1978 Aston Martin V8

This motor car is being sold as part of a private overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams’ temporary admission customs bond. In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty.

In the UK, cars over 30 years old are subject to the lower rate of 5% import tax on the final selling price if purchased by a private individual. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT. A company buying this car will always pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT on the ‘hammer’ price.

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 upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, The Market can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 9am-5pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

VIN: V8SOR12032.

Engine No: V/540/2032/S.

This 1978 RHD auto Aston Martin V8 ‘Oscar India’ Series 4 saloon was more than a bit special when new – even in the rarefied company of its fellow ‘Oscar India’ cars.

It has a Tourmaline Blue exterior, Beige leather upholstery (piped in blue), and Special Blue carpets, as witnessed on the build sheet that accompanies the vehicle.

The ‘Oscar India’ Series 4 specification was introduced in October 1978.

One widely held belief is that, somewhat prosaically, ‘Oscar India’ stands for ‘October Introduction’.

Another says it was an internal code name for the Series 4 and was taken from the aircraft registration of then Aston Martin Chairman Alan Curtis’ personal plane, (G-BFOI) Golf, Bravo, Foxtrot, Oscar, India.

Our understanding, which comes from an ex-Aston Martin Director, is that both of these are simultaneously true.

So, there you have it.

Up until 1978, Motor Shows had been held at Earls Court. So, the October 1978 Birmingham Motor Show at the NEC heralded significant new marketing and promotional opportunities for car manufacturers, and Aston Martin Lagonda was no exception.

Alan Curtis determined that the new Series 4 V8 Saloon, Vantage, Volante and Lagonda models would all make their debut on the AML stand at the same time.

All four cars were painted in dazzling Tourmaline Blue, and sat on a stand with blue carpets surrounded by a blue handrail.

This is one of those four cars.

It was the Works Demonstration car for the new flip-tail Series 4 and bore the reg plate ‘AM V8’.

It was road tested by both Autocar and Motor magazines in October 1978 to coincide with the Motor Show.

Motor said of this actual car, “Even in auto form it ranks as one of the world’s best sports cars.”

The car doesn’t currently start or run, so consequently we can only assess it on its cosmetic condition.

We know that the car had covered 34,689 miles on the occasion of 2006 MoT.

We know that the odometer states that the car has covered 37,682 miles today.

And we know that the car was purchased for the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2011.

We also know that in 1982, while in the ownership of Gerry Marshall, it won first place in the Newport Pagnell A.M.O.C. Concours competition.

In common with many cars from the vendor’s collection, it comes with little history and no service records.

However, it does come with some old V5 documents, some A.M.O.C paperwork attesting to its origins, a build sheet and a 2011 tax disc. It also comes with 1978 copies of 'Motor' and 'Autocar', in which the road tests of this very car are featured.

The frankly stunning appearance of this car is very impressive even for a car with this low mileage, let alone one that’s 45 years old.

The panels, panel gaps and shut lines look consistent and even.

The car’s bodywork is in broadly fine condition and is free of any dinks, dents or creases worth mentioning.

The chrome work, the wheels, badging, trim, most of the paintwork and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all pretty much beyond reproach.

There is a little bit of bubbling at the base of the rear screen and a somewhat smaller patch above it.

It’s a similar story with the bodywork around the top and bottom of the windscreen, where there are one or two apparently localised outbreaks of bubbling.

There’s also a little bubbling in the nearside ‘A’ pillar and the base of the n/s/f wing above the sill.

Apart from that, the bodywork has just the standard amount of stone chips, small scratches and road rash to show for its long life.

The driver’s wing mirror needs tightening up to correct its tendency to droop.

The interior is, if anything, even more impressive than its exterior counterpart.

The beige leather upholstery is in very fine fettle, front and back, and has yet to acquire any meaningful creases, let alone an age-appropriate patina.

The door cards are excellent, as is the leather headlining.

The carpets and mats are similarly good – and the dashboard is intact

and damage-free as far as we can tell, although there are a couple of raised lines visible on the padding at the top.

The wood inserts are broadly good although there are a few cracks to the lacquer and a couple of scratches here and there.

The sun visors have gone a little ‘crispy’.

The boot, you won’t be surprised to hear, is as good as the rest of it. It contains a spare wheel.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the vehicle.

Everything in the engine bay, including the engine (hand-built by Frank Matthews), appears to be particularly clean, dry, present and correct.

The undersides of the car seem to have plenty of structural integrity.

Obviously, you’ll want to judge for yourself.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records beyond what is 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.

The overall condition of this rare and historically significant Series 4 ‘Oscar India’ V8 Saloon is, in our opinion, very good indeed – provided, of course, that the engine, electrics and mechanicals are amenable to recommissioning and as impressive as the rest of it.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £60,000 - £90,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £350 NOVA fee.