RE: Aston Martin DB7 GT: Spotted

RE: Aston Martin DB7 GT: Spotted

Tuesday 18th October 2016

Aston Martin DB7 GT: Spotted

Well if you prefer a more traditional Aston V12 than the DB11...



New V12 Aston Martins don't come along all that often, so they're certainly worth celebrating. Understandably there's been plenty of interest in the DB11, from its motor show debut to the first drive to our recent 911 Turbo twin test. It marks a bold new future for Aston, with turbochargers, automatic gearboxes and more dramatic styling. And powder blue paint...

Can we be picky and have the standard wheels?
Can we be picky and have the standard wheels?
So how about some rose-tinted reminiscing? It's not like the Aston back catalogue is short of legendary V12s, the problem being choosing one. The DB9 is arguably too obvious a choice, the DBS and Virage closely related and therefore dismissed by association. And we featured a Vanquish a little while back. But a DB7? Now we're talking...

Moreover, this is not any old DB7. It's a DB7 GT, the very rare run out special that was, going off the reviews, probably the best DB7 produced.

Beyond the visual embellishments (the mesh grille, larger spoiler, bonnet bulges and badges), the GT featured modifications including (but not limited to) more power and torque, a louder exhaust and revised suspension. Back when PH drove the DB7 GT in 2003, it was described as "well up for a bit of B-road blasting", with particular praise for the brakes, steering and - wouldn't you know - the noise from the V12. As a final farewell for the DB7, it fitted the bill perfectly. Much like the DB9 GT did 13 years later, in fact.

Unsurprisingly then the last DB7 remains rather in demand; it was only ever offered as a coupe, not many were made and the manual is the more desirable transmission. Plus if the colour combination the DB11 was supplied in really doesn't do it for you, what about Nero Black with burgundy? Suits rather well. This one has only covered 20,000 miles since 2003 with a full Aston service history to back that up - if you want a DB7 GT, there can't be many (if any) better than this.

Black with burgundy and a manual? Yes!
Black with burgundy and a manual? Yes!
The price? £80,000. Yep, £80K. If that comes as something of a surprise it's worth noting that manual DB7s of any description are hard to come by, and that even a six-cylinder Volante with similar mileage to this GT is £45,000. The desirable cars continue to go up!

But we should consider just what else is available at the money too, because £80,000 opens up a lot of possibilities. There's a myriad of of DB9s on offer, of course, but if it must be a manual V12 GT with its origins in the 90s, then how about a Ferrari 456? An older design, yes, but one that still looks so good (like the Aston) in 2016. Updating the formula a little, the Maserati GranTurismo is comfortably within budget, this money putting some of the later (and racier) versions within reach.

So there are no shortage of alternatives, yet it seems unlikely the GT will struggle for a buyer. It's the best example of the car that saved Aston Martin (again), offered in fantastic condition and a great spec. Finally, if the cost does have to be justified, it's a hell of a lot less than a Zagato...


ASTON MARTIN DB7 GT
Engine
: 5,935cc, V12
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 441@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 410@5,000rpm
MPG: 14
CO2: 476g/km
First registered: 2003
Recorded mileage: 20,000
Price then: £104,500
Price now: £79,995

See the original advert here

 

 

 

 



Author
Discussion

Rearwheel

Original Poster:

40 posts

146 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
DB7, DB9, DBS. They are all beautiful cars to look at and drive. YES YES YES


DB11 looks a little fussy to me, but it might age well.

Monty Python

4,812 posts

197 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Is it just me or are the front/rear overhangs a bit too long? The proportions don't look quite right.

dotgillingham

37 posts

95 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
This or a 456 is an impossible call.

Krikkit

26,527 posts

181 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
dotgillingham said:
This or a 456 is an impossible call.
Find a friend with £80k and agree to share?

