Is it time you owned an Aston Martin Vulcan?

At £1.8m, you had to really like Astons to own a Vulcan. Missed a chance to buy in ’15? Simon de Burton has found one available

Just 24 Aston Martin Vulcans were made – each representing an hour of the Le Mans enduro

Just 24 Aston Martin Vulcans were made – each representing an hour of the Le Mans enduro

Kaaimans

There can be few more genteel supercar showrooms than the one situated in the Orangery at Tollerton Hall, the magnificent Nottinghamshire stately home owned by entrepreneur and avid car collector Ian Kershaw.

In business since 2017 and co-owned by Kershaw and manager Gary Tolson, Kaaimans has established a well-deserved reputation for stocking and selling some of the best and most interesting modern and classic collector cars on the market. Which probably explains why the 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan pictured here is not the first but the sixth example of the 24 cars built to have passed through the Orangery doors.

Recaro seats

Recaro seats

Kaaimans

Launched at the erstwhile Geneva Motor Show in 2015, the Vulcan drew gasps from punters and industry figures alike when the wraps came off, with its spectacular lines penned by Aston design boss Marek Reichman, carbon-fibre bodywork and monstrous 7-litre, V12 engine.

Despite lacking any form of forced induction, the Vulcan’s lump can churn out more than 800bhp, a figure that can be adjusted down to either 675bhp or 500bhp from the cockpit, depending on the driver’s ability and thrill threshold.

7-litre V12 engine

7-litre V12 engine

Intended for track-only use, the Vulcan puts its mighty power down through a six-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox and carbon-fibre prop shaft, while stopping the beast is taken care of by giant, carbon-fibre brake discs gripped by six-piston calipers.

Although based on the road-going One-77 hypercar, the Vulcan’s weight was trimmed by 150kg to 1350kg, with its circuit-ready credentials being enhanced by fixed windows, built-in air jacks and a demountable, race-orientated steering wheel heavy with electronics.

racing steering wheel

Racing steering wheel

Kaaimans

A shameless plaything, the Vulcan was never intended to be driven on the road (although UK engineering firm RML Group did convert one car to be street legal) and doesn’t qualify for any existing race series – but, as a Top Trumps track day weapon it remains difficult to beat.

Originally costing £1.8m (or thrown in for free for the buyer of the £50m penthouse atop the Aston Martin Residences in Miami), Vulcan values have stood firm, and the one on offer here is possibly among the most desirable since it’s the penultimate example built. It is also the only one finished in Volcano Red Metallic, while the business-like interior is trimmed in a combination of black and Spicy Red leather.

Chassis 23 out of 24, as seen on TV

Chassis 23 out of 24, as seen on TV

Kaaimans

Another plus point (or not, depending on your view) is that this particular car was the one driven by Jeremy Clarkson in an episode of The Grand Tour in 2016 – and, if you’re the type of owner who likes to get down to the nitty-gritty in the pit garage, it’s also one of the few Vulcans to be fitted with the Castrol Nexcel quick-change oil pod. Although, since Kaaimans is offering the buyer the services of a full support team (which includes an engineer who worked on the Vulcan project) it’s probably easier to put your feet up in the luxury motorhome with a cup of tea and a biscuit while waiting for the next track session.

2016 Aston Martin Vulcan
On sale with Kaaimans International, Tollerton, Nottinghamshire, £POA. kaaimans.com


Max out with a signed open-top Citroën

  • Shape yourself and you might still get a few sunshine-soaked drives in 2025 in this recently refreshed 1968 Citroen DS21 Decapotable Ivanoff, inset, – which has a link to F1. Max Verstappen was its passenger in 2019 on a drivers’ parade at Spa, where he signed the glove compartment. It’s on sale with Motorvault in Loughborough for £155k.

  • Online car-buying platform Carwow has published its annual driver power survey, where thousands of new car owners share their thoughts on such things as reliability, interior space, safety features, value and driving experience. For the second year, Subaru is king of the makers; Tesla drops from the Top 10 to 11th; and MG sits last in 31st.
  • In the hands of Elio de Angelis this Lotus 87, below, started 10 GPs in 1981, with a highest-placed finish of fourth at Monza. It then became the sole 87 to be uprated to B specification for ’82, where it was raced by Elio in the South African GP (eighth). Chassis 87/3 is race-ready, with a rebuilt DFV and overhauled gearbox – and, of course, it has the best livery in F1 history. It’s at Wetherby’s speedmaster, £POA.

  • Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders says that UK used-car sales are back to pre-pandemic levels. Four million units changed hands in the first half of ’25 Top seller? Ford Fiesta.
  • The highest price paid for a UK numberplate was smashed at Bonham’s Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in July. The late Rolls and Bentley dealer Jack Barclay’s JB 1 sold for £608,600, beating £518,480 paid in 2014 for 25 O. LG