Lot 132: 1978 Aston Martin V8 Series 3 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 re-styled front which now featured two instead of four headlamps and recalled the looks of the earlier DB six-cylinder 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, which necessitated a larger bonnet bulge, bringing with it increased torque and smoother running at low speeds.
Power output of the standard car was now in excess of 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 Martin equipped with four Weber carburettors and automatic transmission had proved nearly as quick as its manual-transmission, fuel-injected predecessor and fractionally more economical before concluding that it was: “A well-quipped car with magnificent stride for long journeys.”
Finished in Tankard Blue with cream leather interior, this automatic-transmission V8 possesses a full and complete R S Williams service history, and comes with a supporting file of invoices (totalling £44,000) and specifications, together with Aston Martin service record books and all old MoTs/tax discs. An accompanying report from the Aston Martin factory (dated 30.04.99) comments that, “the vehicle is generally excellent,” and it remains in similar condition today, having covered a documented circa 65,000 miles from new. We are advised that R S Williams overhauled the engine top-end 6,000 miles ago, converting the cylinder heads to ‘unleaded’ compatibility at the same time. The car comes with a most appropriate, and valuable, registration mark - ‘AMV 8T’ - and is offered with old-style logbook, Swansea V5 registration document and current road fund licence/MoT.