Tuesday 14th April 2015

Aston Martin DB7: Spotted

Catch 'em while you can - DB7s can't be this cheap for long!

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Although often cited as the best example of market forces around the used car market often baffles the casual observer. Sometimes it even befuddles those who make a living from trying to predict what it will do next. It's the best part of a decade since the Aston Martin DB7 dropped through the £20K barrier and ever since then we've been told that they can't fall any further and values are likely to take off soon.

Strawberries and cream anyone?

It hasn't happened, certainly not for six-cylinder cars. And it's entirely possible that it never will, with the large number of early DB9s priced in the low-to-mid 30s seeming to act as brake on the values of the less desirable versions of the DB7. Which is why we're categorically not suggesting you should consider this as a speculative punt on some tax-free capital growth.

No, you should look at this DB7 as being exactly what it is - the cheapest way to get yourself into what remains, more than two decades after it was introduced, one of the finest-looking British sports cars ever produced. And one that carries the badge of a truly iconic brand.

It's no exaggeration to say that the DB7 was the car that saved Aston, and certainly the one that set it on course to become the company it is today. By the early 1990s the brand, although owned by Ford, was building diminishing numbers of ultra expensive GT cars. Even James Bond had moved onto driving BMWs.

It's certainly ageing gracefully

The DB7 was designed to find a whole new audience, but was designed and engineered on a shoestring budget by TWR around a heavily revised version of the Jaguar XJS platform. It was styled by an ex-Ford designer called Ian Callum, who fitted in working on it around TWR's other projects, including a bus and construction equipment. It was shown for the first time in Geneva in 1993 and was an immediate hit, giving both the impetus and budgets necessary to create the 'VH' generation cars that succeeded it.

Bringing us to this one, a 1995 automatic coupe with 85,500 miles, full history and the Meteorite Silver paint that suits the elegant shape so well. The magnolia hide of the seats looks good too, although the burgundy dashboard, doors and carpeting on this one might take a bit more getting used to. And, like every DB7, you'll have to stare at a fair bit of mid-90s Ford switchgear alongside the hand-built stuff.

OK, it's not a V12 but it's still rapid enough

The DB7 is nothing like as sharp a steer as modern Astons, and that supercharged six needs to be worked hard to deliver its best and can't match the sometimes creamy, sometimes snarly responses of the later V12 versions. But even with half the cylinders and a slusher the DB7 is a rapid and comfortable cruiser with the advantage of costing less to keep in fettle than the V12. It won't be cheap to run, of course. But it's also hard to see a car like this losing any money if properly looked after.

And as a curly-haired former TV presenter once put it, is there any more beautiful phrase in the English language than "let's take the Aston"?

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ASTON MARTIN DB7
Engine: 3,239cc supercharged 6-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 335@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 360@3,000rpm
0-60: 5.6sec
Top speed: 165mph
MPG: 16.4
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1995
Recorded mileage: 85,500
Price new: £78,500
Yours for: £19,950

Original advert here

 

 

[Lowtimer]

V12 version for me, I think.

[Lowtimer]

I agree the mark 1 XK8 makes a lot more practical sense and is a good car, and visually seems to be aging very gracefully. But in the Aston's favour you can't get the Jag with a V12, and especially you can't get it with a manual box and a V12, which is a very special combination.

I would take a nice late 4.2 auto XK8 over a straight six auto DB7 though.

[Lowtimer]

Can't really argue with that.

[Lowtimer]

Mainly because an XK is much less likely to make you depressed or bankrupt.