Unique Cars For Sale from $250,000 to $1,000,000 in northgate

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this magnificently restored Autodelta prepared 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA Junior 1300. According to documentation on file from Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo, this particular car has a production date of the 7th May 1968 with a delivery date of 31 December 1968. It was finished in biancospino (white) with a skai nero (black) interior. This US market car was part of a batch of Autodelta prepared cars sold by distributor Don Black Alfa Romeo in New Jersey. The car was sold through dealer Tom OBrien to its first owner Eugene Strandberg from Iowa. The car was raced at over 50 SCCA meetings between 1968 and 1980 at tracks including Road America (Elkhart Lake), Road Atlanta, Daytona, Indianapolis, Mid Ohio, Bridgehampton, Summit Point, Mid America (Wentzville), Brainerd (Donnybrooke), Phoenix, Nelson Ledges, Blackhawk Farms and Lake Afton. In 1969 Strandberg won the SCCA C Sedan class in this car in the Mid West division, setting several lap records. The car competed three times at the SCCA National Run Offs the American Road Race of Champions with three different drivers. Strandberg was 10th in this event at Daytona in 1969, Bobby Henson was 4th at Road Atlanta in 1971, and Jerry Wannarka (later SCCA Board Chairman) was 7th at Road Atlanta in 1974. The car was also raced by Gerry Strickfaden, George J Cichon and Larry Sterenberg. After being campaigned throughout the 1970s at various race meets, the car was involved in an accident at Indianapolis in May 1980. After being (poorly) repaired it raced again at Indianapolis in April 1981 and for a final time at Elkhart Lake in June 1981. It is understood that the car was painted red after it was repaired. With its racing career concluded, the car was acquired by collector John Murphy (of Alfa Legends). Murphys collection went to auction in Atlanta in 2004 from where it was acquired by Judge Parker of Richmond, Virginia, who then commenced a restoration. In 2013, Parker sold the partially assembled car and parts to New York classic car dealer, Daniel Rapley. The current owner acquired this Alfa Romeo GTA Junior 1300 from Daniel Rapley in September 2014 and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is an Import Approval on file dated the 9th September 2014. The car arrived into Sydney in April 2015. The current owner made the decision to restore the car to present exactly as it was when it first raced. He engaged the services of highly respected Alfa Romeo restoration specialist Zoo Autocraft (Tim Doyle) from Bowral to restore the car. Tim was ably supported by Vin Sharp who rebuilt the engine, Mick Mitchell from Corse Automotive who completed other mechanical works, AA Panelcraft who painted the car and Steve Busitill who did the trim. Where possible the original parts from the car were repaired and reused, however, as a second choice original replacement parts were sourced. As a last resort replica parts were acquired from the likes of Classic Alfa and Alfaholics in the UK. Unfortunately, the car had been separated from its original engine which was sold off from Murphys auction in 2004. By an incredible stroke of good fortunate Tim Doyle had purchased a number of parts from the Murphy auction, including what turns out to be the original engine block from this very car! There is a document on file, provided by Don Black, listing both the chassis and engine numbers for the Alfa Romeo GTAs that he sold. Alfa Romeo did not record engine numbers for the 105 series cars making Blacks list, confirming this cars original engine number, as very rare and unique. The owner decided to restore the car with a replacement block to preserve the original block which will accompany the car. As the car was to be used on the track, the current owner decided to install a high quality roll cage. In his words . . . the alloy body doesnt provide much more protection than cardboard. An FIA approved kit built by Custom Cages in the UK was purchased from Alfaholics. One of the many challenges was to quieten the car to comply with track noise limits while still using the correct side exhaust. The Corse Automotive team came up with an ingenious solution whereby a hand built muffler runs laterally underneath the car another work of art! The restoration was finally completed in November 2019, just in time for the Alfa Romeo Owners of Australias (AROCA) annual concorso. The end result is just spectacular and a credit to the current owner, Tim Doyle and everyone who was involved with the project. Later that month, the GTA returned to the track at the Historic Sports and Racing Car Associations (HSRCA) Summer Festival at Sydney Motor Sport Park. The car was presented in the livery in which it first raced some 50 years earlier. It ran in regularity and true to the HSRCA motto As it was it shall be, it ran on the correct Dunlop CR65 cross ply tyres! The car looked spectacular and to the relief of its owner it ran faultlessly. The car has been used sparingly since it was restored. It has been driven very carefully in regularity at various track days. Today it presents essentially as a fresh restoration. The biancospino paintwork is in excellent condition. The devil is in the detail and all the pop riveted aluminium panels are the giveaway that this car is not your every day 105 series. The panel gaps are excellent. The external trim is minimalistic, however, it is all in good condition. We love the delicate