1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage - DP 2035

£349,995.00 Sale Save

Location: United Kingdom

Unveiled to the world in 1977, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage was an instant hit with the motoring press gaining immediate notoriety with its 170 MPH + top speed with its elegant yet menacing coachwork, ‘the brute in a suit’ quickly earned the prestigious title as ‘Britain’s first supercar’

There were effectively four variations of the Vantage during the course of the models thirteen year production life, starting with the ‘Bolt On’ Vantage (1977) of which sixteen examples were built, the second being the ‘Flip Tail’ Vantage (1977-78) of which thirty five cars were produced, the third series ‘Oscar India’ Vantage (1978-85) of which one hundred and seventy nine cars were built and the final series and much revered ‘580X’ Vantage or ‘X Pack’ (1986-90) of which one hundred and thirty seven cars were constructed

Our car was completed by the works on 16th February 1985 and was one of two Vantage models that would go on to be used by the factory to develop the modifications destined for production in the forthcoming and final series of V8 Vantage ‘V580X’

Supplied new in Kensington Silver coachwork with dark blue hides, dark blue carpets, grey headlining, automatic transmission, two detachable headrests and rear seatbelts, this Vantage was delivered as a demonstrator to Aston Martin main agents Stratton on 8th March 1985 and registered ‘B27 RCL’. However not long after delivery to Stratton the factory requested that the car be returned to works service to serve as one of two developmental cars for the aforementioned ‘V580X’ programme and it was duly allocated with the internal ‘DP 2035’ chassis code and road registration ‘AML 56’

The story of this car is outlined within the exhaustive book written by noted Aston Martin V8 historian Kean Rogers; ‘DP 2035 – The X Pack or DP 2035 for the model year 1987 V8 Vantage according to the internal design project (DP) designation, was developed to restore the performance lost through years of regulations and the inevitable weight gain as more features were added to the cars’

‘Lessons learned creating the Vantage Zagato were to put to good use developing DP 2035. The first item adopted from the Zagato was the uprated V580X engine specification that was a continuation of DP 2000, the high performance South African (S.A) specification first offered by Works Service in 1983. In late 1982 Aston’s South African distributor approached the factory about an uprated Vantage as one of his customers was tired of being blown off by Porsche Turbo’s and the like in Johannesburg where the altitude was around 5000 feet and normally aspirated engines were at a disadvantage’

The Vantage was sold by the factory following its internal developmental duties to the first owner Mr John Elliot of Tunbridge Wells, Kent in January 1988, having been repainted and upgraded to 1988 specification, including a conversion to manual ZF five speed transmission and the addition of the first owners cherished number plate ‘JE 207’   

The extensive history file documents its journey from new, including internal correspondence from the factory outlining its specific role in the development of the ‘X-Pack’ model. It is noted that on completion of its development role, the Chassis Plate was updated to show the car and engine’s ‘X-Pack’ specification, and the history file carries written documentation from the Heritage Operations of Aston Martin that their records confirm the instruction to rebuild the Vantage engine to Vantage ‘X-Pack’ specification

The ownership and service history is well documented and supported by a pleathora of service and maintenance invoices by various marque specialists, original sales pre delivery certificate, original service booklet, copy of original build sheet, previous V5 registration documents and multiple MoT certificates. The most recent works were undertaken by marque exponents RS Williams just 1500 miles ago at a cost of GBP 25,000

The car is accompanied by a great raft of accessories including an owner’s handbook, original tool kit and jack, original edition of the book ‘Aston Martin V8 Vantage’ by Kean Rogers embossed ‘DP2035’, and original set of ‘Tanner & Krolle’ Aston Martin fitted Luggage

Without doubt a highly significant part of the evolution of the mighty V8 Vantage, this desirable example is offered in excellent condition throughout and drives as well as it presents, further enhanced by its exceptional provenance and originality. 

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