• Year of manufacture 
    2000
  • Mileage 
    9 000 mi / 14 485 km
  • Car type 
    Coupé
  • Chassis number 
    R70265
  • Drive 
    RHD
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Exterior brand colour 
    Bowland Black
  • Interior colour 
    Other
  • Interior brand colour 
    Parchment
  • Interior type 
    Leather
  • Number of doors 
    2
  • Number of seats 
    4
  • Location
    United Kingdom
  • Exterior colour 
    Black
  • Gearbox 
    Manual
  • Performance 
    600 BHP / 609 PS / 448 kW
  • Drivetrain 
    2wd
  • Fuel type 
    Petrol

Description

Chassis # R70265

- Manufactured in 2000, this car is number 37 of just 40 Le Mans Vantages built, the final and ultimate Vantage model produced
- One of only 18 cars manufactured with RHD steering (three were subsequently converted to LHD prior to delivery)
- One of thirty Le Mans cars converted when new by Works to V600 specification, and a rare example to have most / all options such as the sports exhaust, hollow magnesium wheels, and gearbox / axle conversion
- This is the only Le Mans V600 finished in Bowland Black
- Sold new by JCT 600 of Leeds, the first owner retained the car until 2012
- Aston Martin Works have more recently carried out a significant amount of work on the car including retrimming the interior in magnolia with black piping (from the original tan with black piping), and carrying out an engine overhaul
- Supplied with a one-year UK warranty

Detailed History
The V8 Vantage Le Mans was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Aston Martin victory at the 1959 Le Mans 24 hour race, and was available with both the standard 550 bhp or the Works upgraded 600 bhp version of the twin-supercharged V8.

At a glance the Le Mans appeared to be outwardly similar to the previous Vantage, which at the time was the fastest Aston Martin ever, however, upon closer inspection the Le Mans could be distinguished by a number of unique features – modified front wing side vents, a ‘nostril’ front grille, vented bonnet, improved high-downforce air dam, as well as five-spoke magnesium alloy.

Aston Martin Works Heritage are delighted to offer for sale this truly exceptional and rare V8 Vantage, not only in the ultimate and final Le Mans specification, but also with the ultimate V600 engine and mechanical modifications.

The large history file for this Vantage Le Mans documents the ordering process with letters on file from the supplying dealer of JCT600 in Leeds to the original purchaser, who resided near to Ripon in North Yorkshire. After the order was placed in April 1999 the options chosen were the V600 Engine Upgrade, short-shift 5-speed transmission, V600 Supersports exhaust system, traction control, and an audio system upgrade. The original colours chosen were Bowland black paint (the only Le Mans V600 painted this colour) with a tan leather interior with black seat piping and carpets.

The car was first registered as V8 VAN in April 2000 and was methodically and exclusively maintained by the supplying dealer for the duration of the first owner’s twelve-year custodianship, during which it is reported to have been kept within a dehumidified garage. A year after taking delivery, the owner became an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Health Care Industry.

The second owner acquired the Vantage in June 2012, and at the time the odometer recorded just 3,975 miles. After a few months of ownership, the car was presented to Aston Martin Works for a significant amount of work which included overhauling the engine, and with the owner’s preference for a lighter interior to the factory fitted tan, Works retrimmed the interior in magnolia leather with black piping. Those works were completed in February 2013 when the odometer recorded just over 4,200 miles.

The third and most recent owner bought the Le Mans in November 2014 at 4,800 miles and clearly enjoyed it more regularly than the first two owners as the odometer now records just over 9,000 miles.

Presented in superlative overall condition commensurate with such a low recorded mileage, this very special Aston Martin is number 37 of just 40 Le Mans Vantages manufactured at the Newport Pagnell factory, of which just eighteen had RHD steering and not all had the V600 engine conversion from new. A truly magnificent motor car.