Introduction
Dom Ginn
The Aston Martin V8 is a machine of understated style and elegance, one of the finest cars of its era.
These Aston Martin cars were completely hand-built and required over 1,200 man-hours to finish. Just ~1,018 examples of the Series III AM V8 were built during the five years between 1973 and 1978, of which only ~484 had the automatic gearbox. This model AMV8 replaced the AM V8 Series 2 (the DBS V8). The DBS models had introduced the William Towns body styling. In 1972 the six-cylinder engine used in earlier DB models was replaced with the 5.3 litre V8 engine designed by Tadek Marek. This power unit, used in this Series III AMV8, was powerful enough to propel it to over ~150MPH. In 1973, Aston Martin switched from fuel injection to carburettors, this was externally noticeable by the taller bonnet scoop to accommodate the four twin-choke (twin-barrel) Weber carburettors. The Series III also reverted to the famous “shark’s mouth” grille. In addition, the V8 benefited from ventilated disc brakes, air-conditioning and larger tyres.
This car has been in current ownership for ~27 years, and an important detail to note is all potentially expensive issues will have been ironed out a long time ago. This car is presented in "Smoked Silver", with a tan interior which has recently been deep cleaned. It also benefits from a new set of Avon tyres, as originally fitted. It has a good record of maintenance , 2 sets of keys and is MOT and road tax exempt of course.
This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Clive the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.
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*** Auction Update ***
Clive sent over a new cold start video and told us:
“The car hasn’t been used for a while: it’s only done a few 4-5 mile runs since November, and the choke has been used on every start recently. Yesterday I took it for a 20 mile run to get it really warmed up, then this morning I took this cold start video.”
The video is available here:
https://youtu.be/w28RcLQ9Cqk
Thanks,
Colin.
Hi would it be all right to pay a vehicle inspection on the car at my expense to check the car over as i am not happy the way it sounds and the oil pressure seems to go down wen it is revved up instead of going higher could you let me have an address or a contact number to arrange an inspection regards Dave
Hi Dave,
We can help arrange a viewing for you, if you could send an email to hello@tradeclassics.com first as we just need to do some checks first.
Thanks,
Colin.
I would have to agree with the comments regarding the engine noise and misfire. I know these cars well….the carbs are out of balance, there is definitely a misfire, and the engine is over noisy and therefore….potentially ruinous financially.
I have just taken a potential bidder and two other car enthusiasts out for a spin and none of them commented on the engine noise or the running performance, even after I mentioned the comments in this thread. I will understand that “Tonka” will be unlikely to bid on the car. One further point, the consigner, an experienced professional, made no observation to me or in his report on the car to the effect that there was any mechanical issue. Kind regards Clive
H I could you let me know the least you are needing to get for the car as there is another on another site abroad and i would bid on that one if this one is going to be to expensive for me i would prefer yours as it looks really nice please let me know regards Dave
Hi Dave – I’m sorry reserves are not disclosed, just like a physical auction – please see our FAQs for more information. Thanks Adam
Hi Clive,
It would’ve been useful to hear the engine running when hot. Having owned 2 of these cars in the past I have to say that it does sound excessively noisy when running
cold, in fact I’m not certain it’s running on all 8.
Regards silvagost
Hi Silvagost, Please take another look at the video of the cold start, as you will see there is almost no engine vibration once the engine has started and is idling. If it were not running on all eight cylinders there would be quite a bit of engine vibration, and this is not present. As to the engine noise I am not aware that it has become more noisy or taken on new noises over the years that I have owned it. I hope that this helps, kind regards, Clive
Hi Clive ,
I have taken more than 1 other look at the video of your Aston and can only come to much the same conclusion that the engine is excessively noisy and missy on tick over I note that the service history states that the engine was stripped due to a broken valve.
I’m not suggesting that this is any thing to do with the present noise but the top end is definitely noisy seemingly on 1 cylinder.
Oil pressure is good suggesting a strong bottom end.
Regards silvagost.
Hi silvagost, the valve incident happened just six months after I acquired the car in 1997. Since the repair, which was carried out at the time, the car has covered some 20k miles in the UK and abroad without noticeable loss of power.
Having been around the car for many years it is possible that I am not as sensitive to the noise as someone else but that having been said I have also owned a few modern V8 motors and haven’t been conscious of anything amiss in the Aston. Kind regards, Clive
Hi Clive,
The V8 engine is manufactured with a cast aluminium crankcase fitted with cast iron wet liners The same method of manufacture used by Rolls Royce from Cloud 2 onwards.
These are notorious for suffering from “piston pick up” caused by corrosion between the crank case and the liner this will cause the liner to decrease in size by enough to cause the piston to pick up on the liner causing a distinct Knock. Having listened again to the video I would suggest that unfortunately your Aston is suffering from the same known problem.
Regards silvagost
Hi Clive, is it possible to biew the car?.. potentially this Friday afternoon or Saturday morning? I am in SW London
Thanks,
Michael
Dear Michael, in order to arrange a viewing, please contact Ollie Juggins or Dom Ginn at Trade Classics. They will then be able to make the necessary arrangements. Kind regards Clive
Hi Clive,
Is the engine noise on tick over suppose to knock like that on these early cars?. Just seems loud .
Many thanks again
V8 engines are pretty loud machines, especially the 50 year old ones. There is quite a bit of sound insulation under the bonnet and around the engine bay, but one of the pleasures of the Aston V8 engine is the sound it makes. The recording was made with the bonnet raised and the engine fully exposed. In these circumstances you will hear every aspect of the idling engine, including tappets etc. However, to the best of my knowledge there is no untoward knocking or other unwanted engine noise. Kind regards Clive
Can the vehicle go through a mot prior to sale?, just for piece of mind .
Many thanks
Hi Darren, Thank you for your enquiry and your bids, so far. I had not planned to put the car through an MoT test. As you will know cars of this age are not required to have an annual test (on the basis that owners tend to take great care of their treasured classics) nor are they subject to road tax, but I will consider doing so. Kind regards Clive
Vehicle Location
Chatham
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