door handles which are a real feature on this car and fit for purpose to open the feather weight doors! The interior is beautifully presented and in excellent condition. The beautiful Alfa Romeo GTA wheels are shod with Dunlop Racing 5.50 M-14 tyres all around. Unfortunately, we didnt get the opportunity to drive the car as it is not road registered, however, the owner reports that it drives every bit as good as it looks. When rebuilt, the engine was tuned on a dyno and it develops 140 bhp at 7700 rpm, with torque of 91 lbs/ft. This is similar to the original Autodelta cars. The car weighs 800 kg, which is slightly more than the original, mostly because of the roll cage, hidden muffler and alloy wheels instead of mags. The power to weight ratio is still impressive and this little Alfa Romeo performs exceptionally well. According to the owner, the engine really comes on song above 5,000 rpm and it makes a wonderful noise. The car is light and nimble on the track and it handles, steers and stops as you would expect. This car was shown Auto Italian in Canberra in 2022 where it won Alfa Romeo Best of Marque and it was also one of the four finalists selected for Best of Show. It was also shown at Motorclassica, Australias leading concours delegance and classic car show later in 2022, where it was one of the two finalists in the fiercely contested Bertone class. There is substantial documentation on file which includes a SCCA Vehicle Log Book, period race results and car magazines, documented ownership from new, period documentation, restoration receipts, photos and more. Importantly, this car has its correct tipo number (10559), stamped in the boot drain channel. Highlights: - Magnificently restored Alfa Romeo GTA. - Known history from new. - Numbers correct car. - Well documented. - Ready to show, use and enjoy. Price $459,950 Background: The Alfa Romeo story began in June 1910 when A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) was founded in Milan, Italy. Their first car, the 24hp, was a great success and the Alfa name became synonymous with motor racing in the early years. In 1915 Nicola Romeo took over the company and during war time its focus was on military equipment, however, it wanted to build cars. Soon after the very first Alfa Romeo motor vehicle, the Torpedo 20-30hp, was built. On February 3, 1918, with World War I slowly drawing to a close, the new company called Alfa Romeo was officially registered. In the early 1920s Alfa Romeo quickly made a name for itself in motor racing. Drivers like Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari and Enzo Ferrari won several races driving various Alfa Romeo race cars. Through until the 1950s Alfa Romeo was responsible for some of the most exclusive road cars and most successful race cars ever built. Some of the cars produced by Alfa Romeo in the 1920s and 1930s could be purchased as either a road car or a race car. The Alfa Romeo 6C is one of those cars. Introduced at the 1925 Milan Motor Show, the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was the first model to carry the 6C name. The nomenclature of the model designation 6C 1500 refers to the engine, where 6C = the number of cylinders, in this case six and 1500 refers to the engine capacity, in this case 1500cc. As was quite common in those days, the bodies were provided by various coach builders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring Superleggera, Castagna, and Pinin Farina. The legendary Alfa Romeo 8C, took the 6C to another level and was one of the worlds most exclusive and successful road, race and sports cars of the 1930s. Following the Second World War the company was in financial difficulty and it decided a change in direction was necessary to survive. The Alfa Romeo 1900 Series cars effectively replaced the 6C range and whilst it was a success, rather than hand build luxury sporting cars it decided to focus on mass production. Hence, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint was born. Alfa got the formula right and as testament to the success of this model the car was in production for over a decade from 1954 through until 1965. Throughout the 1950s and 60s Alfa built a number of different models including four door sedans, two door coupes and convertibles, however, regardless of model their cars always had a sporting edge. They were a drivers car first and foremost. Launched in 1963 the Alfa Romeo 105 Series was introduced to replace the very successful 101 Series Giulietta. Designed by Bertone (Giorgetto Giugiaro) the shape was purely Alfa with many styling cues taken from the Alfa Romeo 2600 and 2000. The first model introduced was known as the Giulia Sprint GT which was powered by Alfas proven 1,600cc engine. A convertible version known as the Giulia GTC and more powerful Giulia Sprint GT Veloce were subsequently introduced. Other standard models in the 105 Series range that evolved from 1965 were the 1750 GT Veloce, 2000 GT Veloce, GT 1300 Junior and GT 1600 Junior. Alfa Romeos rich motorsport tradition continued into the 105 series cars. Under the direction of the legendary Carlo Chiti, Autodelta (Alfa Romeos racing division) developed a car for competition that closely resembled the road going model. These cars were named GTA, the A standing for alleggerita, Italian for lightened. The GTA was produced first in 1965 as a 1600 Sprint (1,570 cc), and then in 1968 as a 1300 Junior (1,290cc) version. GTAs were manufactured in either street (stradale) or pure race (corsa) trim. 1,000 had to be built for homologation. It