Lot 228: 1976 Aston Martin V8 Automatic Saloon

The acquisition of Aston Martin by Company Developments in 1972 brought with it a change of name for the V8-engined cars: out went ‘DBS V8’, in came ‘AM V8’. This new Series 2 was readily distinguishable by its restyled front which now featured two instead of four headlamps and recalled the looks of the earlier DB six-cylinder sports cars. Electronic ignition and air conditioning were now standard. Introduced in 1973, the Series 3 employed a quartet of Weber 42 DCNF carburettors instead of the previous Bosch mechanical fuel injection, the change bringing with it increased torque and necessitating a larger bonnet bulge. Although not quoted, the power output of the standard car was around 300bhp and even in automatic transmission form the V8 could reach 100mph in around 15 seconds and better 145mph flat-out. Summarising its 1973 road test of a V8 automatic, Autocar magazine revealed that the new version of the V8 Aston engine with four Weber carburettors and automatic transmission had proved nearly as quick as its manual-transmission fuel-injected predecessor and fractionally more economical, concluding that it was: ‘A well-equipped car with magnificent stride for long journeys.’ Part restored in the 1980s, this right-hand drive Aston Martin V8 automatic comes with assorted expired MoTs suggesting that the recorded mileage of 39,000 might well be genuine. A quantity of bills is contained within the accompanying history file, including one for a (guaranteed) gearbox rebuild, as well as photographic documentation of a bare-metal repaint. The presence of extra instruments in the glovebox is the only deviation from factory specification listed. Finished in blue with fawn hide interior, the car is offered with (copy) Swansea V5 registration document.