In honour of the 40th anniversary of Aston Martin’s incredible 1959 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the marque built just 40 exclusive supercharged versions of their V8 Vantage. Unveiled next to the race-winning DBR1/2 at the 1999 Geneva Motor show, the so-called Vantage Le Mans was not just a ‘paint and trim’ special—it was a fully enhanced and upgraded model.

The Vantage Le Mans offered here shows off the special front spoiler with larger cooling ducts, added to improve downforce. Take care to note special Le Mans details, such as the reshaped side and the fuel caps designed to look like fuel valves—all elements that hint at the DBR1. Inside, the sporting treatment continues, with perforated pedal pads, aluminium gear-lever knob, and brushed metal panels replacing the traditional wood veneers. Chassis 70271 sports full Wilson leather seats, as opposed to the standard seats which feature Alcantara centre panels.

Like all Le Mans models, chassis 70271, the thirty-second of forty examples produced, was sold as a spectacularly expensive Works Service conversion post-production – thereby allowing Aston Martin to avoid the thorny issue of homologation. At Aston Martin Works, the V590 engine was re-engineered and upgraded to the impressive V600 specification of 600 hp and 600 foot-pounds of torque. Le Mans specification also included the Driving Dynamics modification with the uprated brakes and suspension mechanisms and hollow magnesium Dymag wheels.

Delivered new to Shabib bin Talmur Al Said, a member of the ruling royal house of Oman, the car spent many of its formative years in his private museum located at his chalet in the Swiss Alps, where it was seldom driven. Following roughly a decade of ownership by him, the Le Mans was sold and returned to Aston Martin Works in 2012 where a bare metal respray in the original Penine Grey was performed. At this time the interior was retrimmed in Pepper Red with Dark Grey piping to match the exterior. Additionally, a full mechanical service was performed – the detailed invoice on file notes an overhaul of the fuel system, brake components, and suspension. At some time in the vehicle history, the original manual transmission was replaced with the current automatic transmission; there is scope to return chassis 70271 to its original specification.

For the Aston Martin connoisseur, the Vantage Le Mans represents the last of the truly coachbuilt cars, as the marque turned towards automation in the 21st century. Exceedingly rare, and powered by Aston Martin’s powerhouse V600 engine, this Le Mans will certainly thrill its next owner.