is understood that approximately 500 Sprints and 450 Juniors were built, of which less than half were corsa spec. All cars were built in the Alfa Romeo factory at Arese and for a considerable price premium clients could have their car race prepared by Autodelta. The outer body skin of the GTA was made of, instead of steel, Peraluman 25, a light aluminium alloy, containing magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. The inner steel panels were also of thinner gauge with the inner and outer panels bonded and pop riveted together. Magnesium alloy wheels, clear plastic side windows, an aluminium rear upper control arm, lightweight door handles and quarter window mechanisms as well as lightweight interior trim were other GTA features. The engine had a new double ignition, twin plug cylinder head, high compression pistons, high-lift cams, lightened flywheel, a Magneti Marelli distributor, 45 mm carburettors instead of 40 mm as well as magnesium camshaft cover, sump, timing cover and bell housing. A limited slip differential was standard and a special sliding-block rear axle locating system could be specified. The 1300 had a short-stroke, oversquare version of the GTA 1600 engine.

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale an absolutely delightful, Australian delivered, factory right hand drive 1959 Porsche 356 A 1600. There is a letter on file from Porsche, Germany dated 5th July 1990 confirming this car was manufactured in June 1959 and delivered new through Porsche dealer Hamilton in Australia. The car was delivered with the following specifications: colour: orange (paint code 711), interior: vinyl, optional equipment: green tinted windscreen, right hand drive, hub caps with badge, US bumpers and moldings. We can confirm that this car retains its original matching numbers engine. The early history of this car is not known. The story starts in 1983, when on the 26th August, ownership of this car transferred from Chris Katos to Andrew McRitchie. There is also a note on file confirming McRitchie purchased the car for the sum of $3,500. At that time the car was carrying the Victorian registration HEA111 but it was sold unregistered with the note it required extensive renovation. McRitchie decided to restore the car and what followed was an 8 year journey. Importantly, he meticulously documented everything he did. There is a 35 page document on file showing exactly what he did, when he did it and the number of hours he spend doing it! There is also a thick file of receipts. The project started in May 1984 and it was finally finished in October 1992. In total he spend 3,910 hours restoring his Porsche and as the document states, this didnt include the hours spend by brothers, sisters, father, friends, the paint shop, the machine shop and the time spend on collecting the necessary replacement parts! We have seen many good history files but rarely do we come across a write up as detailed as this. McRitchie was obviously a very detail minded, dedicated and meticulous owner. There is a Vic Roads Certificate of Roadworthiness on file, dated 7th March 1993, at which time the odometer read 45,922 miles. In December 2006 the current owner acquired the car from McRitchie. At that time the odometer read 49,521 miles. There is a valuation report on file from a week after he purchased the car which states: Vehicle fully restored from ground up, on inspection many restoration photos of the vehicle sighted also, Michelin 165×15 tyres, drivers side mirror, vehicle immaculate condition throughout. The previous owner had clearly cherished his car after he completed the restoration. The current owner is a real Porsche enthusiast and he has thoroughly enjoyed his 17+ years of ownership of this fabulous 356. He has used the car, travelling just over 22,000 miles in his ownership. The way the car presents today you would think it has travelled only 2,200 miles in his ownership! Today the odometer reads 68,861 miles. The car has been maintained and regularly serviced by well known and respected classic Porsche specialist McKernan Restoration in Kippa-Ring, Queensland. During one of these services it was noted that the split case gearbox in the car was in very poor condition and in November 2012 the decision was made to replace it with a period correct gearbox from a slightly later model 356A. To make the 356 more reliable and easier to start a electric fuel pump was fitted in January 2015. In September 2020 the carburettors were overhauled. The most recent service was executed in October 2023 and at that time the odometer read 68,030 miles. Today this car still presents exceptionally well. It has hard to believe that the restoration was completed some 30 years ago. The car is a credit to its current and previous owner, but particularly to the quality of the restoration. When you first see the car you are immediately charmed by its colour. The blue is truly striking and it really suits the car. It also contrasts perfectly with the tan interior. The paint on the car is generally in a very good condition. This car has been used as its makers intended by both its current and previous owner and as a result there is some light wear and tear evident. There are some stone chips and very small paint imperfections here and there, but you have to look. The glass on the car is all in excellent condition with no evidence of any cracks, though there are a few very small chips on the windscreen. All the external trim, including the lights and lenses are in good condition. The painted steel wheels