Lot 128: 1983 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Saloon

This right-hand drive Aston Martin V8 Vantage incorporates a number of desirable modifications including Periglass headlamps, Aleybars roll-bar (fitted by the factory), unleaded conversion, X Pack valves, reduced-ratio differential, Ronal wheels (circa £5,000 in 1980’s), large-bore exhaust, air intake and air box, Harvey Bailey handling kit and upgraded air conditioning. The car’s build specification was to the order of Mr Hayden Bailey, one of the UK's most successful business tycoons of the period. Bailey was an eccentric character and sometimes would transport a 5’ 6” teddy bear in the passenger seat! Details of his colourful international career are included with the service history. Mr Bailey owned the car from 1983 until March 1991, during which time it was serviced by Works Service and brought up to Series 3 specification. In 1991, the car was taken back in part exchange by the factory, briefly joining the demonstration fleet. We are advised that Colin Hughes, ex-AM Sales Department, can recall that the car was registered ‘1 AML’, a famous factory registration carried by a succession of ‘works’ cars. It was subsequently re-registered ‘RYR 195Y’ and sold to Straight Eight, of London later in 1991. Roman Tobish then purchased the Vantage, which by then had covered approximately 50,000 miles. In 1997 Mr Tobish commissioned a bare metal re-spray of the car, which was bought by the present owner in 2001. ‘RYR 195Y’ comes with bills totaling £36,000 for work completed by well known Aston Martin specialists since 1997 and has just undergone a major service, carried out by Torque Engineering in February 2006. Invoices are available for the following major works: bare-metal re-spray, new sills, A/B posts and R S Williams heavy-duty clutch (1997); cylinder head overhaul, rear brakes rebuilt, new jacking points and outriggers (June 2001); differential reconditioned at factory, servo fitted to clutch, new fan and Category 1 alarm fitted (October 2001); new clutch master cylinder and sunroof seal (November 2001); five new Pirelli P Zero tyres (February 2002); 2,500-mile service (August 2002); front suspension re-bushed, new brake discs and clutch master cylinder, all dampers removed set up and suspension balanced (February 2003); 2,500-mile service at 72,327 miles (October 2003). Since then the car has continued to be regularly maintained and serviced, receiving two new oil coolers and new fan, air pump, water pump and alternator belts as part of a routine service in April 2005 (at 74,049 miles). As part of the major service carried out in February 2006 (at 75,785 miles) a new oil temperature gauge and sender were fitted, timing chains adjusted, ’heads re-torqued and the distributor cap, battery, master switch, washer bottle, air filters, ducting, gearbox oil and differential oil replaced. The vendor advises us that in June 2003 Dave Ellis (Aston Martin racing driver) road-tested this Vantage, remarking that it went and stopped well for a 1983 car, and was ideally set up for road use or track days. Finished in Ferrari Blue Scuro with matching dark blue interior, ‘RYR 195Y’ is offered with numerous service/maintenance invoices and Swansea V5 registration document.