Delivered new on 25th April 2000 to Mr J Thackray via the JCT600 dealership in Leeds. The history file contains correspondence from JCT600 to Mr Thackray confirming his order and his chosen options, as well as the original invoice for the car which totalled £237,647.11. The car was then delivered on Mr Thackray’s private registration of V8 VAN. Under Mr Thackray’s ownership the car received meticulous servicing by his supplying dealer, as detailed in the car’s extensive history file.

Remarkably, this car is believed to be one of perhaps just 12 examples upgraded to V600 Le Mans specification by the factory from new. Most were delivered as V550 examples and converted to V600 Le Mans specification after they had been delivered. This car is believed to have had this work carried out prior to delivery to its first owner, a rare fact indeed.

The car was then sold to motor trader Mr P Jones of Byron International in 2012 and then on to its next owner, Mr J Priestley, later that year. Upon purchase Mr Priestley took the car to Aston Martin Works to undertake an engine rebuild, an interior retrim to Magnolia and some paintwork to rectify corrosion that had appeared on the car. The final bill totalled over £90,000, with another £31,000 invoice following a month later.

The car was then entered into the Bonhams Bond Street sale in 2014, where it was bought by revered Danish collector Mr J Barazi. The car was continuously maintained by marque specialists Nicholas Mee until Mr Barazi sold the car to Nicholas Mee, who then swapped it for a Lagonda Taraf that Aston Martin Works had for sale. Aston Martin Works then sold the car to another renowned collector and racing driver, Mr H Masaood, in 2019. The car again was maintained perfectly by Aston Martin Works until 2023, when it was sold to its next custodian, Mr E James. We were able to quickly transact on the car after his purchase to its current custodian. Upon sale we had the car fully serviced by Aston Martin Works and had the car ice blasted and resealed underneath.

This example has had no expense spared during its life, and continuous history from even before the car was delivered will substantiate this. There will not be many better examples of one of Aston Martin’s ‘greatest hits’ in existence, especially being one of just four known examples delivered n the striking colour of Bowland Black. Fresh from a service by Aston Works and having covered just over 10,000 miles from new, this car wants for nothing (as proven by my recent 100 mile journey in the car with a five (month old in tow) and is complete with all books, tools and history, as well as the rarely seen Michelin map of Northern France given to the original owners should they ever wish to drive their “Le Mans” to the Circuit de la Sarthe.