are generally in good condition. There are a few small chips here and there and one or two marks that look to be from balancing weights that were previously fitted. The wheels are shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, size 165HR15, date stamped 0116 (week 1, 2016). The tyres are still in a good condition. Open the door and you are presented with a minimalistic, yet very good looking interior. First impressions are good. The seats present well with no cracks or tears in the leather. In the back you find two small seats which appear to have hardly been used, if at all, since the restoration. The door cards present well and even the carpets are in very good condition. The dashboard also presents well. In Australia, the top of the dashboard often gets affected by the harsh sun, but that is not the case here. All the instruments are crisp and clean. The engine bay presents well. It is neat, clean and tidy. The same can be said for the boot, where you will find the rubber mat, spare wheel and jack. Sliding in behind the wheel is like putting on your favourite old leather jacket. It just feels right! The seats are comfortable and still provide ample support. Everything you see is basic, yet that is exactly how you expect it to be. The steering wheel is in excellent condition and is a real feature on these cars. Once comfortable behind the wheel you ready to go. The starting procedure is simple. This car is fitted with an aftermarket fuel pump and a battery isolator. Switch both on, insert the key into the ignition and turn the ignition on. After allowing the fuel pump a little bit of time to fill the carburettor, turn the key further to start the car. This car still runs its original six volt electrical system and as a result you might think your battery is low on voltage when you crank the engine. However, that is normal and the engine starts easily, even from cold, and the car quickly settles into a smooth idle with that typical air cooled engine sound. After allowing the engine to warm up, select first gear and away you go! We were curious to see if this Porsche 356 would drive as good as it looks. Would we be disappointed? The short answer is no . . . it drives superbly! The engine sounds great and it pulls willingly through the rev range. The car just wants to go! The gearbox feels tight and the gear changes are precise and direct. The car feels solid on the road, the steering feels direct and the brakes pull the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. We did notice that the speedo waves a bit every now and then, especially when you accelerate from low speed. However, once you are at cruising speed it settles and indicates the correct speed. The oil temperature gauge is not working. This is a very well sorted Porsche 356 A that is just a lot of fun to drive. This is the type of car you can just get in, use and enjoy. There are a few small things one can do to further improve the car but nothing that requires immediate attention. Accompanying the car is a very good history file, including a detailed restoration dossier, some photographs, a Porsche letter confirming the cars provenance, a spare wheel and a jack. Highlights: - Australian delivered, factory RHD 356 A. - An older but high quality, meticulous restoration. - Great colour combination. - Matching numbers, engine and chassis. - Very well presented car, ready to use and enjoy. Price $259,950. Background: The Porsche story is a fascinating one and its roots go back to the 1930s when Professor Ferdinand Porsche was instrumental in the design of the first Volkswagen and also Auto Union race cars. By 1939 he had built three Porsche cars to compete in the 800-mile race from Berlin to Rome. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled due to the war and Porsche was forced to focus on supporting the German war effort, however, he had always wanted to build his own cars. In 1944 Porsche was forced to leave Stuttgart and he set up a small operation in Gmünd, Austria. Soon after the Porsche family and many of their engineers were captured and sent to jail. Ferdinand Porsches son. Ferdinand junior, or Ferry as he was known, was released six months later and he returned to Gmünd to rebuild the family company. Things moved quickly and Porsche was involved with cars again and in mid-1948 the first Porsche 356 was built. It is understood Porsche built some 50 aluminium bodied cars by hand in their small factory at Gmündbefore relocating back to Stuttgart, Germany in 1949. Instead of building the body of the car himself Porsche decided to collaborate with an old partner, the body manufacturing company Reutter who had both the expertise and infrastructure to mass produce the bodies for the 356 coupe and cabriolet. Nowadays, the first series of the 356, built from 1948 through until 1955 are known as the 356 Pre A. In 1955 the 356 A was introduced. The internal factory designation for this model was Type 1 which was quickly adapted by enthusiasts who referred to the 356 A as the T1. The 356 A became available as a coupe, cabriolet and a Speedster. Buyers had the choice between a 1,300cc and a 1,600cc engine and later the Super version. A second revision of the 356 A was introduced early in 1957. It became known as the Type 2 (or T2). Late 1958 the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D which was now build by coachbuilder Drauz. Late 1959 the 356 A was replaced by the 356 B. The 356 remained in production through until 1965 and evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built.

