Aston Martin DB7 | Spotted

Definitely a goer. But is it also a grower?

Yes, yes, I know. It’s not the best Aston to drive nor the rarest but hear me out. I’ve often thought about compiling a list of my top ten cars that look like bouncing skywards and making you rich, and while I accept that the DB7 is never likely to reach the kind of stratospheric numbers that DB5s are currently producing, there are a few reasons why one like this car could be a sound addition to your pension plan as well as your car collection.

Firstly, it’s pretty. It was when it arrived and it still is today, and pretty cars hold enduring appeal. I've never been able to put Ian Callum’s design genius on the loftiest pedestal like some people do. Personally, I think he was more of a one-hit wonder than a man incapable of styling a duffer like the true design greats. I have my reasons for this. They include producing nothing particularly special during his JLR years and then there was his attempt at ‘improving’ the MkII. Remember that thing? Bearing in mind he had all the might of Jaguar at his disposal, what came out should've been something absolutely amazing – at least the equivalent of an Eagle E-Type, for example. What actually resulted was the polar opposite. That's just my opinion, of course.

I might be being a little harsh on him because I am a big fan of his Vanquish, but if there is any validity to the one-hit-wonder argument then his equivalent of ‘Ring my bell’ by Anita Ward was the DB7. To give Callum his due, he produced a jolly appealing shape despite the encumbrances of an old XJS platform to stretch the metalwork over and some pretty mundane bits from the parts bin. Famously, the DB7 used quite a bit from Mazda, in the form of 323F taillights and Miata door handles. The door locks came from the Ford Scorpio and the wing mirrors from a Citroen CX.

There was plenty more under the skin to reduce its worth, including the not-very soulful 3.2-litre AJ6 engine with an Eaton supercharger and a rather agricultural four-speed auto from GM. This was at a time when the XK8 had the very latest smooth-shifting, electronically controlled, five-speed ZF ‘box. Inside it was a mashup of Ford bits, such as Granada heater vents and switchgear, while the electric seat switches, instruments and HVAC controls were from the XJ40/ late-MY XJS. Oh, and the digital clock looked like it was from Argos.

But forget all that. Reason number two for why you should buy this DB7 is the Aston DBS and V8. They weren’t considered particularly well made or attractive or brilliant to drive for decades. For so long they sat bobbling along at the cheap end of the market, but then, suddenly, the big old brutes became the Astons to buy. Now look at how much those are fetching – £100,000 at least, while a good V8 Vantage is going to cost you around three times as much.

The point is there is a precedent for unloved Astons becoming rich men’s Astons at some point. I’ve long held the view that the DB7 will start this journey to exclusivity at some point, so now might just be the moment to get in on the bottom rung. After all, the £27,450 that’s being asked for this car is peanuts, really. True, it’s got the AJ6 while the V12 would make it much more appealing, and no, it’s not going to leave you in awe of how wieldy it is on a back road. But if you prefer to cruise around rather than drag the door handles down the road with a shower of sparks, then there’s enjoyment to be had here. This one also comes from a highly respected agent and a brand specialist, and it’s darn hard to see any evidence of its 74,000 miles due to its cleanliness inside and out. The Suffolk Red paintwork might not be everyone’s cuppa, but I think it’s quite appealing to see a classic British sports car wearing Italian colours for a change.

Keep this tidy and add a Bentley Continental R to your collection – here’s one of those I picked out at random that’s an absolute steal at £36,500 – and in a few years’ time you could well be cashing in and enjoying a life of excess. Whatever happens, you'll be enjoying two classic British cars along the way. I feel like some small print is required now, like ‘Prices can go up as well as down, blah, blah’ - but you don’t need me to tell you that.

SPECIFICATION | Aston Martin DB7

Engine: 3,228cc, straight six, supercharged
Transmission: four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 361 @ 3,000rpm
CO2: N/A
MPG: N/A
Recorded mileage: 74,000
Year registered: 1995
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £27,450

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big_rob_sydney

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