RE: Aston Martin DB7: Spotted

[jakeb]

soad said:

The DB7 i6 is the most related to the XJS, since it was released first...
It was built on a XJS platform, sharing front and rear suspension (which was modified).

Then you had the GT model - DB7 GT.
Basically the GT is what the DB7 SHOULD have been from day one (and then improved upon).

Zagato models must still be worth a small fortune?

A chap who used to work for Lotus suggested to me that the GT was developed from some modifications made by Lotus. The story was that when Lotus was developing the Vanquish, aston gave them a DB7 V12 chase car but they decided they didn't like the handling so gave it the once over.

Whether true or not, having driven them both round milbrook handling circuit, the difference is night and day

Edited by jakeb on Thursday 16th April 05:37

Edited by jakeb on Thursday 16th April 06:12

[clougher95]

braddo said:

That's the thought process I've gone through.

That said, I still love the look of the original DB7 and its wheels. A manual 1995 car still appeals. I must be in a minority though, as all the cars for sale have later wheels fitted.

When the cars were new, after a year or so of production Aston went from the big 'disc' style wheel covers, so the smaller ones seen on the car at the start of the topic, and all DB7's you see for sale. At the time, Aston realised how dated the big discs looked, and offered all DB7 owners to come into the factory and have them swapped over to the more modern, smaller style for free. That's why you don't see any of the early type for sale.

My dad was lucky to find some cheap, from a specialist - they had a set that had been lingering in a box for years, I think he paid £40. Since then people have offered hundreds for them, and there's frequently wanted ads for them in the owners club mag. The only set I've seen sold in years was at an auction, and they made a few hundred quid.

An early 94/95 manual with the discs would be a great buy, soon a car with a rare spec like that will surely be worth more than the thousands of Vantages for sale, no matter how much better they are to drive.

[mrtwisty]

Adz The Rat said:

I agree, not a beautiful car at all.

Combine that with awful cheap feel inside, dreadful to drive, not very quick.....

I would be gutted if I was given one.

I actually prefer these (the outside of them anyway ) to the later Astons, more elegant to my eyes. That interior is pretty nasty for a premium gt car though (the middle of the steering wheel looks like a fat, flayed, headless baby)

Oh and Adz - you'd be 'gutted' if you were given one? Like, for free? Riiigghhht....

[braddo]

clougher95 said:

An early 94/95 manual with the discs would be a great buy, soon a car with a rare spec like that will surely be worth more than the thousands of Vantages for sale, no matter how much better they are to drive.

I'm inclined to agree. They really were jaw-droppingly handsome cars when launched and so will become iconic - for their looks on their own merit, and also for being the template that Asons have been styled upon since.

[V8LM]

clougher95 said:

When the cars were new, after a year or so of production Aston went from the big 'disc' style wheel covers, so the smaller ones seen on the car at the start of the topic, and all DB7's you see for sale. At the time, Aston realised how dated the big discs looked, and offered all DB7 owners to come into the factory and have them swapped over to the more modern, smaller style for free. That's why you don't see any of the early type for sale.

My dad was lucky to find some cheap, from a specialist - they had a set that had been lingering in a box for years, I think he paid £40. Since then people have offered hundreds for them, and there's frequently wanted ads for them in the owners club mag. The only set I've seen sold in years was at an auction, and they made a few hundred quid.

An early 94/95 manual with the discs would be a great buy, soon a car with a rare spec like that will surely be worth more than the thousands of Vantages for sale, no matter how much better they are to drive.

'94 manual car (009 in fact):



This was the first car to have the Alessio split rims put on too:

[RichB]

jakeb said:

The story was that when Lotus was developing the Vanquish...

I didn't realise Lotus had input to the Vanquish.

[braddo]

clougher95 said:

...the big 'disc' style wheel covers

Are the initial wheels on a DB7 essentially these but with a big disc cover on top (a bit like the E34 M5's turbine wheels)?

[clougher95]

braddo said:

I'm inclined to agree. They really were jaw-droppingly handsome cars when launched and so will become iconic - for their looks on their own merit, and also for being the template that Asons have been styled upon since.

I'm glad you agree, there's a 1993 Autocar magazine with a Chiltern Green DB7, with big wheel discs, pictured in a MIRA wind tunnel on the cover. It was this magazine (first time the car had been shown on a magazine, I believe) that made my dad initially want one, in fact I still have the magazine he bought 22 years ago. His is the one on the front of the Vantage magazine I posted on the previous page, Chiltern green with big wheel discs (had to be the same)!

My thoughts are that, as times moves on, people will look at them as a (modern) classic, rather than just a comparatively cheap sports car, such as a V8 Vantage, which is obviously much more refined and better to drive. When this shift in people's perception of the car happens, then I believe the values of looked after examples will start to climb, and they'll be recognised for what they are, instead of what people want them to be, which is when the early examples will gain support. I still cringe when I think back to the Wheeler Dealers episode with the i6 on, that was a truly shoddy example that they ruined even further with attempt to modernise and 'improve' the car with various blingy parts - its examples like this that are keeping the values low.

