• Present ownership since 2011 • Regularly serviced by marque specialists • Recent considerable expenditure at Aston Martin Works • Circa 65,000 miles from new • One of 78 right hand drive X Pack models • Originally supplied as a manual car Produced to satisfy demands from the USA, the Volante convertible version of Aston Martin's V8 debuted in 1978, but it was not until 1986 that it became available to Vantage specification, which by this time meant around 400bhp.

Along with the Vantage engine and bonnet came flared wheelarches, a boot spoiler (a feature the Volante had previously lacked) and an extended front spoiler, while glassfibre extensions replaced the model's hitherto characteristic chromed sill covers.

The result was a muscular, aggressive-looking car that could justifiably claim to be the world's fastest convertible, all the more so when it came with the optional 'X-Pack' engine (like this example) which, depending on the state of tune, had up to 432bhp available.

A total...