1998 Aston Martin V8 Coupe

VIN: SCFDAM2S8WBR79088.

Engine: 7417W.

This RHD auto 1998 Aston Martin V8 Coupe comes to us with no ownership or service history. Apparently only 101 were ever built.

We believe that it was bought for the vendor’s static display collection in 2013.

And we know that it hasn’t turned a wheel since then.

Today, the odometer reads just 337 miles.

The dashboard electrics all light up and we have turned the engine (and it spins freely) but now the immobiliser seems to be preventing it to start. So, we haven’t driven the car and can therefore only comment on its cosmetic condition, it seems to us to be in generally excellent order.

This motor car is being sold as part of an overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to the 10% import duty plus VAT if the car is to remain in the UK & purchased by a private individual (buying in the name of a company will have additional tax added). Import VAT (20% on the hammer is also applicable)

The 10% is calculated on the final selling price. So if this car sells for £30,000, then there will be £3,000 duty plus £600 VAT, plus £6,000 VAT on the hammer (amount payable £39,600 plus Premium of £2,100 + £420 VAT = total £44,220).

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable.

Lastly, there will be a nominal (but mandatory) administration fee of £350 for processing the NOVA application, and payable direct to the shipping company. A completed and processed NOVA will provide you formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK and thus allow you to register the vehicle with the DVLA

In common with the majority of cars in this collection, this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for view and inspection at our HQ near Abingdon and we will be delighted to show the car to you and/or your appointed engineer.

The car’s muscular bodywork is in very fine fettle and is untroubled by any creases, dents, dinks, ripples or folds.

The blue paintwork is equally impressive and is far shinier and brighter than it has any right to be on a car of this age.

The only exceptions to all of this good news regarding the car’s exterior aesthetics are some gouges out of the bottom lip of the front valance, a few paint chips around the o/s/f wing, front valance and bonnet, some scuffs at the base of the n/s/f wing just behind the bumper section, and one or two scuffs around the o/s/f wheel arch.

The panels are straight and true.

The shut lines seem consistent and the doors open and close as they should.

The wheels appear to be unacquainted with kerbs or other roadside hazards.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings all look good.

The time-warp condition of the interior is every bit a match for its exterior counterpart, and is far more a reflection of the car’s indicated mileage than its age.

The magnolia with blue piping upholstery has yet to earn any noticeable creases, let alone anything approaching patina.

The seats, front and back, are comfortable, luxurious and supportive.

The door cards are fine.

So, too, is the headlining.

The wooden veneers on the door cappings, dashboard and centre console are beyond reproach.

The most notable departure from excellence can be seen in the carpets, particularly those on the driver’s side. They have clearly proved irresistible to some particularly voracious moths and their equally ravenous offspring.

We also noticed that the glove compartment drops down too far when opened, exposing the wiring and fuses behind it.

The boot is in decent condition but the gas struts have lost their mojo.

From what we can see, the undersides are strong, sound and free of anything that looks as if it might threaten the structural integrity of the vehicle.

Clearly, though, you’ll want to look for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

The engine (built by Terry Durston) and engine bay appear to be clean and dry and, as far as we can tell, everything is in its right and proper place.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records beyond the photocopy shown in the photography section.

Currently, it has neither an MoT certificate nor a V5. It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

None of the paperwork shown in the gallery constitutes any kind of current licensing or registration documentation.

We haven’t driven the car so our understanding of it is somewhat limited.

That makes this splendidly preserved car a very rare example of one of the last hand-built, pedigree Aston Martin GT bruisers – and consequently a highly desirable vehicle, in our opinion.

Provided, of course, that the car’s engine and mechanicals are as good as the rest of it.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with a hammer estimate of £30,000 - £50,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.