2007 Aston Martin Vantage on 2040-cars

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Aston Martin barn finds highlight $16M Bonhams sale

Every year, Bonhams holds an auction of classic Aston Martins at the automaker's historic home in Newport Pagnell. But never has it brought in as much as it did this year. The 16th annual Aston Martin Sale, held this past weekend, raked in an impressive GBP10,280,275 in sales – equivalent to nearly $16 million at current exchange rates. Among the highlights of the 50 classic Astons sold were a number of barn finds, including a pair of DB Mark II sports saloons from 1958 that doubled the pre-sale estimates to sell for GBP104,540 and GBP115,740, respectively. Those weren't even the top lots of the day, though. A 1962 DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible that was once owned by legendary thespian Sir Peter Ustinov sold for GBP1,513,500, while a 1966 DB5 Vantage Convertible went for GBP1,524,700 to claim the top spot. "The quintessentially British marque of Aston Martin attracts interest from enthusiasts across the world, a fact demonstrated here again this year as we took bids from all corners of the globe," said Bonhams' Tim Schofield. "The sale attracted a larger and more cosmopolitan attendance than ever before, achieving an excellent result." The auction was complemented by the Spring Concours held by the Aston Martin Owners Club down the road at Woburn Abbey in nearby Bedfordshire, bringing out a record assembly of 350 Astons old and new. The company used the occasion to mark the UK debut of the new Lagonda Taraf as well. BIGGEST BONHAMS SALE TO DATE AT ASTON MARTIN WORKS - 16th annual Aston Martin Sale sees total transactions top GBP10m - Sir Peter Ustinov-owned DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible nets GBP1.5m - More than 50 sports cars and 170 items of automobilia change hands 11 May 2015, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire: In its 60th anniversary year Aston Martin Works played host to another hugely busy Bonhams Aston Martin Sale on Saturday – with GBP10.3m worth of rare and prized sports cars changing hands. The historic home of the great British luxury brand was the venue for the 16th annual Bonhams Aston Martin Sale, which saw around 50 classic Aston Martins sold. The annual sale is recognised as a globally-significant occasion for Aston Martin collectors and enthusiasts around the world. The 2015 event was the biggest to date, setting a sales total of GBP10,280,275 and witnessing a fascinating and diverse collection of Aston Martin-related automobilia go under the hammer in several hours of exciting and highly-charged bidding.

Question of the Day: What's the greatest British car ever?

The British automotive industry has produced everything from high-production econo-commuters to staggeringly luxurious oligarch-wagons, along the way winning plenty of races and building plenty of beautiful machines. The original Mini led directly to the past half-century of transverse-engine, front-wheel-drive cars built everywhere, the MGB put the sporty little convertible into everyone's reach, and the Morris Oxford became the most beloved motor vehicle in India. So many to choose from, but we want you to pick one. What will it be? Related Video:

Aston Martin Vantage GT8 spied looking all fast on the 'Ring

Aston Martin keeps rolling out new versions of its long-serving Vantage, and we keep not complaining. This latest piece, spotted on the Nurburgring, looks particularly mean in matte black with a nice big wing on the back. We believe it to be the anticipated Vantage GT8, which should be the ultimate version of the V8 Vantage. The GT8 will follow in the footsteps of the Vantage GT12; its smaller engine should pack less of a punch, but the car will be lighter in the nose a V12 Vantage, which should help handling balance. Expect the 4.7-liter V8 to be retuned to produce more power than it has in any other Vantage: currently, the top V8 Vantage tops out at 430 horsepower, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the GT8 boast more like 450. That would still leave plenty of breathing room to the V12 models that start at 565. The aero package looks similar to the GT12's aggressive setup but incorporates several changes, including fewer cooling ducts and a reshaped front splitter, rear wing, and diffuser. Expect the interior to come stripped out like the GT12's. This top V8 Vatage ought to make a fine swan song for the eleven-year-old model line before its AMG-powered, turbocharged successor arrives. But don't expect to see too many of them – sources anticipate just 150 examples to be built, which is more than the 100 units of the GT12, but will still make this a rare bird indeed. Related Video: