Aston Martin V8 Series 3 Automatic

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Launched in 1969, the Aston Martin DBS V8 was powered by a spectacular all-alloy engine initially designed by Tadek Marek to power the Lola Aston Martin sports racing cars.

Boasting four overhead camshafts and Bosch electronic fuel injection, in road trim the 5,340cc V8 produced an impressive 345bhp at 5,000rpm and 360lb/ft of torque. This was enough to propel the car to a top speed of 160mph, unbelievable for an early 1970s 4-seater weighing nearly 2 tons!

After David Brown sold Aston Martin in February 1972, the DBS V8 was replaced by the Series 2 model, now simply called the Aston Martin V8. Gone were the four headlamps and slatted grille, replaced by a black mesh grille flanked by single headlamps; mechanical changes being limited to electronic ignition and standard air conditioning.

The Series 3 which followed in August 1973 got a quartet of Weber 42 DCNF carburettors instead of the previous fuel injection, a change which brought increased torque and necessitated a larger bonnet bulge. Other changes included improved seats and central locking.

“A well equipped car with magnificent stride for long journeys” was how Autocar magazine concluded its 1973 road test of a Series 3, revealing that the new version of the V8 Aston engine with four carbs and automatic transmission had proved nearly as quick as its manual transmission, fuel-injected predecessor and fractionally more economical (well, everything is relative).

The Series 3 was to remain the mainstay of the business until 1978 with some 967 examples leaving Newport Pagnell before the revised Series 4 ‘Oscar India’ models were introduced with their closed bonnet air-intake and further interior revisions.

This particular S3 was purchased new by the owner of a prosperous Midlands engineering firm in 1975. He then drove it to his second home in Bandol, South of France, where it was registered on French plates, apparently in an effort to save on tax! Three years later it was driven back to the UK and was registered here as WPC 263S in April 1978.

The car then changed hands several times before being purchased by an Aston Martin Owner’s Club member in 2009. He embarked on a thorough restoration of the car but, part way through, was fortunate enough to acquire another project, an extremely rare Aston Martin DBR2, which meant that he rather lost interest in the V8.

The current owner, aslo an AMOC member, has spent the last three years working on the car in his spare time to get it finished but, due to loss of storage and the onset of other commitments, has now reluctantly decided that the time has come to pass the project on to someone with more time and space in which to complete the job.

All the hard work has been done, including a full body restoration and a repaint in Rolls Royce Royal Blue, and the car only needs a few finishing touches before it will be ready for MOT. The indicated mileage of 65,951 is thought to be genuine (and is borne out by the good condition of the original blue leather interior) but there is insufficient documentary evidence to warrant this total. The engine is said to be healthy and will be in running order in time for the sale.

We can’t help thinking that this very sound, straight and rare S3 looks like a lot of car for the money and should amply reward the final push that it now requires. With Aston prices only going one way of late, it looks like a no brainer at the sensible guide price suggested and will certainly keep someone out of mischief in the coming winter months.