Fantasy Junction

Description

1980 Aston Martin V8 Volante Manual
s/n V8C0L15191, engine no. V/580 5191LFM
Jubilee Silver with Black Leather Interior

Created in Aston Martin’s great tradition of hand built and well-engineered performance cars, the V8 was continuously developed over its long lifetime. Initial versions of the car appeared as early as the late 1960s with Aston Martin’s excellent triple Weber twin cam inline-6 from the DB6 Vantage since the exciting new V8 intended to launch with the car was not yet available. Initially known as the DBS, the car was later known simply as the V8, a fitting reflection of the car’s identity, which was so closely tied to its engine. The powerplant was a quad-cam all alloy 5.3 liter unit designed by Tadek Merak, the same engineer that had designed the twin cam six that powered the DB4, DB5, and DB6. It would power Aston Martin’s flagship cars for nearly thirty years, eventually displacing 7.0 liters and making in excess of 600hp in supercharged form. The production of the open version, the Volante, began in 1978, shortly after the ‘Oscar India’ updates were performed, which included among other things, the fitment of wood trim to the interior of an Aston Martin for the first time since the DB2/4. The V580 motor was introduced in 1980, which included new cylinder heads with larger dished valves and revised camshafts.

This particular example is a factory manual transmission example that has been with the same owner in California for 28 years. It is a superbly maintained 43,000 mile example that retains its original paint, interior, and top. The current owner purchased the car at a dealer in Beverly Hills on 11 April 1987 with 14,701 original miles, and it was factory fitted with Vantage front spoiler and Cibié driving lamps. A resident of Manhattan Beach, California, he kept the car in Southern California until he moved to San Francsico in the 1990s, where the car has remained since.

The car has been fastidiously maintained including the following work: new clutch and pilot bearing, resurfaced flywheel (February 2015), new motor mounts, heater valve, chassis dyno engine tuning, brake fluid flush (January 2014), coolant flush, new coolant hoses, new ignition wires (March 2013), rebuilt steering rack, repacked axle CV joints (January 2012), new brake and clutch master cylinders, new slave cylinder (January 2010), recored radiator (December 2009). Receipts dating back to 1988 are included with the car and show the level of attention that it received. In 2007, the suspension was rebuilt in its entirety and a Steel Wings handling package fitted, which included new springs with adjustable ride height, rebuilt Koni shock absorbers, and all new bushings. The total for this work alone was $10,700. The seats were also rebuilt and restuffed, although the original leather was retained.

The car is in excellent original condition. The body is straight and solid throughout, with excellent fit and operation from the panels. The paintwork shows minor aging but is attractive and presentable overall, with no major issues such as checking, crazing, or fading. There are a few chips that have been touched up, and an area with some surface cracks around the hole where the car phone antenna was previously installed on the trunk lid. There are minor areas of discoloration but the presentation is very strong for original 35 year old silver paintwork. There are a few small surface blemishes on the right rear fender above the light cluster. The brightwork is in excellent original condition, with no major scratches or pitting aside from two small scratches on the top of the front bumper adjacent to each driving lamp. The car is equipped with Cibié headlamps, which are in excellent condition, which together with the driving lamps and fog lamps give the car a purposeful presence. The lights and glass are excellent overall with very light wear to the front windscreen. The wheels have never been refinished and are excellent. The car wears California sunset license plates, which were issued in 1986, a period touch that corroborates the car’s longtime California history.

The interior is in excellent original condition, with some pleasant creasing and patina to the leather, including the seats, console, dashboard, and door panels. The carpets are in excellent original condition. The woodwork is very nice overall with excellent luster. There are two hairline cracks in the center console wood near the shifter, and a few marks to the driver’s door filet. The switches, controls, and instruments are excellent, as is the steering wheel. The power top works properly and is in excellent condition. The AC blows cold and both city and country horns work as well. A period 1980s hi fi is installed and also works.

The engine compartment is in extremely clean unrestored condition. It is well detailed and shows plenty of signs of recent maintenance. The car is equipped with Weber carburetors and catalytic converters. The engine is matching numbers and has the correct V580 LFM designation that confirms that this is an original manual transmission example. The trunk is also in excellent original condition and the car comes with parts book, workshop manual, owner’s manual, car cover, miscellaneous spare parts (including spark plug wires and hard to find Opus Mark II distributor with internal amplifier), and tool roll with tools. The is still titled on its original California “pink slip” an old style title that was phased out in 1988.

The car runs and drives extremely well. It starts easily and is superbly tuned, running smoothly throughout the rev range and pulling with impressive grunt. The ZF dogleg gearshift is effortless, with excellent synchromesh a smoothness that matches the character of the torquey powerplant. The chassis is well-composed and there is a sharpness to the handling from the Steel Wings kit which makes driving the car a pleasure without sacrificing its civilized personality. The brakes are effective and linear in their operation.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a Weber carbureted factory manual transmission V8 Volante in excellent original condition. With just 43,000 miles from new and one California owner for the last 28 years, the car is fantastically honest and unmolested, retaining its original paint, interior, and top. There is a thick file of service records to indicate the fastidious care the car has received and it is further distinguished by its factory Vantage front spoiler and driving lamps. Finished in an excellent color combination and complete with books, records, and tools, the car is truly a collector caliber example that needs nothing. Cars of this period are appreciating rapidly, with high caliber desirably equipped highly original cars such as this one leading the way.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608