One to Buy: 1st of 42 Mandarin Yellow 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage V580 Series 1
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Three years after the original V8 Vantage had been launched (the V540), Aston Martin introduced an updated version variously known as the V580 and Oscar India.
Most significantly, the V580 engine was brought in across the entire Aston Martin range so that it was only necessary to select the appropriate camshafts and carburettors to create either a V8, Lagonda or Vantage motor. The result was quieter, smoother engines with both improved fuel economy and enhanced mid-range torque.
The first generation V540 V8 Vantage was produced from March 1980 until December 1982, at which point the original GKN wheels were switched for wider track BBS-type and a wider lip was added to the wheelarches.
In total, Aston Martin produced just 42 examples of the first generation V540 V8 Vantage (27 right-hand drive and 15 left-hand drive) the first of which is currently residing at the Autosport Designs showroom in Long Island, New York.
Completed on March 19th 1980 and given its final inspection on March 28th, this car served as the factory demonstrator for Aston Martin’s flagship sales outlet on Sloane Street in London. It was configured in the unusual colour scheme of Mandarin Yellow with Red leather upholstery, Dark Red carpet, a Grey leather dash and a Pioneer KE2300 audio system.
More recently, the car has undergone a major restoration and been uprated with 16 x 8-inch Ronal wheels of the type fitted to last-of-line examples of the V8 Vantage.
