1977 ASTON MARTIN V8 “S” SALOON Registration Number: 421 FL...

Estimate

£130,000 - £150,000

1977 ASTON MARTIN V8 “S” SALOON

Registration Number: 421 FLR
Chassis Number: V8/11734/BCA/S
Recorded Mileage: 106,000

Genuine “S” specification model from first year of production
Extensive history file over a 30 year period

Announced in April 1972, the Aston Martin V8 was an extensively modified version of the DBS V8 which was announced in September 1969. Externally, the grill was entirely new, no longer sweeping across the complete front but now tailored between the head lamps, reminiscent of the earlier six cylinder models such as the DB3S. The engine was by then the well tried and tested all alloy V8 designed by Tadek Marek that had made its first appearance in January 1967 at the Racing Car Show in London, and raced by Lola in their Type 70 Mk III GT.

The Series III model was introduced in London in August of 1973. The important mechanical difference was the replacement of the Bosch fuel injection system by four twin-choke down draught Weber carburettors, which produced notably smoother performance at low engine speeds, with added flexibility. To accommodate the carburettors, the bonnet bulge was deepened slightly and it was continued as a low bulge, to the trailing edge. Improvements were also made to water, oil and automatic transmission cooling and a new insulation material was used for the engine bulkhead and under the bonnet. There are detailed improvements inside the car, revised front seats; passenger’s door locked, electrically, from driver’s side; revised switches and heating controls: fuses below the glove compartment; larger ashtray; fuel tank redesigned to increase luggage space. 

While the earlier V8 cars had developed 310bhp, the loss of 30bhp in the emasculated Federal-spec versions couldn’t be tolerated, and so entered upgrades in the form of 'Stage 1' camshafts, an exhaust system developed for the V8 Vantage, and traditional engineering tweaks that restored power to a smidgeon over 300bhp. The balance was restored.

First delivered to GKN Group Services on 23rd August 1977 under the registration number TYE 762 S, the specification of this car included a sliding sun-roof and a livery of Kentucky Blue with Burgundy leather trim.

By the late 1980s the Aston Martin was owned by a Mr. Bertram of Newcastle upon Tyne, retaining the car until ownership passed to a Mr. Tomes of Durham, followed by a Mr. Cameron of Wallington in Surrey. The V8 remained in South London, being acquired by Peter Roberson of Coulsdon in November 1998. The last change of ownership was to Mr. Smiles in 2001, who owned the vehicle until just recently.

Mr. Smiles lavished much care and attention on the Aston in his ownership. The essential chassis, floor, jacking points, outriggers and sill issues were attended to early in his ownership, at which point the car’s coachwork was brought back to bare metal and refinished in Rolls-Royce Peacock Blue, and the front seat retrimmed as per original. 

Later in his ownership, Mr. Smiles commissioned a fully documented engine rebuild with specialist engineering firm Tolman Motorsport, who he entrusted with much of the maintenance and repair work in his long ownership.

The extent of investment into this beautiful example is impressive, with three folders of bills which add up to a sum well into five figures. There are bills for servicing work with The Aston Workshop, Classic Encounter, Goodwood Green Classics, Citygate Tadworth, Pugsley & Lewis, H Engineering, and more recently Tolman Motorsport. In addition there are c. 25 MoT certificates to support the current mileage.

This is a clearly a very well maintained example of Aston’s V8 engine 70s supercar, in very good order and ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.