1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage – Works Demonstrator

History

One of the most significant Aston Martin V8 Vantage models in existence, the Ex Tony Nugent 1978 V8 Vantage, former factory works demonstrator, campaigned extensively in period by Nugent, Sales Director of Aston Martin, and heavily featured in press articles, road tests and numerous books on the marque

Originally finished in Mandarin Yellow coachwork with Green hide, this Vantage was the Aston Martin Works demonstrator car first owned by the Sales Director of Aston Martin, Tony Nugent. Nugent actively marketed the Vantage series performance capabilities on behalf of Aston Martin Sales by entering the car into various sprint events including, Wiscombe, Curborough and Goodwood where it won its class in 1979 driven by historic racer Dave Ellis. Several photos and accounts of these are in the AM Quarterly magazines that accompany the car

A letter written by Dave Ellis on file (with accompanying photos of him racing at Goodwood) tells of Tony Nugent lending the car to the Ferrari Formula 1 driver at that time, Gilles Villeneuve, much to the irritation of the Ferrari team manager who saw him returning from his blast!

According to Aston Martin historian Keane Rogers in his book on Aston Martin V8, chassis number V8VOR12052 was one of the original 44 ‘Oscar India’ cars fitted with the V540 engine, however as it was one of the official AM demonstrators it became the first car to have the 580 specification for the famous V580 engine series that followed throughout the 1980s

From 2004-2006 the car was the subject of a full chassis and interior restoration to Kensington Silver coachwork with black interior by marque specialists Excalibur Engineering. In 2007 the engine was rebuilt to X-pack specification by renowned marque specialist R.S Williams, producing 425bhp at 6,000 RPM (dyno test on file)

The car featured in the official Aston Martin sales brochures at the time in its distinctive Mandarin yellow as well as being featured on the front cover of numerous Aston Martin books and magazines. Vantage magazine wrote an extensive ten-page article on the car for their Aston Martin Centenary issue where it was featured on the front cover cover. In addition it has featured in the Financial Times ‘How to Spend It’ magazine and the EVO book of 100 Supercars of All Time as the car of its year

YHX 720T is in first class condition having been kept in a humidity regulated garage and serviced by R.S Williams with no expense spared with 16,000 enjoyable miles since restoration.  In the last 4,000 miles the car has had replacement Koni shocks and new Avon tyres last year. The car has just been serviced by RS Williams prior to sale (April 2019)

Accompanying the car is the Aston Martin Heritage Trust Vehicle Certificate and build sheet, a full set of original tools and jack, leather bound owner’s manual, bespoke RSW Williams brass plated (showing chassis/engine numbers) leather bound history file with photo and invoice records of restoration and servicing, leather bound parts manual, original Aston Martin photo frame gifted by the son of former CEO Victor Gauntlett and the full set of sales brochures, books and magazines in which it has been featured. It also comes with bespoke felt car cover bearing Aston Martin logo and bespoke Aston Martin silver/leather whiskey flask

Published photos and feature article history:

1979: Aston Martin Sales brochure.

1979: Aston Martin & Lagonda (Chris Harvey)

1981: Aston Martin V8s (F. Wilson McComb)

1991: Encyclopedia of Supercars (Orbis)

1992: Worlds Great Marques (Oriole publishing for WH Smiths)

1994: Aston Martin & Lagonda (David Styles)

2013: ‘Vantage’ magazine (Full front cover and feature)

2015: ‘How to Spend It’ magazine (Financial Times: Simon de Burton)

2015: EVO Supercars (Behind the Wheel of the 100 Greatest Cars of All time)

2017: EVO Aston Martin (Behind the Wheel of a Motoring Icon)