Described by former Aston Martin Chairman Victor Gauntlett as “a stylish thoroughbred, beautifully built, luxurious, fast, and immensely safe,” the Aston Martin V8 was built in several variants, one of the more exclusive being the Volante convertible. Introduced in response to customer demand for such a car, the Volante first appeared in June 1978. Arguably the ultimate in soft-top luxury, the new model boasted a lined, power-operated top which, when raised, endowed the walnut-embellished interior with all the solidity and refinement associated with the coupe version.

Although its open-car aerodynamics meant that top speed suffered with the top down, the Volante’s 150-mph maximum nevertheless ranked it among the world’s fastest convertibles. The V8 Volante received periodic upgrades and refinements, adopting the era-defining BBS wheels in 1983, and then switching to Weber-Marelli fuel injection and a flatter hood in 1986. That same year, demand from the public culminated in the creation of the Vantage Volante model. Like the coupe, the Vantage iteration of the Volante offered greater performance with a 400-horsepower V-8 but adopted a unique and dramatic body kit which included a large front air dam, widened wheel arches, flared sills, and a flip tail.

Just a year later in 1987, the Vantage Volante was made available to North American customers, albeit with the 585EFI-specification engine due to US emission requirements and rubber bumpers to meet safety standards. Additionally distinguished by their flat hoods, just 58 examples were produced during three years of production, making them exceptionally rare Aston Martins.

The left-hand-drive Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante offered here was delivered new to the US and is believed to be the fifth-from-last Volante produced in Newport Pagnell. According to documentation on file, the vehicle was finished from the factory in desirable “lipstick special” specification with Suffolk Red exterior paint over a red-piped Magnolia leather interior and a white convertible top. Additional factory equipment included cruise control, a CD player, and a luggage set.

In September 1989, the vehicle was imported into the UK by Mr. Eric Glennon and sold two months later to its first owner, who had the vehicle registered within the Channel Island of Guernsey. This individual remained the owner of the Aston Martin for the following 34 years and would perform routine fluid changes to keep the car in functioning order, as shown on the service summary document within the vehicle files. In 2023, the V8 Vantage Volante was sold for just the second time to The Boeckmann Collection, where it has remained ever since.

Now presented showing a remarkable 1,080 miles on the odometer at the time of cataloguing, this exceptionally rare Aston Martin offers the perfect blend of practicality, performance, and road presence.