1973 Aston Martin V8

VIN: V8/10682/RCA.

Engine No: V540/541

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this 1973 RHD auto Aston Martin V8 comes with no paperwork covering its later years beyond whatever photocopied documents are shown in the gallery section. 

Unusually, however, this example does have an old UK V5, some copies of AMOC record sheets, a letter of sale to the vendor and even some invoices and receipts for work carried out on it in the 1990s.

We know from the AMOC records that when the car left the factory on 31.1.73 it was ‘Cairngorm Brown’ with ‘Natural’ interior trim.

We also know from some of this documentation that the car was alive and well and living on the Isle of Skye in 1986. 

We’re willing to bet that it didn’t encounter many other Aston Martin V8s on the island during its time there. 

In late ‘93’/early ’94, the car was in Liversedge, West Yorkshire, where it underwent some £13,000 worth of remedial bodywork repairs, mechanical maintenance and was resprayed – perhaps for the first time in its current shade of blue. The work was done by The Aston Workshop of Beamish, County Durham.

The car was bought on behalf of the vendor by his German agent on July 9th 2010. 

The odometer today is showing 59,679 miles.

The car takes power to the dashboard, the fuel pump springs into life and the engine turns.

This car is a project and will need recommissioning. 

Consequently, we haven’t attempted to start, run or drive it, so our appraisal of it is limited to its cosmetic appearance. 

This motor car is being sold as part of a private overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams’ temporary admission customs bond. In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty.

In the UK, cars over 30 years old are subject to the lower rate of 5% import tax on the final selling price if purchased by a private individual. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT. A company buying this car will always pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT on the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, The Market can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 9am-5pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

The bodywork is free of any major dents, dinks or creases but there are a number of issues to contend with.

The front valance and bumper section have pulled away from the surrounding bodywork and parts of the headlamp surrounds are missing.

The bonnet release mechanism is broken and we’ve been unable to open the driver’s door either from the outside or inside. 

The chrome work is reasonable, as are the wheels although, obviously, refurbishment would transform them. 

There is bubbling on top of the n/s/f wing, at the base of both ‘A’ pillars, at the base of the n/s/r wheel arch, and in various places on the passenger door.

There are large areas of cracked and lifting paint, probably with bubbling underneath, on the o/s/r wing.

The paint is scuffed, scratched, chipped or missing in numerous places throughout.

The inside is very much a match for its exterior counterpart in terms of condition. 

While it’s not beyond redemption, there’s a fair bit of work to do to get it up to scratch, and it is pretty tired, grubby and worn throughout. 

The black leather upholstery on the front seats is actually fairly decent and there are no holes or rips that we can see. 

The seats themselves are comfortable, supportive and, as far as we tell, functional.

The rear bench seat is partly disassembled and there’s rust visible in the exposed metal under the parcel shelf, and on the metal air vents above the dashboard. 

The roof lining, although decidedly grubby, is intact.

The leather on the door cards is cracked in numerous places and some of the dashboard trim is split and lifting here and there.

There are various bits of carpet loose in the back of the car. They look somewhat fresher than the carpets in situ and may have been intended as replacements – we don’t know. 

The boot is pretty much disassembled. 

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the car. 

The engine and engine bay seem dry and intact, and everything appears to be in its right and proper place. 

There is rust and flaking to see in various places underneath. 

Clearly, you’ll want to see for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

Unless otherwise stated, this car comes with no history or service records beyond whatever photocopied documents are shown in the gallery. 

There is an original, old, UK V5 which should help make re-registering it a bit easier. 

No documents shown in the gallery in any way constitute any kind of current licensing or registration certification. 

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

With the proviso that it is amenable to recommissioning and structurally sound, we think that the underlying quality – and rarity – of this pedigree hand-built car should make the task of restoring all, most or some of its former glory more than worthwhile.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £25,000 - £35,000. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.