The name "Vantage" has long denoted Aston Martin’s high-performance variants, dating back to the DB2. The 1977 V8 Vantage, however, marked a bold new era when it debuted as a standalone model with distinctive styling and a potent 390-horsepower V-8 engine. Capable of 0–60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph, the new Vantage reigned as the world’s fastest production car for a time. While it retained much of the standard model’s body lines, the Vantage added several defining elements like a front air dam, modified hood, and "fliptail" rear end treatment for improved aerodynamics. Initially bolted to the car’s rear decklid, Aston Martin fully integrated the subtle rear spoiler into the bodywork after the first 16 cars were produced, making the early models with separate spoilers—known colloquially as "Bolt-On Fliptail" versions—among the rarest ever to leave Aston’s Newport Pagnell facility.

Chassis 11704 is one of these cherished 16 early Vantages and is especially desirable with its original numbers-matching engine and more than $50,000 in recent sorting by marque experts. Originally finished in Aztec Gold over Fawn trim, the car started life as a right-hand-drive English home-market example before being converted to left-hand-drive during a meticulous three-and-a-half-year restoration completed in 2017 by RSP Motorsports of Ontario, Canada.

Following its acquisition by the consignor, the car was treated to over $50,000 in servicing by Fast Cars Ltd. of Redondo Beach, California. Dozens of invoices document the full recommissioning of the suspension, braking, and clutch systems, new engine belts and hoses, a rebuilt water pump, ultrasonic gas tank cleaning, new wood dash, and further sorting of the car’s interior and electronics to ensure proper function and presentation.

A seamless fusion of exhilarating performance and timeless British elegance, the landmark V8 Vantage is deservedly regarded as one of the first British supercars, making this rare and beautifully restored “Bolt-On Fliptail” example an exceptional opportunity for the Aston Martin enthusiast and collectors of all types.