1987 | Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante

“When only the best is good enough”

Open-top Aston Martin enthusiasts had to be patient after the last DB6 Volante left Newport Pagnell in 1970.
With a company not always in the best financial health and ever-stricter US safety regulations, it long seemed that Aston Martin might never offer a convertible – a Volante in Aston-speak – based on the V8 Saloon.

But in 1978, North American buyers finally got what they had been waiting for: the Series 1 V8 Volante. Demand across the Atlantic was so strong that the home market and Europe only began receiving their 300 hp V8 Volantes in 1979. Development of the V8 Volante went hand in hand with that of the saloon. From 1986, the Series 2 models featured fuel injection, while at the same time the V8 Vantage Volante – with a carburetted engine producing more than 400 hp – became available in Europe.

With its “wide-boy” sills, prominent rear spoiler, and flared wheel arches borrowed from the saloon, these were true statement cars. Perfectly in tune with the Big Bang era in the City of London, while Wham!, Bananarama, and Robert Palmer dominated the charts.

This particular Vantage Volante has had quite a journey! Originally built in 1987, it spent its first years in the United States until 1992, when a German enthusiast brought it back to Europe. It was then returned “home” to Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. for full European specification. At that point, a European-spec 400 hp Vantage engine was installed, together with a 5-speed manual gearbox, high-performance handling kit, and large-bore exhaust system – all carried out with the greatest care. Every step of the process was carefully documented and remains available. In 1994, none other than Nicholas Mee sold the car to its current owner, who has cherished it for over 30 years.

At the end of 2024, the entire drivetrain was comprehensively overhauled by a renowned Aston Martin specialist in the Netherlands, ensuring an unmatched driving experience. The car is now immediately available as one of the Coolest Classics in our Clubhouse in Naarden."