Tuesday 28th July 2015

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S: Spotted

The finest of the modern V12 Astons?

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By now you will probably have seen the latest trailer for Spectre. In it there's a better peek at the DB10, the latest Bond Aston. Rather excellent it looks too, complete even with one of those manual gearbox things.

And the concept was shown in 1998!

Anyhow, what better excuse to search out another Aston preferred by 007? It could have been the DBS - certainly the films are better - but when this kind of Vanquish is for sale there's really no other alternative. It of course was the star of Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan's last 007 adventure and, arguably, the best bit of the film. Yes, it wasn't an actual Vanquish used but it still looked damn good skidding across a frozen lake.

Moreover, the Vanquish is a very significant car in the history of Aston Martin. It was the first of the modern Astons, with styling that has clearly influenced subsequent cars and new technology like the paddleshift gearbox and carbon/aluminium construction. You have to wonder where Aston would be without cars like the Vanquish, plus of course the DB9 and V8 Vantage that followed.

The Vanquish also deserves some retrospective appreciation because it still looks magnificent. The original Project Vantage Concept was actually shown in January 1998 (!) and changed little before making production as the Vanquish. Assertive and powerful yet still restrained enough and classy, it really is a triumph of design.

Works manual conversion?

One last thing - this is no ordinary Vanquish. It's an Ultimate Edition, one of the last 50 Vanquishes made and one of only 20 in right-hand drive. Based on the Vanquish S, each Ultimate Edition was painted Ultimate Black (natch) with some fancy leather and a sill plaque inside. It was announced at the same time as the Works manual conversions so, really, it would be rude not to have the job done...

The Ultimate cost £182,095 back in 2007; this car is offered at POA but a figure above £200K would seem likely. The last non-Ultimate Vanquishes are £190K with more miles and without the limited-edition status. For the look without the provenance, very nice early Vanquishes are available at less than £60K.

With the Aston-AMG era imminent, will there be increased demand for the limited run models of the past decade or so? Along with the Ultimate Edition, cars like the manual only V12 Vantages must surely have some appeal to collectors. But really this deserves a few more grand tours before it's tucked away and preserved. There's only 4,000 miles recorded after all. Which way to the Dolomites?

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ASTON MARTIN V12 VANQUISH S ULTIMATE EDITION
Engine: 5,935cc V12
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 527@7,000rpm 
Torque (lb ft): 425@5,800rpm
MPG: 14.9
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2007
Recorded mileage: 4,000
Price new: £182,095
Yours for: £POA

View the original advert here.

 

[chris333]

Last of the Newport Pagnell hand-built Aston's. Yes please!

[chris333]

Armen said:

We are the very happy owners of a late model.

A 2007 Vanquish S, the one which was shown at the Geneva Motorshow 2007.
Besides, on the door sill plates you can read "Handbuilt in England for Geneva Motorshow 2007".
The car color is Tempest Blue and our car (chassis 2442) is apparently the unique and only Vanquish/S built in that color.
The car is in the family since 5 years and it is absolutely STUNNING.

Why the Vanquish (and especially the S version of 520 bhp / 528 PS) ?

- timeless design mixing charisma and sexiness
- the last ever of Newport Pagnell factory since the DB4 in 1958
- only 2578 ever made (1086 of them were Vanquish S), so a pretty rare car
- in the case of the S, more than 200 MPH of top speed, one of the fastest AM ever
- one of the most beautiful engine sounds ever, no other modern V12 Aston can beat it
- a very raw car without DSC, only a limited slip differential and traction control
- the gearbox is not an automatic with torque converter, it is a manual with electro-hydraulic clutch, which allows you to feel greatly the car while changing gears
- iconic status because the Vanquish back in 2001 was a complete new model
- it announced the following models of the current range
- while all new modern Aston are good cars, they all look like the same
- the new Vanquish 2013/2015 (which, to me, doesn't deserve the name at all...) remains a "tuned" DB9 2013, not at all a new model as the Vanquish was 14 years ago
- it was mixing craftsmanship and modern technologies
- it appeared in James Bond "Die Another Day" in 2002

The Vanquish/S (2001-2007) will remain as one of the most iconic Aston ever made.

People are realizing more and more that the Vanquish is something quiet special.

I think any car enthusiast would fall in love with the Vanquish at the first driving.

The way it drives, the way it sounds, the way it looks… this car is just MAGICAL.

If the car is driven well, the clutch can last at least 60 000 miles (tested and approved by one of my friends, 2002 Vanquish owner since new)

The value between an early Vanquish and a late S is around the double.

Values are constantly increasing... Catch them while you can










The car at Geneva Motorshow 2007 :

You have completely summed up the specialness of the Vanquish. And yours is just a fabulous colour. Stunning!