Vehicle Description
-Mandarin Yellow with Red leather interior and Dark Red Wilton Wool
carpeting, Restored, 5-speed manual ZF gearbox, Uprated to later
hubs with factory Ronal type 16x8" wheels & 255/60/16 tires, The
first V580 OI Vantage produced, The Aston Martin Lagonda Sales
Demonstrator, Featured on the cover of Chris Harvey's book Aston
Martin and Lagonda, One of only two V8 Vantage OI's original
painted Mandarin Yellow by AML Ltd.
The V8 Vantage needs no introduction, it is well-known as being
Britain's First Supercar. The OI "Oscar India" V8 Vantage was
introduced, October 1, "OI" 1979. The OI V8 Vantage had several
detailed changes in comparison to its forerunner, the V540 V8
Vantage. Mechanically, the engine received changes to the cylinder
heads, valves as well as the pistons. These changes provided the
V580 Vantage a better power band and superior torque in comparison
to the earlier V540 V8 Vantage. When tested by the motoring press,
the V580 V8 Vantage set a 0 to 60mph time of 5.2 seconds with a top
speed of over 175 mph! This was confirmed by several different
publications, the best quote having been from, Belgian racing
driver and journalist, Mr. Paul Frere. Mr. Frere labelled the Aston
Martin V8 Vantage a "civilized Ferrari Daytona", surely deserved of
this accolade being able to travel with four in quite a bit more
comfort than a Ferrari Daytona, torque, power, speed, air
conditioning, power steering, British elegance with brute force at
its best.
The interior is where the most drastic changes were made in
comparison to the earlier V8 Vantage. For the first time, leather
replaced the vinyl previously used on the dashboard and Burl wood
veneer for the dash and door cappings was offered as an option.
This V8 Vantage is the first of only 42 OI production V8 Vantages,
"27" RHD examples as well as "15" LHD examples, surely one of the
most rare of the V8 Vantage series production.
This particular V580 V8 Vantage OI completed manufacture at the
Newport Pagnell AML Works on March 14, 1980 and delivered to 33
Sloane Street, London, AML's factory showroom where it was used as
the factory demonstrator. One of only two V8 Vantage OI's original
painted Mandarin Yellow by AML Ltd, its options included a Pioneer
stereo head unit, no carpets on the lower door sections (standard
V8, V8 Volante and V8 Vantages had the lower sections of the door
cards cover in carpet), Two Cibie headlamps as well as side vents
"flash" and without the Aston Martin V8 insignia.
Currently in superb restored condition throughout, this is a
special Aston Martin with Aston Martin Lagonda history-provenance,
rare color combination as well as superb later history having been
owned by Aston Martin enthusiast collectors throughout its history
and to date.
Complete with original factory build sheet as well as original tool
roll, this V8 Vantage OI is ready for its next caretaker to use and
enjoy and hopefully continue to have it seen at concours and
motoring events the world over.