1952 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint by Touring

1965 Maserati Mistral

Details: Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this fantastic 1983 Aston Martin V8 Oscar India. The Heritage certificate on file confirms this car was built on the 7th September 1983 and it left the factory on 11th October 1983. The car was originally delivered in storm red (paint code 9017) with a fawn pipe burgundy interior (trim code VM.3234/DV6171), a colour scheme the car still carries today. The car retains its original matching numbers engine. The Heritage Certificate also states this car was delivered with Weber carburettors, Avon tyres, beige with burgundy edged carpet, beige leather headliner and a miles per hour speedometer. This car is a highly desirable later model Oscar India with the V580 Series engine and BBS wheels. It also has the blanked out radiator grill that was standard on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Like the majority of the Aston Martin V8s built, this car is equipped with a Chrysler Torqueflite three speed automatic transmission. The documentation on file confirms that this Aston Martin was delivered through Victor Wilson Limited in Edinburgh, Scotland to its first owner, Mr M Carney from Glasgow, Scotland. It was first registered as MAT 78. Around 1989 the car was sold to Mr M Blackall, an Englishman temporary living and working in Belgium as the Area Director of Operations for a major hotel group. At that time the car was registered as A946FSF. The car spent the next two years in Belgium before the owner moved back to the UK and took the car with him. In 1993 he upgraded to an Aston Martin V8 Volante and this car was sold to Mr M Walker from Edinburgh in June 1994. In September 1996 the car was advertised for sale by the Murray Motor Company in Edinburgh and sold to Mr R Forrester from Cairneyhill, a small village just north of Edinburgh. In 2000 the Murray Motor Company advertised the car for sale again and subsequently sold it to Mr Keenan from Apperley, Gloucestershire, UK. The car was registered with the registration A4 SFK. These UK plates are still fitted on the car. The current owner, who has an extensive and eclectic collection of cars, acquired this Aston Martin in the UK in mid 2006 and subsequently imported it into Australia. There is an Import Approval on file dated 31st July 2006. Shortly after arriving into Australia the car was repainted in its original colour of storm red. The car has not been driven any distance since arriving in Australia and it has been in static storage for some fifteen years. It was last started about five years ago and today the engine turns over easily. Today the odometer reads 69,688 miles, which based on the information on file, is genuine. Even though the car carries what is now considered an older repaint, the paint still presents very well. As a result of the car not being driven since it was repainted, the paint has never been exposed to the harsh Australian sun. It retains a deep gloss and a strong depth of colour. There are only two small defects in the paint. There are two very small chips on the boot lid and there is also a small scrape on the edge of the drivers door. Subsequent to our photo shoot, these defects have been touched up using original touch up paint supplied with the car. All the glass, which looks to be original, and external trim is in very good condition. The same can be said for the bumpers and the other bright work on the car. It is all in very good to excellent condition. The BBS wheels, which are a real feature on these later Aston Martin V8s present like new with no curb rash. They are shod with Avon Turbosteel 70 tyres, size 235/70/15. The thread on the tyres still present like new, however they are date stamped 4400 (week 44, 2000), and should really be replaced on age. Open the door and you feel like you are stepping back in time. The interior has been beautifully preserved and is in beautiful condition. It is also very English! The fawn leather seats are in excellent condition with no cracks or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and still provide plenty of support. The rear seats appear to have hardly been used. All the carpets are in excellent condition. The dashboard presents like new. The timber veneer inserts are in excellent condition as is all the leather. Even the top of the dash is still in excellent condition. The instruments are all clean and present well. There is a row of push switches on the centre console and you often see these with faded text. Not in this car. The text is as clear as it was on the day the car left the factory. In the boot