1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack

Chassis No. SCFCV81V2HTL12572

Launched in 1977, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage marked a bold return to performance for the British marque. It blended muscular power with grand touring luxury in equal measure, and with its aggressive styling and robust engineering, epitomized Aston Martin's 1970s “Brute in a Suit” philosophy. Just a year later, the first updates arrived, dubbed “Oscar India.” A closed bonnet bulge, deep front air dam, and blanked-off grille enhanced both form and function. Inside, leather and wood trim catered to the brand's luxury pedigree.

It wasn't until 1986 that the V8 Vantage reached its full potential. Debuting at the British International Motor Show, the X-Pack, a truly exclusive offering, featured the uprated V580X engine, initially developed for the V8 Zagato, producing 432 horsepower from 5.3 liters via four Weber carburetors, high-compression Cosworth pistons, larger valves, and special camshafts, making the car capable of speeds up to 322 km/h. Simply put by Aston Martin historian Kean M. Rogers, ''Aston Martin Lagonda saved the best for last... the V580X V8 Vantage.'' Produced through 1989, just 137 X-Pack-spec Series III V8 Vantages were built, making it one of the rarest and most powerful Aston Martins of its era.

This example was dispatched from Aston Martin on 13 May 1987 and built to rare left-hand-drive specification for the West German market. It left the factory finished in imposing Cannock Black over Black leather with matching Onslow carpet. Most notably the car was specified with the sporting and highly desirable five-speed manual transmission. Its factory build sheet also records left-hand dipping headlights and side repeater flashers to suit European regulations as part of the original specification.

At a point, the rare X-Pack Vantage was exported to the United States where it remained until 2016 before it was repatriated to the United Kingdom, where a major refresh was commissioned upon its return the following year. Recommissioning continued between 2024 and 2025, with more than €17.000 invested in France. The work touched every major system, including a rebuilt hub carrier and steering arm, an overhaul of the brake and clutch hydraulics with rebuilt master cylinders and a full fluid bleed, fresh front alignment, a rebuilt air conditioning system, a new water pump, and a full carburetor overhaul. A full accounting of the service work performed is available online for review.

With only 137 produced, the opportunity to acquire a genuine X-Pack Vantage is a rare one indeed. With a thorough recent service and its supremely powerful 432 horsepower V8 paired with the rare and highly sought after manual transmission, this black over black example must be one of the most desirable expressions of the marque's brute-force era available today.