Chassis Number: SCFCV81V4JTL15702
Bolstered by the on-screen exploits of Sean Connery in the box-office hit “Goldfinger,” every man, woman, and child with a pulse yearned to own an Aston Martin DB5 in the mid-1960s. But it didn’t take long before the English marque’s premier grand tourer — and the remarkably similar DB6 that replaced it in 1965 — began to appear somewhat long in the tooth. The task of modernizing Aston’s flagship model fell to William Towns, who penned a strikingly modern interpretation of the marque’s trademark look — one that borrowed as much from the transatlantic success of the Ford Mustang as it did its DB predecessors — to create the handsome and purposeful DBS in 1967.
The new car initially inherited the DB6’s Vantage-spec inline-6-cylinder engine, finally being married with its new 5.3-liter Tadek Marek-designed V8 in 1969, after which it was dubbed the DBS V8. With the demise of the aging inline-6, the grand tourer became known simply as the Aston Martin V8 in 1972.
The ever-popular model began its life with a leading role in the television series “The Persuaders!” and would go on to perpetuate the marque’s long association with 007 by starring alongside Timothy Dalton’s James Bond in “The Living Daylights.”
There can be no greater testament to the modernity and enduring appeal of the model than the length of its production run, which carried on for two decades before eventually coming to a conclusion in 1989. In fitting style, the model went out not with a whimper, but with a bang.
In January 1986 at the New York International Auto Show, the Aston Martin V8 entered its fifth iteration, headlined by the transition from carburetors to a more-compact Weber fuel-injection system.
A notable exception was the top-of-the-range Vantage, which was unveiled in Birmingham in the same year and featured the powerful “580 X” engine that made its debut in the fearsome V8 Vantage Zagato. These highly desirable variants became known as the “X-Pack” cars, benefiting from high-compression Cosworth pistons, four dual-barrel Weber carburetors, and high-lift camshafts. In addition, styling improvements included a boot spoiler and slim bumpers with no overriders. In top tune, the “X-Pack” produced 432 horsepower and was capable of outsprinting almost every open sports car on the road — with the added benefit of two rear seats.
Chassis 15702 is a particularly special vehicle, being one of a small number of Vantage Volantes configured in left-hand drive and optioned with the desirable ZF 5-speed manual gearbox. Specified in the eye-catching shade of Suffolk Red over tan leather interior, with complementary beige carpet and luxurious Wilton overmats, the car was delivered new to Achilli Motors in Milan, Italy, before being registered for road use on October 7, 1988. Having lived a cosseted existence since, the car was serviced by Aston Martin Monaco in September 2021, when the odometer reading was 1,713 km. At the time of cataloging, this Vantage Volante had covered just 1,769 km, presenting today in a condition commensurate with its low mileage.
Offering the perfect blend of practicality, performance and road presence, the Aston Martin Vantage Volante “X-Pack” is a true gentleman’s express — a 4-seat open grand tourer that marries luxury appointments with supercar-baiting pace.
