1972 - Aston Martin V8 "Pre-Production Prototype

Chassis no. V8/10500/RCH

French collector's registration

Brochure:
"The first Aston Martin to bear the V8 name".
The date is September 27, 1969, in Newport Pagnell. Aston Martin, then emerging from the glory years of the DB2, DB4, DB5 and DB6, is looking to renew itself and move into the 1970s with its head held high and its finances... in the black! The DBS was sumptuous, but its 6-cylinder engine was out of fashion: time for V8s! And so it's done, with an 8-cylinder version of its modern model (no longer the DB6 Mk2), the DBS V8. The result was pleasing, but not successful enough for David Brown's taste, who took the difficult decision to sell David Brown Corporation to Company Developments.
Before leaving, David Brown had begun work on the second series of the DBS V8, with particular emphasis on aerodynamic developments. This is where the story of #10500, the car that illustrates these pages, begins. After extensive testing, the front end of the DBS V8 lacked efficiency. It was decided to return to a two-light design, in keeping with the original identity of the successful DBs. Company Development strikes a second blow, dropping the DB name to emphasize the differences of this new model. The DBS V8 became the AM V8, a name we kept until 1990.
In June 1972, the #10500 was registered in the name of Aston Martin, which kept it until April 1975. It then passed into the hands of Mr Walsh, then into the Foster family, who kept it until the 1990s. Its file tells the story of this car from the beginning, without a single year's interruption... It arrived in Portugal in 2008, before being fully restored in 2017 (exceptional photo file) in its Bahamas Yellow hue.
Shortly afterwards, #10500 was purchased by the current owner and registered in France. Today, its condition is close to new, with no notable defects. Our test drive enabled us to verify its perfect working order: the V8 offers considerable comfort, and is as much at home in sporty driving as in cruising!
As you will have gathered, the car illustrating these pages is not just any Aston Martin V8. We're talking about the first car to bear this legendary name from Newport Pagnell. A true museum car, the current condition of #10500 will allow its next owner to choose between a unique exhibition object and a solid travel companion... Bid away!