everything is clean and tidy and there is an original spare wheel present. Open the bonnet and you are presented with a magnificent looking V8 engine. It is hard to miss the Aston Martin Lagonda text on the valve covers and of course there is the plate with the name of the person who assembled the engine. The engine in this car was built by Fred Walters. All very Aston Martin! Everything presents as one would expect. The engine is bay is neat, clean and tidy. The underside of this car presents well. There is light surface corrosion on some of the components, however, this is not a typical English car underneath. The overall presentation is consistent with a 41 year old car that has been well cared for. As mentioned earlier in our write up, this car has not been driven since it arrived in Australia all those years ago. Before the car can be driven it will require recommissioning. Accompanying this car is a comprehensive history file dating back to new, which includes the original service book. This car has an incredible presence and it presents fabulously in the striking colour of storm red. We envisage the recommissioning to be relatively straight forward and have no doubt this car will drive every bit as good as it looks! A unique opportunity. Highlights: - Rare and desirable example of one the iconic Aston Martin V8 series. - Beautifully presented example of a quintessential British GT. - Fabulous original colour scheme. - Known history from new. Price $289,950 Background: Aston Martin has produced bespoke sports cars for over 100 years. The company began in 1913, when founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford realised their desire to build distinctive, high quality sports cars that were both exhilarating to drive and a beauty to behold. Martin regularly competed in hill climb races at Aston Clinton, and a simple combination of the name of the event and the driver gave birth to one of the most famous automotive marques. Source: www.astonmartin.com. Whilst Aston Martin produced some wonderful cars in their early years business, was always a struggle and the company was severely disrupted during both World War I and II. The company went bankrupt on more than one occasion and has endured many different owners throughout its history. David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947 and the first car produced during his ownership was the Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports, later known as the DB1, which was built in extremely limited numbers from 1948 to 1950. This was succeeded by the Aston Martin DB2 in 1950, which featured a new double overhead cam straight six engine of 2.6 litre (2580 cc) capacity, and was a car that really put post war Aston Martin on the map. The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martins finest with the company winning LeMans in 1959 and the sixties producing the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models. The first of the Newport Pagnell designed cars, the DBS, was introduced in 1967. The DBS was initially powered by Aston Martins tried and true 6 cylinder engine as the companys new V8 engine was not ready. From September 1967 through until May 1972 Aston Martin produced 829 DBS chassis. One of these was used in a crash test and 26 of these were later fitted with a V8 engine which leaves a total of 802 six cylinder Aston Martin DBS. Of these 802 cars, 621 were right hand drive and 181 left hand drive. The DBS was available with a five speed ZF manual gearbox or an automatic gearbox or. Interestingly, 317 of the right hand drive cars were fitted with the five speed manual gearbox. It is understood that Aston Martin only built circa 70 right hand drive examples equipped with the Vantage engine. In September 1969 the DBS was superseded by the DBS V8, powered by the all new 5.3 litre V8 engine which was finally ready for production. The DBS V8 remained in production through until April 1972 and circa 400 cars were built. It was then renamed and became the Aston Martin V8, which became a great success for the marque. The Aston Martin V8 was produced for 17 years, with production finally coming to an end in 1989. Just over 2,000 cars were built, plus the Volantes and Vantages. In October 1978 Aston Martin introduced the Aston Martin V8 Series 4, otherwise known as the Oscar India (Oscar India = October Introduction, from the phonetic alphabet). The car now sporting burr walnut trim, a blanked off bonnet scoop and a revised boot lid and rear wings to create a sculpted spoiler was visually very similar to the Vantage. The car remained in production through until 1985 and only 352 examples were produced.