BEST OF BRITISH BONHAMS RETURNS TO NEWPORT PAGNELL FOR ANNUAL ASTON MARTIN SALE

BEST OF BRITISH

BONHAMS RETURNS TO NEWPORT PAGNELL FOR ANNUAL ASTON MARTIN SALE

1991 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante 'X-Pack' 7.0-Litre (£350,000-400,000) 

Bonhams 18th annual Aston Martin sale will take place at the Aston Martin Works, Newport Pagnell on Saturday 13 May. An excellent variety of more than 42 examples drawn from 65 years of Aston Martin and Lagonda history will be offered by the international auction house, as well as a plethora of parts and related automobilia.

A 1970 Aston Martin DB6 ‘Mark 2’ Volante (£700,000-800,000) is one of the rarest Aston Martin convertibles, with just 38 built. This right-hand drive example was sold new to Sir John ‘Jake’ Saunders, chairman of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in 1970. It has had only two further owners, and is thought to have covered a mere 24,000 miles. This is an opportunity to acquire one of the rarest and certainly most desirable of all David Brown Aston Martin road cars.

The 1968 Aston Martin DB6 ‘Mark 1’ uprated from Volante to Vantage Volante Specification (£680,000-750,000) is one of only 140 built, and is presented in the timeless ‘triple black’ colour scheme. Having been shown in 1989 at the legendary Pebble Beach concours in California, the vehicle was later restored by marque specialist Desmond Smail and has been used sparingly since.

Rowan Atkinson with the 1981 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Sports Saloon (£150,000-180,000)

Aston Martin is a marque with a legion of celebrated followers, including noted British comedy actor, Rowan Atkinson. The 1981 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Sports Saloon (£150,000-180,000) was previously owned by the star of Blackadder and Love Actually. Atkinson was interviewed for Autocar magazine (copy on file) in which he observed: ‘An Aston, particularly a Burgundy one, is more like a Bentley. That’s the reason for buying one, rather than a Ferrari…it is more discreet.’ Those looking for a vehicle which was, at the time of its release, ‘the world’s fastest accelerating production car’ need look no further.

Described as ‘perhaps the greatest…drophead in production,’ the Aston Martin V8 Vantage thrust the British marque firmly back in to the supercar scene. This 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante ‘X-Pack’ 7.0-Litre (£350,000-400,000) is an outstanding example of the supremely comfortable yet potent sports car, and has been extensively restored and uprated. Works undertaken include an interior re-trim, a new hood, and the installing of an upgraded hi-fi and Bluetooth system. The winner of the Aston Martin Owners’ Club concours in recent years, this is an immaculate example of one of the marque’s most luxurious sports cars.

For further information on any of the lots in the sale, please visit the online catalogue: www.bonhams.com/auctions/24119

Members of the press wishing to apply for accreditation to attend the sale should contact Poppy McKenzie Smith on poppy.mckenziesmith@bonhams.com or +44 (0) 20 7468 8363