2004 DB7 Vantage Volante £44,000
Look past some personalised cosmetics on this well sorted Aston Martin and you’ll find a great car, says Richard Gunn
This DB7 already offers a great deal of performance, style and luxury, being a V12 Aston Martin – and its Vantage and al fresco Volante aspects mean even more car for the money. It also has a low mileage and some distinctive upgrades which, while not to everyone’s taste, do at least make this Aston stand out from the crowd. With just 16,000 or so miles travelled over the last 14 years and less than 40,000 in total, plus an organised ringbinder containing many bills, it’s not surprising that this DB7 still feels strong and powerful. The emphasis is very much on the latter – this 420bhp machine has an immense amount of muscle that’s easily unleashed by prodding the accelerator.
On rural Norfolk roads, we didn’t come close to the car’s epic potential. There’s no hesitation under acceleration, and if you can listen beyond the ferocious snarl of the V12, there are no untoward noises from under the bonnet. The steering is sharp, the automatic gearbox responsive, and the brakes – upgraded to Brembo GTA spec – incredibly effective.
Speaking of GTAS, those who know their Astons may spot the mesh grille, five-spoke alloys and badging are from a GTA – something never built by Bloxham in convertible form. This car has been personalised with some GTA cosmetic and mechanical upgrades, such as the grooved brakes already mentioned.
Elsewhere, the metallic black paint is excellent, with just the odd small blemish to show the passage of 18 years. The hood is free from any issues and operates quickly and quietly, while the panel gaps are as tight and even as you’d expect from a premium manufacturer. Tyres are Bridgestones – again GTA spec – with 2014 items up front and 2012 ones at the rear – we’d advise replacing the latter.
The interior, in black leather with a burr oak or elm wood finish to the fascia, looks original. It’s in the sort of condition that you’d expect from a car of this mileage, which means some light patina to the seats and occasional minor scratches apparent in places on the wood. The carpets – also a forgiving black – have minimal wear. All the gauges and equipment function as they should, including the original Becker Traffic Pro audio and navigation system. The boot is as well presented as the rest of the interior, and has a fire extinguisher fitted.
The engine bay is extremely clean but also somewhat customised. DB7 V12 engines are usually quite monochrome affairs, but this has its front panel and central cover (also adorned with a ‘6.0 POWER’ badge) finished in red, with some pipework and supports additionally picked out in yellow. It’s more the sort of thing you’d expect on something Italian rather than British, and makes we wonder what Andy Brind – the Aston Martin engine inspector responsible for checking this engine off, according to the plaque on the engine cover – might have made of it all. It’s well executed though. There’s more red and yellow highlighting underneath the car, as well as comprehensive undersealing.