1977 Aston Martin V8 'S' Auto

First registered on the 20th of June 1977, this rare UK-market, ‘matching numbers’ Aston Martin V8 S boasts a history file that dates back to 31st December 1979 when it was bought from Aston Martin (Sales) Limited of Sloane Street, London by a Mr. J.H. Sacks for £16,500.

And, in case you needed further proof that Aston Man would do anything to get his strong, masculine and yet sensitive hands on a car whose power output started with a three rather than a two, Mr. Sacks part-exchanged his eight-month-old non-'S' V8, presumably losing a bundle in the process…

The vendor bought it from an Aston enthusiast who had had it in his care for around 17 years. Now with him for the past three, it has had a recent service and comes with a comprehensive history file and a report from the respected marque specialist Desmond J. Smail on its condition.

This beautiful, ready to go example has enjoyed a well-loved, pampered life throughout, in the hands of caring owners, who have lavished lots of time and money keeping it in its current condition, most recently a new MOT, with no advisories and a full service.

The Aston was resprayed in Gloss Black in 1989 while under the care of a Mr. D Storey of Ivor Heath. He added re-chromed bumpers and over-riders while he was at it, moves that freshened up the old girl nicely.

The work was clearly done to a very good standard because it still looks magnificent. Sharp, tight and beautifully finished, the combination of gloss black coachwork and judicious chrome trim is timeless.

The 15-inch Aston Martin alloy wheels are just as impressive having been recently refurbished. Like the coachwork, they ooze muscularity and style in equal measure and it helps that they’re shod with matching 225/50VR15 Avon tyres, classic rubber for a classic super-saloon.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

Still only lightly patinated, it looks all the better for having eased into middle-age with considerably more panache than anyone in our office has managed. Sporting only a few very minor marks plus the odd stonechip, there’s nothing here that would worry us at all.

The interior is every bit as gloriously understated as the exterior. Full of period charm, it too has eased into its years with impressive aplomb.

The cream leather seats have relaxed into the same sort of condition as your favourite armchair; lottery-winners will probably want to consider having them re-stuffed but the rest of us will enjoy them as they, recognising their condition is an important part of the car’s history.

Not that they’re bad; they’re only very, very lightly creased and almost unmarked. It’s remarkable how well they’ve survived the years frankly, and their condition is a testament to the car’s engineers and owners alike.

The new carpets in the cabin and boot are very good, and the headlining is even better. The door cards are in great shape too.

A modest three-spoke steering wheel proves that you don’t need to be vulgar to make an impression, and it sits in front of classic white-on-black Smiths gauges. The clock is, wonderfully, a Smiths transistor model, taking us straight back to a time when that sort of thing was cutting-edge technology and worth boasting about.

A period Pioneer radio-cassette player sits in the centre console, playing through speakers that sit behind perforated leather in the rear.

The only jarring note is the switch for the electric aerial, which has been shoehorned into the space where the button for the demister used to sit.

As for problems, aside from some light pitting, worn lettering, and modest surface rust on the odd fastener, there is a small hole on the offside rear seat just to the right of the centre armrest and on the passenger’s door-mounted armrest. There are also some small scuffs on the odd bit of leather trim.

Serviced by the manufacturer on 28th January 1980 at 34,273 miles, the Aston Martin Continuation Service Vouchers Booklet records further maintenance up until 7th April 1983 at 45,943 miles.

Briefly looked after by White Lion Autos of Hemel Hempstead, the V8 'S' returned to its maker's Newport Pagnell Works Service facility for further fettling during 1985.

Its previous (fifth) keeper, a Mr. Philip Ramsey, bought the car in the year 2000. He kept it for the next 17 years, carrying out the following work despite covering only 6,000 miles in that time.

• Suspension and brake overhaul by Ken Shergold at a cost of £5,933.75

• New, larger capacity radiator by Ken Shergold at a cost of £1,569.76

• Reconditioned automatic gearbox and torque converter plus overhauled brake servos by Automatic Transmission Centre in December 2002 at a cost of £2,352.62

• Chassis and sill repairs plus a new water pump and various suspension parts by Mark Fish Vehicle Engineers in December 2003 at a cost of £2,755.97

• Air pump repairs, two new tyres, and replacement headlamps by Mark Fish in May/June 2009 at a cost of £2,431.66

• Repairs to coolant system by Mark Fish in December 2010 at a cost of £413

• Engine compression test, new camshaft cover gaskets, replacement rear shock absorbers, and work to the ignition system in January 2011 by Mark Fish at a cost of £3,942.15

• All four carburettors overhauled and fuel system and ignition fettling by Liskeard Classic Cars in July 2016 at a cost of £861.65

• Door catch and locking mechanisms refurbished, and a new battery in August 2017 at a cost of £849

The vendor has continued to pamper the car, treating it to the following:

• Refurbished alternator, new front anti-roll bar bushes, links and brackets plus new indicator and wiper stalks, refurbished alloy wheels and a service by Autopoint of Knutsford in August 2018 at a cost of £3,244.02

The complete list of stamps in the Aston Martin Continuation Service Vouchers Booklet reads as follows:

• 28.01.1980 and 34,273 miles by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd

• 16.06.1980 and 6,910 miles by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd (new speedometer)

• 14.10.1980 and 11,571 miles by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd

• 02.02.1981 and 17,448 miles by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd

• 01.06.1981 and 21,680 miles by Melplace Ltd

• 25.01.1982 and 27, 851 miles by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd

• 21.05.1982 and 34,887 miles by Melplace Ltd

• 29.10.1982 and 40,526 miles by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd

• 07.04.1983 and 45,943 miles by Melplace Ltd

The engine bay is pretty without being prissy, and the car drives as well as you’d hope; the vendor describes the engine as being in “tip-top condition” and “ready to go”. They say you should never meet your heroes but we took the risk and were thrilled to discover the AMV8’S’ lives up to the hype.

The Aston’s MOT certificate, which is valid until September 2021, was gained without a single advisory point.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years plus the original Instruction Book and storage wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

However, if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

The V8, especially in tuned ‘S’ form, disproves the theory that an Aston Martin is fit only for footballers, the noveau riche, and similar ne’er-do-wells. Bursting with character, power and that indefinable quality that separates the great from the good, the handbuilt Aston Martin V8 reminds us of a time when being British was something to be proud of.

And this is an especially nice example; consistently and fastidiously maintained for the past four decades, it looks stunning, goes as well as you’d expect, and sounds like Devil having an orgasm.

With all that in mind, the guide price of between £75,000 and £90,000 still represents good value. Yes, it’s a hefty chunk of cash but we’d be surprised if you weren’t pleasantly surprised at how little it’s cost you when you sell in a few years’ time; with a limited supply and an increasing awareness of just how good they are, demand can only increase, especially now interest rates have sunk to a new low…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.