How about an Aston photo thread!
Discussion
yeti said:
A couple of recent ones of my DB9 manual. Sports pack wheels and stainless steel mesh grilles custom made from Chiltern. Also sprayed the side mesh and bonnet vents in light silver to stand out more. The effect is very pleasing.
Clear rear lights make the car look a lot better IMHO but doesn't work on every colour. Chiltern Green is quite greyish so they suit it.
Car is having it's wood changed out to gunmetal alloy at DMS currently, also had DBS gearknob, ashtray lid and 'Tony Hall Light Industries (TM)' heater buttons. Pics when I pick it up!
Under the skin; H&R springs & full geo, race cats with Quicksilver SuperSports and full re-map. Should be a noticably sharper car!
Edited by yeti on Monday 2nd May 17:10
Edited by yeti on Monday 2nd May 17:11
I spent two years finding my perfect spec car - but am now looking for something similar to yours - guess it could take me a few years but i'm in no hurry.
yeti said:
I went from a DB7 Vantage Volante to a DB9 Volante and not sure if I regret doing so yet. I let go, for a song, an amazing DB7 with every upgrade, a very personal car to me, for a DB9 which just feels very... modern. Be careful what you wish for.
Really interesting to hear your thoughts Lewis. I often think about updating my DB7 Vantage Volante to a DB9 Volante (or even a V8 Volante) but then I go outside and look at the 7 and give up on the idea. Any views on the relative boot sizes of the 7 and the 9? When we came back from France last year my friend with a 9 was very disappointed at the number of bottles he could fit in compared to my 7.regards all LBS
yeti said:
Thanks! Just had the wheels refurbed, they were from a Le Mans edition DB9 that met an untimely end so they were painted mid-grey with a diamond cut face. I liked the effect so I kept it, not sure if all Sports Pack wheels are the same?
Yes the 3 lower grilles are 2mm stainless steel as per the DB7 grilles that Chiltern make. Brightens up the front end hugely and is far better quality than the AM chicken wire. Also had the main slatted grille removed and striped as it was coated in a dull grey paint/plastic. Looks far better polished up. The car just feels a little more personalised now, I always need to make them individual!
Yep I know what you meanYes the 3 lower grilles are 2mm stainless steel as per the DB7 grilles that Chiltern make. Brightens up the front end hugely and is far better quality than the AM chicken wire. Also had the main slatted grille removed and striped as it was coated in a dull grey paint/plastic. Looks far better polished up. The car just feels a little more personalised now, I always need to make them individual!
I have the same wheels on mine and am considering "options" I've seen a couple of N400 with them like yours and one with black (that looked wrong
)I used to make similar grills for S2000's and they do really make the fronts look much better. I was contemplating doing the lower front and rears on my Vantage. Though I like the idea of butchering a full front upper grill to fit the lower grill opening
On your H&R's how much did it lower it?
mikey k said:
Though I like the idea of butchering a full front upper grill to fit the lower grill opening
On your H&R's how much did it lower it?
I would be *very* interested to see the results of the grille butchering... could possibly go half each if there are enough bars?On your H&R's how much did it lower it?
The H&Rs will lower the car about an inch from what I've been told - haven't got it back from DMS yet. Not a huge difference in appearance but I did the same to my old Maser and it tranformed the handling of the car with a good geo. Nice reduction in CofG coupled with less roll should be a sharper car.
LordBretSinclair said:
Any views on the relative boot sizes of the 7 and the 9? When we came back from France last year my friend with a 9 was very disappointed at the number of bottles he could fit in compared to my 7.
regards all LBS
Volante Vs Volante, the 7's boot is probably twice the size - simple fact that the roof folding into the bodywork has taken away much of the boot space. I was shocked when I saw how small it was, without the back seat for luggage it's be a bit crap to be honest. 2-3 cases max regards all LBS
The 7 is a modern that looks and drives like a classic, in all the good ways. But the 9 is a modern, again in a good way but a very different experience. It's so much bigger, wider, smoother and less quirky. It's why I'm doing the exhaust and suspension, trying to de-suave it a little bit!
Thanks for the comments about the DB7... my "making do" bit was meant tongue-in-cheek, hence the quote marks around it 
Beautiful car, but I think I still prefer the DB9. Maybe mine has had a hard life before I bought it, but it doesn't feel particularly solid. I'm more of a modern guy as opposed to the traditional so DB9 remains the dream. But in the meantime...
A friend got married yesterday and asked if I would drive him to his wedding. First time I've been on wedding chauffeur duty - I took this photo just afterwards:
The ridiculous cost of ownership is worth every penny for days like this.
Beautiful car, but I think I still prefer the DB9. Maybe mine has had a hard life before I bought it, but it doesn't feel particularly solid. I'm more of a modern guy as opposed to the traditional so DB9 remains the dream. But in the meantime... A friend got married yesterday and asked if I would drive him to his wedding. First time I've been on wedding chauffeur duty - I took this photo just afterwards:
The ridiculous cost of ownership is worth every penny for days like this.
yeti said:
I would be *very* interested to see the results of the grille butchering... could possibly go half each if there are enough bars?
The H&Rs will lower the car about an inch from what I've been told - haven't got it back from DMS yet. Not a huge difference in appearance but I did the same to my old Maser and it tranformed the handling of the car with a good geo. Nice reduction in CofG coupled with less roll should be a sharper car.
Will post up when I do it.The H&Rs will lower the car about an inch from what I've been told - haven't got it back from DMS yet. Not a huge difference in appearance but I did the same to my old Maser and it tranformed the handling of the car with a good geo. Nice reduction in CofG coupled with less roll should be a sharper car.
Mine has the sports pack and fast road geo but I'd love to lower it abit.
Speech - have you thought of changing to the DB7 Vantage? Might be the half way house to the DB9, a bit newer, a lot faster, just a more solid and better engineered car, which it needed to be.
A nice i6 like your fetches such good money that a DB7 Vantage isn't much further to jump. Leggy but tidy cars are £20k now!!
A nice i6 like your fetches such good money that a DB7 Vantage isn't much further to jump. Leggy but tidy cars are £20k now!!
yeti said:
Speech - have you thought of changing to the DB7 Vantage? Might be the half way house to the DB9, a bit newer, a lot faster, just a more solid and better engineered car, which it needed to be.
A nice i6 like your fetches such good money that a DB7 Vantage isn't much further to jump. Leggy but tidy cars are £20k now!!
Indeed, am definitely thinking of getting a Vantage - they're not much more than the i6 these days. Will see how my finances are later in the year or early next year and see whether to go for that or hold out for a cheap DB9 A nice i6 like your fetches such good money that a DB7 Vantage isn't much further to jump. Leggy but tidy cars are £20k now!!
Little shoot today:
Photographer is tWm on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notorioustwm/
I think I might get this one blown up onto a large canvas.
Photographer is tWm on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notorioustwm/
I think I might get this one blown up onto a large canvas.
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