To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Monterey event, 15 - 17
August 2019.
Estimate:
$275,000 - $350,000
- One of 367 V-8 Vantages made over 12-year limited production
run
- One of 137 final variant "X-Pack" cars produced
- One of only six built to desirable V585 "Cosmetic" Vantage
specification
- Exceptional original, unrestored example finished in rare
Jubilee Silver
- Fully documented, including factory build sheet, manuals, and
original sales literature
- Single private owner; first time offered for public sale
- Recent service by marque expert
Aston Martin hand-built only 367 bespoke V-8 Vantage cars from 1977
to 1989. The V-8 Vantage progressed through three unofficial
series: the first from launch until May 1980, the second until
1986, and the final series referred to as the "X-Pack" or "V580X"
from 1986 to 1989. The classically styled Vantage X-Pack was the
swan song for the William Towns-designed V-8 coupe and remains
today one of the most highly sought-after Aston Martins of the era.
It received Zagato's uprated Koni suspension, larger Ronal 16-inch
alloys fitted with Goodyear Eagle tires, and subtly revised
bodywork that featured a deep front spoiler and slightly larger
flared wheel arches, which continue to the end of the wheel arch
rather than tapering off, as the earlier Vantage flares did.
This stunning Vantage is one of a mere 137 final X-Pack Vantages
built, of which six cars were specially built to V585 "Cosmetic"
Vantage specification. These cars were identical in every way but
fitted with the federal-specification V585 EFI engines, which
allowed them to meet stricter emissions requirements. Five of these
six Vantages were sold in Japan with full European bodies, complete
with desirable chrome "blade" bumpers, and one went to the USA
fitted with the larger black impact bumpers. These extremely rare
Weber-Marelli fuel-injected X-Pack versions are today highly sought
after due to ease of maintenance and far greater reliability, not
to mention the fact that they are fully California emissions
compliant. The 1989 California Emissions Compliance decal is still
in place under the hood of this car, as is the original brass plate
affixed to the motor confirming that it was hand-built by Mick
Wilson, a senior engine builder at Aston Martin at the time.
Listed in noted Vantage expert Kean Roger's Vantage V580X book,
which documents each of the 137 final X-Pack Vantages, chassis
number 12694 is car number 131 of 137, making it the
seventh-from-last Vantage ever produced. It was one of only two
built in elegant Jubilee Silver and is described in the book as
"the penultimate 'Cosmetic' Vantage built for the Japanese market.
Delivered new through Azabu motors in November 1989 and not seen
since..."
The warranty page in the original owner's manual confirms that this
car was delivered new on 9 November 1989 to its first and only
private owner, an Aston Martin collector in Japan who owned the car
until it was acquired by the consigner in June of 2018. The owner
was an AMOC member as noted by the original AMOC Japan sticker
still on the rear window, along with an original Azabu Motors
decal, as Azabu was the sole Japanese importer of Aston Martin at
the time.
This special Vantage is completely original and untouched�the car
is exactly as it left the factory nearly 30 years ago, with all
original finishes intact. The paint, leather, carpeting, woodwork,
etc., are all in original unrestored condition. It would be
extremely difficult to find another with this level of originality
and still in such exceptional condition. When the consigner shipped
the car to North America from Japan, in fact, it still retained its
original factory-delivered Goodyear Eagle tires from 1989, though
they have now been replaced with correct Michelin Pilot Sports
sourced in the UK, as the Goodyears are no longer available. It
still retains all original books, including both sets of keys, one
of which is still on its original Azabu Motors leather key fob, and
the car has just been sorted and serviced by noted Aston Martin
specialists, making it ready to be driven and enjoyed.
An extremely rare and desirable car, this stunning
final-production-series Vantage presents beautifully and is a
testament to the inherent quality of this very exclusive,
handcrafted British supercar. Vantages like this are rarely seen,
much less offered for public sale, and this is perhaps the finest,
most original V-8 Vantage available anywhere today. It is fully
sorted, California emissions compliant, and boasts a wonderful
history and superlative condition. This car represents an
unrepeatable opportunity for the serious Aston Martin collector.To
view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19.
