Lot 313: 1983 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, ex-Hayden Baillie

Aston Martin had always planned that the DBS of 1967 would be powered by its new V8 engine, first seen in 5.0 litre form in the Lola-Aston Martin sports racing cars. Production problems, however, intervened and the DBS used the 4.0 litre, twin overhead camshaft straight six of the concurrently produced DB6. It was not until September 1967 that the DBS V8 was finally announced, production commencing the following April. With its platform chassis and independent suspension - coil spring/wishbone front, de Dion tube rear with Watt linkage and twin radius arms - the fine handling DBS was a perfect home for Tadek Marek's all-alloy V8. Boasting four overhead camshafts and Bosch electronic fuel injection, the 5,340cc V8 produced an impressive 320bhp at 5,000rpm and 360lb.ft; the resultant 160mph performance, via a five speed ZF gearbox, and 0-60 and 0-100mph in 5.9 and 13.8 seconds respectively, was nothing short of staggering in 1970. After David Brown sold Aston Martin in February 1972 the DBS V8 was replaced by the Series 2 model, now simply called the Aston Martin V8. Gone were the four headlamps and slatted grille, in their place a black mesh grille flanked by single headlamps; mechanical changes were limited to electronic ignition and standard air conditioning. August 1973 saw the Series 3 arrive with quadruple Weber carburettors, larger bonnet bulge, improved seats and central locking; power rose to 304bhp in June 1977. Later that year the mighty V8 Vantage was launched, boasting special camshafts, larger valves and Weber IDA carburettors; with 380bhp at 6,000rpm it provided 0-60 and 0-100mph in just 5.3 and 12.7 seconds respectively and a 170mph maximum. The latter necessitated some aerodynamic aids: a deep front air dam, bolt-on boot spoiler, blanked off radiator grille, perspex headlamp covers and bonnet air scoop. Suspension was also stiffened and tyres widened. In October 1978 the V8 Series 4 appeared, distinguishable by an integral rear spoiler similar to that of the Vantage Series 2 introduced simultaneously while later models had BBS wheels as standard; otherwise the latter differed to the Series I in having a higher compression ratio. By 1986, however, a further rise in compression ratio, together with higher lift camshafts and larger ports, lifted power to 400bhp for the V8 Vantage Series 3. For those who wanted even more, there was also a 432bhp X-pack option. Delivered new in February 1983 to Wensley Hayden Baillie, then one of Britain's most successful and colourful businessmen, this Vantage's build specification included a leather-covered roll-cage, mounting points for Willans race specification seat harnesses, rear seatbelts, an electric sunroof and protective glass headlamp covers. During his ownership, the car was maintained by Works Service at Aston Martin's Newport Pagnell factory and also modified to Vantage Series 3 specification in the late 1980s, including up-rating the engine to X-pack standard, as well as converting it run on unleaded and fitting a lower than standard rear axle ratio, Harvey Bailey handling kit, Aleybars anti-roll bar, Ronal wheels and upgraded air-conditioning system. In 1991 the Factory took the Vantage in part-exchange, after which it was briefly used a demonstration car and carried the famous registration 1 AML which has adorned many a works car. Later that year it was reregistered as RYR 195Y, purchased by Straight Eight in London and sold to Roman Tobish with around 50,000 miles recorded. Six years later the car was given a bare metal re-spray and in 2001 it was again sold. The current owner acquired the Aston Martin in May last year, a couple of months after which it received a comprehensive service by marque specialist Trinity Engineering at a cost of £7,100. Accompanying the car, together with a Factory workshop manual, is a history file that includes receipts since 1997 amounting to some £36,000 for previous work carried out by other leading Aston Martin specialists, amongst them invoices for new sills, A and B-posts, chassis out-riggers, overhaul of the cylinder heads, new oil coolers, engine fan and water pump, a heavy duty clutch assembly, new clutch master cylinder with servo assistance and new brake discs and suspension bushes. Finished in Blue Scuro with complementary blue leather interior piped in black, and complete with a MoT test certificate valid for 12 months, this well-maintained and purposeful Aston Martin, which is perfectly set up for both road and track use, is arguably the finest V8 Vantage Coys has ever been privileged to offer.