piped in Blue. Treated to a new differential, brake discs and callipers not long ago, the Aston Martin is reportedly accompanied by circa £80,000 worth of bills.
During its three-year production run, a mere 167 examples of the V8 Vantage Volante were built. Of these, 58 were left-hand drive export models fitted with the less powerful Weber Marelli fuel injection engine. That means only 109 were supplied with the full 'X-Pack' (580X) unit, of which 30 had automatic transmission and 79 sported manual transmission. All this makes 'F968 NPG' a pretty rare car even before the 6.3-engine conversion is taken into account; the extra cubic centimetres providing a very noticeable boost both in terms of responsiveness and outright performance. Eye-catching alloys, Alpine radio-cassette with remote control, alarm, immobiliser and tracker unit form just part of the car's impressive specification.
The phenomenal success of Aston Martin in recent years has rekindled interest in all the pre-DB7 models, and in an age increasingly dominated by talk of ever smaller-capacity force-fed internal combustion engines, electric motors and fuel cells, there's nothing quite like the sight and sound of a normally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 to set the pulse racing.
PLEASE NOTE: Since the catalogue went to press we have discovered that this lot was supplied new to Simon Draper Esq. during late November 1988 for the princely sum of £113,644.53. Finished in a non-standard colour - Dark Blue Imnont BL 462A - its bespoke specification also comprised a body-coloured mesh grille (in lieu of a blanking plate) and optional mohair hood. The engine currently installed aboard `F968 NPG' (number V580/0051/X6.3) was upgraded to 6.3 litre specification by A. Shackell of Aston Martin Lagonda Service Department and transplanted from Mr Draper's contemporaneously owned Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato (registration number `E607 KYH') to this V8 Vantage Volante by marque specialist R.S. Williams Ltd during February 1992.
Auction: Imperial War Museum Duxford, 19th Apr, 2012
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