£80k would also (just!) get a 550 at the moment, no? 550 vs DB7 is another impossible choice.

em177

3,131 posts

164 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Monty Python said:
Is it just me or are the front/rear overhangs a bit too long? The proportions don't look quite right.
To play devils advocate I think it's the most beautiful car of it's decade smokin

(if it was mine I'd have a standard front upper grill, not a GT one. But maybe that's being a bit picky hehe )

only1ian

688 posts

194 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Aging GT with possibly unfairly questionable reliability reputation and a requirement to have a interior reminiscent of the current DB11 id rather have 3 of these woth monry left over for running costs!

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

Dale487

1,334 posts

123 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
I'd go for the Ferrari but the one in the advert is the wrong colour - it has to be in TDFB with cream leather for me.

smilo996

2,791 posts

170 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Don't really understand the love for the DB7.

XJS floorpan making it very compromised.

Liberal use of the Ford Escort / Mondeo parts bin both inside and outside.

Fawd really did no favours for Aston and Jaaag.

DB9 just a much better car all round.

Too harsh?

Neil G60

692 posts

224 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
612 Scag for me please

rampageturke

2,622 posts

162 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Neil G60 said:
612 Scag for me please
Agreed, although just looking on the classifieds, the prices for a manual seem to differ quite a lot

ecs0set

2,471 posts

284 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Mmm, 456.

Auction at CarFest South, 2013. I think it went for £26k. Why didn't I buy it? (Edited to add, it was 30k, see here)



Saw the numberplate at Goodwood Breakfast club recently on a Lambo.



Edited by ecs0set on Tuesday 18th October 12:49

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

213 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
The DB7 GT is on my lottery win list. Although you can get a DB7 Vantage for £20k nowadays.

JohnGoodridge

529 posts

195 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
dotgillingham said:
This or a 456 is an impossible call.
Find a friend with £80k and agree to share?

£80k would also (just!) get a 550 at the moment, no? 550 vs DB7 is another impossible choice.
£80k is top DB7 money, whereas it's mid-upper 456 pricing. That alone would mean the 456 could offer more miles for less reduction in value. Would have to be a clickety-clack for me though.

Bencolem

1,017 posts

239 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Ohh that looks lovely, do fancy one of those.

Oh yeah, forgot the interior is really dated. That reminds me. Ancient XJ-S underpinnings.

It's $80,000? Wow, was expecting $45,000.

Actually, on a like-for-like cash basis that 456 is a great shout. Puts the DB9 into perspective and I'd rather have one of those. Although not in that color scheme.

Hang on, the 456 itself was $45,000 not long ago. Would feel a bit had paying $80,000 now. Oh and the running costs.

Think I'll have a manual 997.2 be able to use it daily and save a lot of money.

Aarrgghh damn you Porsche.

anonymous-user

54 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
smilo996 said:
Don't really understand the love for the DB7
....apart from save Aston Martin from financial disaster and possibly bankruptcy.

Was one of the best designs since the E-Type (obviously IMO) not bad considering it was a quick hash of the failed F-Type project.

Oh, and pretty much serve as a template, in terms of design and layout for every Aston since?

Alias218

1,496 posts

162 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
These are still achingly beautiful cars. Even the early straight sixers without all the embellishments of later years are wonderful to behold, arguably more so.

Chris Stott

13,365 posts

197 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Maybe not as rare, but half the price of that DB7 GT buys you a very nice 1st generation DB9... the prettiest modern AM by far, better built, and better to drive.

peter450

1,650 posts

233 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Chris Stott said:
Maybe not as rare, but half the price of that DB7 GT buys you a very nice 1st generation DB9... the prettiest modern AM by far, better built, and better to drive.
Very overpriced, people are buying now on the expectation of making money, should the global economy hit the skids and values start to fall this trend could rapidly reverse

You can buy a 2010 virage for that, a great looking car made in very low volume


GCH

3,991 posts

202 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Stunning...and in black with red leather? Yes please lick

Price though frown

hondansx

4,569 posts

225 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Monty Python said:
Is it just me or are the front/rear overhangs a bit too long? The proportions don't look quite right.
Eh? It's called elegance; manufacturers are so concerned with making cars look aggressive and masculine that they've forgotten car design used about beauty.

I see there's only 5 manual V12 Coupes for sale. You can actually get them for £40k, or less.