1978 Aston Martin AMV8

Supplied new and registered on 01 August 1978 by HW Motors LTD, this AMV8 was one of the last black series ‘3S’ cars with black instruments, stage 1 engine producing 305bhp, and was originally out-shopped in Mandarin Yellow, one of only six cars to have left the factory in such a specification.

Purchased by the second owner in 1982, the service record shows that it was serviced by Aston Martin Dorset, before being enjoyed to its fullest extent, covering around 20,000 miles between 1982 and 2001, with significant expenditure and extensive servicing during this period, as shown by the wealth of invoices from this time period in the history file below.

Interestingly, the decision was made to re-spray the car into the current rich red/maroon colour you see before you in 1998, before it was taken off the road in 2001, where it remained until our vendor purchased the vehicle in 2020.

Following the current owner’s acquisition of the vehicle, an extensive program of mechanical re-commissioning was undertaken, with the following work carried out at a cost of over £11,000:

- Complete fuel system overhaul, with the tank removed and cleaned, and new filters, pumps and fuel level sender unit

- Attention to the coolant system, with new hoses, caps and coolant.

- Extensive check of the braking system, featuring new hoses, pads and fluids.

- Fitment of a new steering rack, power steering hoses, fluid and track rod joints.

- A full oil and filter service, plus new spark plugs, coil and drive belts.

- Numerous miscellaneous service items attended to, including a rear axle oil change, new Avon Turbosteel (OE specification) tyres all round, attention to the electrical systems, a new battery and general lubrication

- Partial interior overhaul with new front seats and door cards, refurbishment of the alloy wheels and new fuel caps.

Now, the decision has been made for this documented low mileage British Behemoth to be put up for sale, offering the next owner an opportunity to complete an already extensive recommissioning project, and at the end of it enjoy the glorious soundtrack and driving experience that can only be provided by an Aston Martin of this vintage.

Whilst the mechanicals of this AMV8 have been given a thorough going-over, the bodywork is in need of restoration.

Thanks to years of being laid-up and all-but-forgotten about, this V8-powered brute has seen better days on its outside, with plenty of lacquer peel, flaking, and major marks to the paintwork dotted around the exterior.

There is also, naturally, a fair few patches of corrosion and bubbling, ranging from purely aesthetic to perhaps more serious, most notably along the bottom edges of both doors, around the arches and along the rear below the window.

Keen-eyed viewers will also spot that both the front and rear windows are missing large parts of their seals, though the chrome trim is included in the sale of the vehicle, though it is not currently attached to the car.

That said, the body looks to be relatively straight throughout, with only a couple of minor indentations noted, most prominently on the upper nearside wing, and the panels are largely nice and even throughout, suggesting no history of any accident damage.

There are numerous plus points, too. The wheels have been refurbished and present in wonderful condition with nearly-new rubber all round, whilst the front bumper has also been re-chromed and is in excellent shape, whilst all of the chrome trim appears to be included (what isn’t affixed is in the boot) and all of the light lenses are present and correct, meaning there should be little - if any - parts searching or sourcing required.

On the inside, the front seats and door cards present in excellent condition, having been recently refurbished as part of the vendor’s recommissioning program.

The carpets, too, all seem to be present and correct, with only a deep cleaning being suggested. The rear seats are in great condition with only a light usage patina noted, whilst the dashboard is also in great shape, with no cracking or sun damage noted.

Up above, however, the headliner is in need of replacement, and the high-traffic areas such as the shifter, inner door covers, steering wheel and other touch-points wear varying degrees of usage patina, in line with a car that has been used and enjoyed and then sat for a number of years.

All dials and instruments were working as intended during our photography session, though the choke had to be held up at the uppermost position when starting, and requires the rubber handle fitting which is provided with the car, with the same being required for the bonnet release on the inner driver’s door also provided.

Underneath the carpets in the front, the floor looks to be nice and solid. However, the inner edges of the doors, the hinge areas as the lower edges of the doors show various stages of corrosion, and would likely need rectifying or attending to.

Starting from cold, the V8 engine shows strong oil pressure throughout its temperature range, and is happy to sit idling once warmed slightly, with no sign of any untoward behaviour noted.

That said, the auxiliary belts require replacement or attention, as we noticed the fan belt was not running, and nor was the power steering pump, and upon closer inspection it appears the belt has come off of its pulley, and will require attention before the car is driven.

In the engine bay, there are plenty of signs of the recent recommissioning works with new hoses throughout the bay, and whilst there is the typical surface corrosion and bloom to various components, the block and bay itself are noticeably dry and free of any major leaks, as far as we could see.

Naturally, the exhaust note from the V8 engine is simply superb, even at only part-throttle and idle.

Looking underneath the bodywork, more works are evident to the chassis, though there is some corrosion to be noted underneath, in keeping with the rest of the vehicle’s condition. As always, wed welcome any independent inspections at our HQ in Abingdon, and we’d encourage you to make arrangements via the ‘contact seller’ button at the top of the listing to come and see the car for yourself, though there is a significant selection of underside photos available in the gallery below.

Part of the major selling point of this AMV8 is its history folder and documentation, which spans three folders in total.

The works manuals and handbooks are present, along with another major folder of invoicing, documentation, hand-written notes and history, and plenty of receipts showing significant expenditure in the 90s whilst in the care of the second owner, including the fitment of a replacement refurbished transmission.

There is also a heritage decoder/certificate confirming the original factory specification of the vehicle, the fact that the engine and chassis numbers match (making this a partial numbers-matching vehicle, since the transmission is not the original item) and also the Bronze plaque that would’ve been affixed to the engine, stating that the engine was hand-built by one Bob Butler of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.

Finally, the V5 is present showing two former keepers. Naturally, for a vehicle of this age, there is no MoT certificate, as it is now exempt from mandatory testing.

As ever, all of the history has been photographed, so why not pop the kettle on and have a browse through at your own leisure?

There really is no better way to sum up the AMV8 than calling it a ‘Beautiful, British Brute’ - with its aggressive styling and raucous V8 engine paired with luxurious Aston Martin design and a well-appointed cabin, the AMV8 would keep up with the best of them in-period, and still puts on one hell of a show to this day, especially with that wonderful V8 soundtrack.

This particular 1978-registered example was one of the last Series 3 ‘black’ cars with the desirable Stage 1 engine, and benefits from extensive recent works to get it back to a running, driving condition.

Now, it is time for the bodywork and underside to be the recipients of such attention, and this - combined with its impressive originality and matching-numbers engine - make it a wonderfully delectable opportunity for one lucky enthusiast or restoration house to transform this AMV8 back into its factory-fresh state and return it to its former glory.

What’s it worth? Well, we’d estimate in the region of £50,000 to £65,000, but it is being offered NO RESERVE so be sure to get your bids in - good luck!

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.