By 1984, the Aston Martin V8 range had been in production for over half a decade and was still going strong. Aston Martin’s dedication to luxury craftsmanship meant that each customer bought a hand-crafted and custom-built vehicle, and the second iteration of the Vantage engine, introduced in 1980, meant that those customers were often driving the most powerful vehicle on the road.

The V580 engine was standard across the V8 range – it was the specification of the camshafts that increased the Vantage output to 375 bhp. The problem came with the tyres: Pirelli had trouble maintaining consistent quality with the previously favoured tyre, so in 1981 the factory moved to the P7. Unfortunately, this tyre required over inflation, and ride and handling were severely affected. In 1983, a solution was found: adopt 8-in. BBS wheels, and widen the wheel arch to accommodate the larger combination of wheel and tyre. Seen on this vehicle, these wheels are often considered much more beautiful and were retained for following models. Combined with the rare and desirable manual gearbox, the Vantage was a potent car and today highly sought after in this configuration.

In total, Aston Martin produced just 94 vehicles in the BBS Vantage specification. Originally, chassis 12434 was one of the 53 produced for the British market; however, a comprehensive refurbishment by Aston Martin Works was undertaken in 2013 to convert the Vantage to left hand drive specification. At this time, a 10,000-mile service was also completed; invoices on file totalling just under £150,000 detail the extensive work done.

Finished in white over burgundy leather with matching white trim, this 1984 V8 Vantage offers any Aston Martin lover the chance to own a true hand built classic.