How do you mark the end of an era?

When the shutters began to close on Aston Martin’s legendary Newport Pagnell works in 1999, most expected the hand-built tradition to simply fade into the history books. But behind those doors, a secret project was underway. Driven by Kingsley Riding-Felce—a man who rose from engine builder to Managing Director over a 38-year career—Aston Martin produced just eight unique, highly prized motor cars. They were the ultimate expression of the 1990's supercharged Vantage, built for a handful of loyal clients who demanded the impossible: a V600 convertible.

Now, Kingsley Riding-Felce and Nicholas Mee—who both started at the firm in the very same month—revisit the birth of the V8 Vantage Volante ‘Special Edition.’ These were the final coach-built V8’s to emerge from Newport Pagnell before the all-new Vanquish took the mantle. Join us at Essendonbury Farm for an exclusive look at the origin of these eight exceptional motor cars, featuring rare insights and a treasure trove of never-before-seen factory photographs.

This is the story of the ‘Short Chassis Volante’—the most powerful convertible in the world at the time, and perhaps the best-kept secret in Aston Martin’s 113-year history. This is 'The Grand Finale’.