2005 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe

Highlights

• Sought-after Tungsten Silver in lovely condition throughout

• Excellent MOT record, current MOT to March 2026

• Striking Iron Ore Red upholstery

• Uprated Velocity AP clutch

• Freshly serviced

Overview

Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that something is as old as it is. Take the actress Gillian Anderson for example. She won’t thank us for telling you that she’s closer to 60 than 50, but she is. 57, in fact – but you’d never know. 

And so is her car, for Agent Scully herself drives an Aston Martin Vantage – we know as much, as we saw her getting into it in the car park of Waitrose once. Don’t believe us? Well, the truth is out there.  

And just like Ms Anderson, the Aston Martin Vantage falls into that category of “no way can it be that old”. But it is. The one you see here is more or less bang-on 20 years old, from the first full year of Vantage production. Yes, that’s right. Astonishingly, two decades have passed since the first ground-up Aston Martin design in Ford ownership stormed its way onto the scene, its jaw-dropping good looks marking it out as one of the most handsome sports cars ever made, as well as one with home-grown appeal. 

It was revealed in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, the styling the work of US-Danish designer Henrik Fisker, and was based on a truncated version of the DB9 platform, using sophisticated bonded alloy and composite bodywork. Sales began in September the same year, with prices starting from £79,995 – a fiver different from an entry-level 911 Carrera 2. You can see where it was targeted, can’t you?

At launch, it came with a new Aston Martin-developed and engineered 4.3-litre V8 engine, loosely spun off a Jaguar AJ V8, developing 385bhp. It sounded fantastic and was brimming with character, even if peak torque didn’t arrive until 5,000rpm and the top of its power curve some 2,000rpm later. It might not have been a gentlemanly way to treat an Aston Martin, but boy was it fun. 

This one’s a lovely car. It’s no weekend-only toy as it has seen some use, having covered over 85,000 miles, but it has been well-maintained throughout and is presented in great overall condition. And then there’s the interior… ultra-rare and absolutely breathtaking Iron Ore Red. It’s a marvellous thing, ready to be enjoyed and cherished for another 20 years…

History and documentation

• First registered 10th November 2005, sold new by Grange of Exeter

• V5C registration document in the name of the current keeper

• Full document pack, including the ‘Owner’s Guide’ leather wallet and service book

• Collection of maintenance and servicing invoices, as well as a number of old MOT certificates

• Two keys and one electronic fob

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 12th March 2026

• Excellent MOT record, with no significant issues or problems noted, and no advisories in recent years

• 86,808 miles on the clock, verified by service and MOT records

• Confirmed recent service history: June 2016 @ 54,887, September 2017 @ 62,967, December 2018 @ 68,115, April 2021 @ 74,607, March 2022 @ 76,415, February 2023 @ 78,709, February 2024 @ 80,489, July 2025 @ 86,236 miles

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Iron Ore Red leather upholstery, presented in good overall condition, with some light patination and creasing to the seats, but no rips or significant wear we could see

• Matched deep red carpeting and OEM over-mats, all in fine condition with no threading or staining apparent

• Alloy interior trim

• There are a few light scuffs and marks to the interior trim and switchgear, but only what is commensurate with the vehicle’s age and mileage

• Electrically adjustable seats with heating function – though the vendor notes that the driver’s seat does not heat up

• Light grey headlining is in excellent condition, with no staining, sagging or damage

• Multi-CD system and radio

• Uprated high-definition screen by the well-regarded specialist Aston Installations featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and cameras

• The main instrument cluster is clear and well lit, showing no faults or warning lights

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Air-conditioning

• Electrically operated windows and door mirrors

• Heated front and rear screens

• Behind the seats there is a sizable and practical storage shelf, ideal for overnight cases or bags

• Spacious boot space, neatly trimmed with black carpet that looks to be in fine fettle

• We’re assured that all the rest of the cabin’s features and functions work just as they should

Exterior

• Handsome Tungsten Silver paintwork, which looks to be in great condition for its age, with just a few minor blemishes and stone chips

• In June 2019, the front bumper, bonnet, front wings, both doors, roof and door shut were all professionally resprayed

• The vendor reports a very small amount of oxidation/bubbling on the offside door

• Black door mirrors and roof

• The black coating on the frame of the drivers door has started to peel; this will need a minor repair

• All of the bodywork looks to be straight and in very good order, with no damage, corrosion or misalignment we could discern

• The external badging and trim all looks to be present, correct and in fine condition, with no notable wear or damage

• Underneath, the car’s sills and floor pans appear to be straight and clean, with all the undertrays intact and just a few scrapes showing on the front and side trays

• The vehicle’s glass elements all show very well, being clean and clear, with no cracks or chips we could see

• At the rear, the light clusters have been upgraded to the newer clear lenses, and the vendor tells us that an “upgraded headlight demister system” has been fitted

• The 19-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels are finished in black and look really well on the car, with no notable lacquer peel or kerb damage – a previous owner had them professionally refurbished in November 2021

• A matched set of Michelin PilotSport 4S tyres is fitted – 235/40 at the front, 285/35 at the rear – and all appear to have plenty of tread and are free from obvious sidewall damage

 Mechanical

• Naturally aspirated 4,282cc V8

• 6-speed manual transmission

• Rear-wheel drive

• Traction control, ABS and power-assisted steering

• Factory performance figures: 380bhp, 0-62mph in c.4.9 seconds, 175 mph top speed

• June 2018 - new radiator fitted

• April 2021 - adjustable front dampers (DAE Nitron R1-AM) fitted, new FEAD belt and pulley

• October 2022 - upgraded lightweight Velocity AP clutch fitted, as well as a new clutch slave cylinder

• June 2023 - new brake discs and pads all round (at 79,265 miles)

• October/November 2023 - new exhaust bypass valve and pump, as well as a new offside door seal

• March 2024 - new front springs, A/C condenser and oil separator

• The vehicle starts, idles and revs well, with a smooth, baritone rumble and a bark on the overrun

• We’re assured by the vendor that the car drives “faultlessly”, with no mechanical issues or problems that they are aware of

Summary

When it comes to ageing gracefully, the Aston Martin Vantage and Gillian Anderson are cut from the same cloth. Both gorgeous and both British icons, with some added US influence. 

Twenty years on, it’s still an achingly pretty car, with a wonderfully charismatic engine and all the performance you could realistically want from a small sporting GT, along with some reasonably advanced tech for its era that means it doesn’t feel that old-fashioned today, a few bits of Ford and Jaguar-derived switchgear aside. We’ll allow it that though, because both inside and out there are few cars as beguiling.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Christchurch, Dorset.