2011 Aston Martin 4.7 Vantage Roadster

Highlights

• Comprehensive service history
• Lovely-sounding 4.7 litre V8
• Sportshift transmission with V12 clutch upgrade
• Masses of recent expenditure
• New headlights and rear suspension parts

Overview

The 2005 Vantage was the most important new Aston Martin since the DB7, the first “small” Aston to be delivered as a result of the brand being part of Ford’s Premier Auto Group and one that was developed more or less entirely at the Gaydon development facility in Warwickshire, with a clear objective of becoming the best-selling Aston Martin ever made.

It debuted in concept form at the 2003 North American International Auto Show, with the production car landing two years later and appearing almost unchanged. That was no bad thing, though.

Designed by Danish-American designer Henrik Fisker – a man who went on to found his own car company – the Vantage was visually stunning and it still looks sensational almost two decades on. The key difference being that, back in 2005, you needed £80k to buy one. Today you can get one for much less.

You’re looking at the same sort of price level as a Porsche 911 of the same era, and while we adore a 911 (who doesn’t?), James Bond never had a Porsche. The suaveness and sophistication that goes with an Aston Martin is incomparably cool.

Indeed, that’s what attracted the vendor to this example – a Roadster in smart Obsdian Black, it has the advantage of the later 4.7-litre engine with 420bhp, 40bhp more than the earlier incarnation.

The V8 Vantage Roadster was pitched as more of a boulevard cruiser than a sports car, but it was still an epic performance car in its own right and the soft top gets you closer to a fabulous-sounding exhaust. Note, also, that it was called the Roadster and not the Volante, as with previous soft-top Astons – a marketing ploy, aimed at making it clear the car was smaller than previous Astons to wear the Vantage name.

As for this one, it’s a smart example that has seen some use, but is by no means high mileage. The vendor bought it earlier this year to go touring around Europe in, and spent a tidy sum with Aston specialist David Appleby Engineering to prepare the car. However, he has recently learned that he’s soon to become a father and, as wonderful and life-enriching an experience as that will surely be, an Aston Martin is hardly the ideal car for the job, so something more sensible beckons and the Aston has to go.

At least he’s managed to tick it off the bucket list, though. Now’s your turn.

History and documentation

• UK registration document in the name of the private vendor
• MOT March 2025 – no advisory items listed
• Original handbook and service book
• Invoice from Aston Martin specialist David Appleby Engineering in May 2024 for £5,767 including a full service, engine oil, oil filter, brake fluid, gearbox oil and pollen filter, front brake discs and pads, a new aircon condenser and re-gas, front brake flexi hoses and hard lines, replacement of both headlights and a new nearside front headlight washer jet
• Also serviced by Bamford Rose in 2022 at 49,974 miles (£8,252) and 2021 at 39,019 miles (£3534)
• Service book shows previous stamps as follows: 5,603 miles (2012 – Aston Martin Cardiff), 10,005 (2013 – Aston Martin Cardiff), 16,222 miles (2015 – Stratstone, Amersham), 19,896 miles (2016 - Aston Martin Amersham), 25,678 miles (2017 – Aston Martin Amersham), 28,007 miles (2018 – Aston Martin Amersham), 28,600 miles (2019 – Cambrian Investments), 33,895 miles (2019 – Bamford Rose), 39,019 miles (2021 – Bamford Rose), 49,974 (2022, Bamford Rose)
• Two keys plus valet key
• Some invoices from prior ownership

Interior

• Oatmeal leather sports seats in lovely order
• Heated and electrically adjustable with a very small amount of wear to driver’s seat shoulder
• Cruise control
• Air conditioning recently regassed
• Door window glasses retract automatically when door is opened with roof down
• Small number of hairline marks on sat nav surround, but nothing of any note
• All dials, switches and controls work as intended
• Electrically retractable roof
• Smart luggage area with Aston Martin umbrella
• Passenger electric seat motor (fore and aft) needs attention

Exterior

• Lovely Obsidian Black paint – retains a great shine with no evidence of dents or previous accident damage
• The buyer should expect minor marks and defects commensurate with age and mileage, but there is nothing notable
• 19-inch factory alloys with minor marks and delamination but still very smart, and good Michelin tyres all-round
• Appears to be in excellent order underneath with no evidence of structural corrosion and no past MOT advisories
• Rear subframe shot blasted, zinc plated and powder coated in 2019
• Powder-coated mirror stalks
• Some ‘gravel rash’ to front bumper
• The seller advises that the nearside rear light is starting to show condensation, when damp
• Small amount of paint rub on nearside rear arch would benefit from smart repair
• A few minor cosmetic issues aside, it remains a fabulous-looking car

Mechanical

• 4.7-litre V8
• 420bhp
• “Sportshift” automated manual two-pedal transmission with steering wheel paddles and conventional selector
• V12 clutch upgrade, which reduces the Sportshifts characteristic clutch judder to manageable levels
• 0-60mph in 4.5 secs
• Recent rear upper wishbone arms, rear lower wishbone arms, rear dampers, rear brake pads, rear handbrake pads, exhaust silencer mounts and bypass valve repair

Summary

Well, this is rather lovely, isn’t it? A smart Vantage Roadster in a terrific colour scheme, with a comprehensive history and a small fortune spent on it over the past three years. There’s a lot there to like.

It’s the 4.7-litre, too, which delivers a healthy power upgrade and considerably more mid-range torque than its 4.3 forebear. This is a baby Aston with a lot going for it, and it’s bound to attract some strong bidding – do you really want to miss out? You’d be daft if you did.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This car is located in Bristol.