• Finished in the rare combination of metallic red with magnolia interior and Speedline wheels
• The recipient of £7500 of mechanical work by Trinity Engineering in 2013
• MoTed for 12 months • Heated front and rear seats
• Recently serviced
The Appeal
From 1974, Aston Martin’s model line consisted solely of large V8-powered cars which, though excellent in their own right, were often compared to American muscle cars; they deviated somewhat from the quietly elegant Aston Martins of the 1950s and ’60s. When the DB7 was launched in 1994, it was a return to form after 20 years.
The DB7 was the natural heir to the DB6 – graceful and easy on the eye, and opulent without ostentation. Designed by the celebrated Ian Callum, the DB7 was the ideal Aston for the ’90s, modern-looking but with an obvious visual debt to the ’60s Astons.
The fact that it was ignored by the producers of the James Bond films in favour of three BMWs should probably be regarded as one of the greatest mistakes in cinematic history.
Apart from its urbane looks, the DB7 was a 165mph car with its 3.2-litre supercharged straight-six, so it would’ve been game for a good car chase.
Still, let’s celebrate what is rather than what never was. Although it was one of Aston Martin’s best-selling models when it was discontinued in 2003, production only ran to around 7,500 cars, of which around 3,000 were straight-sixes, so it has always been rare.
This one is especially rare, though, being finished, we believe, in Toro Red with cream interior. A similar colour scheme was chosen by Elton John for his Volante, but there certainly are not many others around.
It also happens to be a great-looking specimen enhanced further by the sporty Speedline Alessio wheels, which are quite rare on DB7s. It could just be that the specification of this car is unique.
• Supplied new in 1998 to Charles Hurst Ltd. of Boucher Road, Belfast, and originally registered OAZ 7667
• Imported into Britain and registered as P97 YHB in 1998, residing near Derby for the remainder of the 1990s
• Purchased by the vendor in 2012
• Extensive work completed on the subframe in 2013
• Sold with the current V5, original Aston Martin owner’s folder (including Owner’s Guide, Radio/Cassette Player manual, Service Records and Dealer Directory) and Warranty Literature, a run of MoT certificates from 2011 to the present and a collection of invoices
• The subframe work by Trinity Engineering was photographically documented, and photographs are supplied on a disc
• Attractive and unusual combination of red and cream
• Believed to be entirely original and in excellent condition
• Upgraded with modern radio/CD player
The interior of this DB7 is as sumptuous as every Aston Martin’s should be, but with the bonus that it’s also finished in the rare colour combination of dark red and cream.
For what is believed to be entirely original, its condition is truly remarkable. It appears hardly to have suffered at all from the ravages of time and much of it could still pass for new.
The leather seats have aged very nicely, with just a little bit of wear evident on the driver’s seat. There are some light marks on the rear seats, but they and the front passenger seat both look so good that they can’t possibly have seen much use. The rich red carpets are in excellent condition and extremely clean, too.
The dash and centre console contribute to the sense of luxury with their tastefully restrained application of walnut, which retains a wonderful depth and shine. The rest of the interior is upholstered with oxblood leather which, across the doors, dash and steering wheel, appears to be in outstanding condition all over.
The car is full of little luxuries, like power windows, power seats, heater and air-conditioning, a cigarette lighter and a modern radio/CD player fitted as an upgrade instead of the original cassette player. It all promises to make any drive in this car a pleasant and relaxing experience.
The boot is in excellent condition with its soft grey carpet kept very clean. Lifting it up reveals the spare wheel, which has probably never been used, and some assorted tools.
• Metallic grey Speedline Allessio split-rim wheels are another rare touch
• Comes with a tonneau cover and an indoor car cover
You can’t beat a bit of metallic paint under sunny skies, and red is a colour which works well on almost anything, so it’s no wonder that this DB7 looks so good with its roof down on a bright day.
However, it seems most buyers were of a more conservative mindset and gravitated towards more traditional Aston Martin colours in the Silver Birch, Sage Green and Pacific Blue vein, meaning very few ended up in this striking red.
It is probably the original paint and hence, at 25 years old, it sports a few cosmetic blemishes. These are nothing more serious than a few small chips and scratches, and most would probably vanish with a quick detailing session.
The five-spoke Speedline wheels are an attractive feature which enhance the DB7’s sporty looks. The Allessio wheel was fitted to many performance cars in the 1990s, especially Porsches, but DB7s only ever sported them in relatively small numbers.
Their metallic grey finish makes them more unusual still, but it complements the red nicely. They are in very good cosmetic condition, albeit with some superficial blemishes and some mild scuffing around the rims.
The electrically-operated buff hood is in generally very good condition, albeit with a few small tears in places.
However, the vendor assures us that it is completely water-tight.
• Excellent MoT record from 2011 onwards, with a brand-new MoT valid until May 2023
The DB7’s mechanical condition is excellent, judging by how it runs and drives.
It is a civilised performance car, meaning that it has a throaty exhaust note which is audible as you drive but not overbearing. Although it has a CD player, the car really makes its own music as you drive along, the drive itself being relaxing and largely effortless thanks to power-steering and an automatic gearbox.
The service record shows that the odometer reading of 56,000 miles is genuine, and the combination of light use and regular maintenance is probably what’s kept the mechanical parts in such good shape.
Only on two occasions in the last 10 years has major work been required. The first of these occurred in 2013 when Aston Martin specialist Trinity Engineering overhauled the steering, front and rear suspension and brakes, as well as completing some chassis repairs. All in all, along with a general service and some other smaller jobs, the work came to £6295 before VAT.
On a separate occasion, £2508 was spent having the head gasket replaced, a large percentage of the cost coming from the fact that a new gasket had to be made.
The Aston Martin has been MoTed every year for the last 10 years and has a fresh MoT valid until May 2023 with the following advisories:
• Nearside front and rear wheels slightly distorted
• Slight play in nearside front wheel bearing
• Rear drive-shaft universal joint worn, but not excessively
The Aston Martin DB7 stands out as one of the most beautiful designs of the 1990s and was probably unique for its era in being such an elegant and understated high-performance car.
This car is all the better for its rare finish, which will surely make it a talking point at any supercar show or Aston Martin Owners’ Club event.
We’re satisfied that it’s in good mechanical shape, having obviously been cherished by all its owners, with only a few small things to rectify.
Best of all, it’s a convertible and summer’s coming, so why not treat yourself to this DB7 and enjoy the weather in luxury and style?
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Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
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1997 Aston Martin DB7 Volante
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