AM V8 Motor Magazine Road Test

[neutral 3]

Anyone know if this one has survived ?
Always been a Huge fan of the early to mid 70s AM V8, such a handsome looking car in quad head lamp form, but prices now are crazy.

[Touring442]

It could well be this one:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1151826

ELC8J is an August 1970 registration. Prices are still far lower than Daytonas, which for the most handsome Aston Martin ever built is still reasonable. I'd love one and would walk past a row of DB Sodding 5's to admire it.

[neutral 3]

Omg !! Wonder if it's the same car ??

[SFTWend]

The journalist looks like he's having to manhandle a bit of understeer in that cover shot. Should have got Brett Sinclair to drive it, who could outrun a 246 Dino even with 3 blonde passengers.

Would be amazing if it was the car for sale but suspect not as the one in the classifieds is an auto with a webasto sunroof.

[MikeyC]

The 1971 press car came up for auction recently - was registered in July 1970
I doubt it's the same car

Auction said:

‘SKX 11J’ has been in the media spotlight since 1971. This, very special and significant motor car was the V8 'Factory press car', as tested and documented by Motor magazine at an average 160 mph over a measured mile, on the, as yet unfinished, M4 in 1971. This was an extended test of over 3,000 miles on behalf of 'Motor' magazine and over 20 years later one of their testers, Tony Dron, was re-acquainted with the car when they undertook an overview of the car’s restoration. Pleasingly, the magazine article is included in the car’s fascinating history file.

Was owned by Steve Coogan

[neutral 3]

But surely ELC 8 J was a factory press demo car ?
I dont have that issue of Motor magazine, so dont know if the car was a manual or auto ?

[9xxNick]

I owned SKX 76J a few years ago. That was a humble MGB GT rather than an Aston Martin however. The DBS gets better looking every year to my eyes, and its successor much less so.

[aeropilot]

neutral 3 said:

But surely ELC 8 J was a factory press demo car ?
I dont have that issue of Motor magazine, so dont know if the car was a manual or auto ?

Although the auction info doesn't say, I would assume, that that ex-Coogan car is ELC 8J, and the number was transferred at some stage, and its been re-registered. I doubt AM would have had more than one press/test car at the same time back then.

And that Motor cover shot photograph, I wouldn't bet against that being Tony Dron in the passenger seat?

[neutral 3]

aeropilot said:

Although the auction info doesn't say, I would assume, that that ex-Coogan car is ELC 8J, and the number was transferred at some stage, and its been re-registered. I doubt AM would have had more than one press/test car at the same time back then.

And that Motor cover shot photograph, I wouldn't bet against that being Tony Dron in the passenger seat?

It does look like Tony Dron !

[lowdrag]

It might be Tony, but knowing him pretty well I would have thought he'd sit quite a bit higher in the seat. I've never asked him but I'd say 6' 3" at least. When he drove one of mine for Octane we had to take the seat out! Here he is sitting around the pool during the 24 Hours.



ETA:- I can't find the photo, but after all the cars he has had and driven, he now has rebuilt a car you wouldn't associate with him really. A lovely Austin 7. He loves it.

Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 24th November 03:56

[aeropilot]

lowdrag said:

It might be Tony, but knowing him pretty well I would have thought he'd sit quite a bit higher in the seat. I've never asked him but I'd say 6' 3" at least. When he drove one of mine for Octane we had to take the seat out! Here he is sitting around the pool during the 24 Hours.



ETA:- I can't find the photo, but after all the cars he has had and driven, he now has rebuilt a car you wouldn't associate with him really. A lovely Austin 7. He loves it.

There is that...

Its 35 odd years since I last met Tony, and as you say, he's not vertically challenged in any way
I'm surprised he even fits in a 7.....!