It's very much a love or hate car I find. Never heard anyone say anything bad about the actual exterior styling, but the interior and wheel discs certainly do divide opinion. I love them though, and if my dad ever thought of selling his I know I'd immediately be selling everything I own and running down to the bank, can't think of any car i'd rather buy for £25k.

[clougher95]

braddo said:

Are the initial wheels on a DB7 essentially these but with a big disc cover on top (a bit like the E34 M5's turbine wheels)?

Yeah, it's the same wheel - but the small centre cap with the logo on comes off, and the larger ones fit on exactly the same. They divide opinion like nothing else, some argue they look dated and cheap, some pine after them as they represent the styling in the earliest and purest form.

[swisstoni]

I think they will have to spend a bit more time in limbo before they start to look like classics. They will do, and aren't bad looking at all, but to me they were just a stepping stone to the DB9.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

A pal bought (stole more like such was it's price!) one earlier this year and having spent a couple of grand tidying it up has a V12 grand tourer that owes him less than £23k with one of the most enigmatic badges on the front.

Tremendous purchase, especially given it's USP.

[V8LM]

RichB said:

didn't realise Lotus had input to the Vanquish.

Yup, the chassis tub and what became the VH architecture.

[RichB]

V8LM said:

RichB said:

didn't realise Lotus had input to the Vanquish.

Yup, the chassis tub and what became the VH architecture.

Ah right. I knew the V/H platform was extruded aluminium and I believe glued/bonded like the Elsie but didn't realise Lotus helped.

[killingjoker]

These are cheap at the moment. Values will rise on these. It's an Aston and now heading the into Heritage timeline. Anyone who says otherwise is being a bit daft to be honest. 4.3 Vantages & early DB9's are also cheap. The same will happen with those. I remember the "unloved" Langonda wedge, and some of the V cars being cheap to buy around 10 years ago. Values on these has risen and will continue to do so. And we've been through 'austerity' so imagine the market as confidence returns. The DB4, 5, and (unfairly IMHO 'not so popular')6 are now out of most normal peoples budgets. Think what you like but past model trends show i am right.

Edited by killingjoker on Friday 24th April 10:19

[swisstoni]

Saw one yesterday locally. They are starting to look small and elegant compared to moderns. That's a good sign.

[Neil1300r]

killingjoker said:

These are cheap at the moment. Values will rise on these. It's an Aston and now heading the into Heritage timeline. Anyone who says otherwise is being a bit daft to be honest. 4.3 Vantages & early DB9's are also cheap. The same will happen with those. I remember the "unloved" Langonda wedge, and some of the V cars being cheap to buy around 10 years ago. Values on these has risen and will continue to do so. And we've been through 'austerity' so imagine the market as confidence returns. The DB4, 5, and (unfairly IMHO 'not so popular')6 are now out of most normal peoples budgets. Think what you like but past model trends show i am right.

Edited by killingjoker on Friday 24th April 10:19

You're forgetting hat things like the DB4,5 were made in their hundreds. Lagonda wedge was IIRC less than 700 made. DB7 and Gaydon cars were / are made in their thousands. Personally don't think DB7, DB9, Vantages will see significnat price rises in the next few years as there are too many of them.

[Davey S2]

soad said:

Actually, not bad.

I recall Rio Ferdinand had one (when at Leeds?).

John Barnes also had a burgundy one I used to see a lot when I was in Uni in Liverpool.

I never really got these though. The GT was ok but the standard ones do nothing for me.

I recall an article Rowan Atkinson did on one he had on loan where his neighbour saw it then asked him why he had bought a Ford Probe.

The interior was also a joke with cr@ppy plastic everywhere. IIRC the plastic interior door handle used to often break and Aston charged about £90 for a replacement but it was identical to the door pull in a Nissan Primera where a replacement was £14.

[swisstoni]

Tell all that to Ford Escort owners.

[anonymous-user]

Davey S2 said:

IIRC the plastic interior door handle used to often break and Aston charged about £90 for a replacement but it was identical to the door pull in a Nissan Primera where a replacement was £14.

Looks like a Mk1 MX5 handle to me, and they aren't really known for fragility.

[Davey S2]

dme123 said:

Davey S2 said:

IIRC the plastic interior door handle used to often break and Aston charged about £90 for a replacement but it was identical to the door pull in a Nissan Primera where a replacement was £14.

Looks like a Mk1 MX5 handle to me, and they aren't really known for fragility.

You are correct. Still a cr@p part to have on a car of that price. The rear lights are from a Mazda as well apparently