Cars

This lot will be auctioned via Historics Classic and Sportscar Auctioneers, Ascot Racecourse sale on Saturday 14th of September, SL5 7JX. The original V8 Vantage was a legendary old brute, and were all familiar with Bond driving one into a barn in The Living Daylights. The X-Pack took things to another level, although it did away with the deployable skis, missiles and jet engine as seen on the Bond car. Built between 1986 and 89, the X-Pack introduced a raft of updates over the base V8 Vantage including four dual-barrel Weber carburettors, Nimrod racing-type heads, larger valves and high compression pistons from Cosworth. This upped the 5.3-litre V8s output to 432hp, not far off what supercars of the day were capable of. Telling the X-Pack apart from the regular Vantages is easy, too, looking as though it could deck you just for staring at it. Flared wheel arches give it a particularly muscular look, along with a, er, sizeable power bulge on the bonnet and a far deeper front bumper that acted as an air dam. Probably the most recognisable X-Pack feature is the blanked-out grille (not entirely sure how that helps with cooling) but some cars were specced with a more conventional mesh finish. Blanking plate or not, the X-Pack is an exceptionally rare variant of a car built in the hundreds.This fabulous and extremely rare example is allegedly one of only two right hand drive examples produced in Litchfield Black with black leather interior and walnut trim inlays. The specification includes air conditioning, electric windows, an analogue dashboard clock, heated rear screen and a lockable glove box. It is accompanied by a service booklet, handbook, a good history documenting maintenance and images of the car whilst in Jay Kays ownership. Production numbers vary here and there, but the listing claims that only 95 examples were produced, with this particular car being just one of two finished in Litchfield Black Metallic. The X-Packs were offered with an automatic gearbox, what with it being a massive grand tourer at heart, but this model comes with a manual gearbox. This is one of the greats of British motoring and certainly one of the greatest Aston Martins ever built rare as hens teeth, brutish good looks and performance to match. This particular example has a great pedigree of ownership, having been in the ownership of one of most prolific private collectors in the UK and this would definitely grace any avid Aston Martin collectors garage or indeed be driven in anger by any who dare! Consigned by James Good