• Excellent all-round condition

• Extensive service history

• Low mileage example

History is littered with ‘cars that saved companies’ and in Aston Martin’s case that car was the DB7. 

As with many limited volume manufacturers Aston struggled in the 1970s and 1980s as it was becoming increasingly difficult to make a profit with low production models but it was rescued in the late 1980s when the automotive giant Ford took a controlling stake in the company. The Virage was the first model produced under Ford ownership but the next new Aston Martin, the DB7, was a far more important machine.

Launched in 1994 it was initially powered by a six-cylinder engine and received excellent reviews. The range-topping model that we have here today is the DB7 Vantage, launched in 1999, and equipped with a sophisticated 48-valve 5.9-litre V12 that developed a very healthy 420bhp. 

It could be specified with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed auto and in addition to the powertrain changes the DB7 Vantage had more aggressive styling, with a bigger front grille, new fog, side and indicator lights, bigger brakes and stylish 18-inch alloys. 

It was a glorious GT, equally at home spearing across continents or tackling the back roads and today good examples are becoming increasingly coveted and attractive to collectors. 

This DB7 Vantage was specified in Stornaway silver with a Charcoal and Ivory interior and the walnut trim package and was equipped with the Touchtronic automatic transmission which suits the car’s character well. First registered in February 2001 it has had a total of seven registered keepers.

Its first registered keeper was Aston Martin Lagonda with its first non-Aston owner taking over the car in late 2001. Prior to the current keeper purchasing the car it was owned by a Surrey resident for four years who used the car sparingly and prior to that the previous keeper owned it for 10 years. 

The current owner hasn’t owned the DB7 for long but since buying the car he’s discovered that his height (he’s rather tall!) and a bad back mean that he’s not able to get fully comfortable in the driver’s seat so sadly he’s looking for a new custodian for the DB7.  

The advice when buying an Aston is to look for one that’s been well looked after and regularly maintained and this DB7 has excellent provenance and history with 17 stamps in its service book, some from main dealers and some from Aston Martin marque specialists.

There are a number of receipts to accompany the DB7 detailing recent works along with 14 old MoT certificates. Back in 2019 the DB7 failed its MoT and had some advisory items and these were all attended to by the owner at the time with a receipt detailing new rear suspension arms and a thorough cleaning an application of underseal to the vehicle’s underside. It has passed subsequent MoTs with no advisories with the current test running to July 2022.

Despite not owning the DB7 for all that long the current owner has lavished love and attention on the car with receipts in the last couple of months running to over £4,500. Work included new fuel pumps, strainers, filters and relays along with a new filter for the engine fuel feed hose pipe and a front to rear fuel line. At the same time new heater matrix hoses were fitted too.

Further expenditure to keep the DB7 in tip top condition has included a refresh of the nose cone area with the headlamp lenses being refurbished by Aston Martin and fitted with new metal brackets. There were also new metal rail support brackets, fixings and a foam liner for nose cone as they had perished. Other recent items include refurbished and powder coated alloy wheels and a new battery. All in all, it would seem the DB7 Vantage has wanted for nothing in its life and presents very well today.

There is a V5C in the owner’s name along with two sets of keys. Please note that the private plate seen in the pictures does not come with the car and the DB7 will be sold with its original number plate.

One of the things that really sets an Aston apart from more run of the mill machinery is their sumptuous interiors and this example doesn’t disappoint with its glorious Ivory and Charcoal leather upholstery and black Wilton carpeting. Overall, it’s in excellent order, too, with just some minor wear that’s to be expected on a vehicle of this age. 

The leather seats are free from any rips or tears and bar some minor wear to the driver’s seat base and side bolster it presents very well. There’s a very small and minor stain to the driver’s side rear seat. The door trim panels are in good order with just some minor marking around the driver’s side interior door handle area. The walnut interior trim still retains its deep lustre although it should be noted that there is a small crack to the section aft of the gear lever. 

The carpets are in good condition and overall the cockpit is a superb place to spend wheel time. The Alcantara headlining is in excellent order and adds to the overall ambiance of the interior. All the switches and buttons appear to be in excellent order and the owner reports they all operate correctly, including the air conditioning. A Pioneer Bluetooth head unit has been fitted to allow for music streaming and hands-free calling.

The boot area is in excellent condition with clean, well-fitting carpets. The original tools are stowed in the underfloor area and are present and correct.

The Stornoway silver coachwork presents very well and the shut lines all appear to be tight and consistent. 

The flanks are free from any obvious ripples or damage and there’s a nice sheen to the paint that demonstrates the care that has gone into looking after the car during its life. It’s not perfect though, with a few very small blemishes that are to be expected on a vehicle of this age. There are a couple of small chips to the paint on its flanks and there are a couple of small chips to the rear bumper that have been touched in neatly.

The doors still close with a reassuring ‘thunk’ and the frameless windows drop down a few millimetres as they open to stop the glass catching on the door seals. The wheels are in excellent order having recently been reconditioned and powder coated and they’re fitted with Bridgestone tyres, SO2s at the front and Potenzas at the rear, all with decent tread depths. 

The Aston Martin-logoed brake callipers look very smart behind the wheels, too. As far as we could see the underside of the DB7 is in good solid order but due to the car’s low-slung stance it’s hard to fully view the Vantage’s underpinnings.

As the service history attests to it would appear that this DB7 has never wanted for anything and the owner reports that it drives very well with the V12 pulling well and the gearbox changing smoothly. 

The DB7 is fitted with an aftermarket sports exhaust and it sounds suitably throaty and menacing when started. While we were photographing the car it started first time every time and idled cleanly and smoothly.

The DB7 is one of the most attractive Astons currently available. In Vantage guise you get that superlative V12 combined with drop dead gorgeous styling and a sumptuous interior. Compared to some other V12-engined machinery from this era they’re also a bit of a bargain, too. 

What’s particularly impressive about this example is its very good overall condition, its low mileage and excellent history. Bar a couple of very minor imperfections it presents in lovely order and is ready to take up its role as a superb GT once again in the hands of its lucky new owner.

We’ll admit to being ever so slightly jealous…