1996 Aston Martin DB7 I6 Driving Dynamics

Highlights

  • A beautifully presented example of this classic British coupe in a great colourway
  • Offering a remarkably modest original mileage of under 18,000 miles
  • Fastidiously maintained throughout its history

The Appeal

 
It was under the chairmanship of Victor Gauntlet that Aston Martin first considered developing a so called “baby Aston.” The idea was to deliver a car that could be sold in all their worldwide markets as a subsequent introduction to the more expensive offerings.

When the sleek DB7 arrived in 1994 it was well received, looked beautiful and opened up Aston Martin ownership to a broader demographic than ever before. As such a milestone car for Aston Martin, the DB7 surely has a promising future as a modern classic of distinction.
 
There are two key elements that help mark this example out as something a bit special. Firstly, it has covered just 17,451 miles from new – a miniscule 625 miles a year on average. Secondly, this light use and diligent stewardship has resulted in an example that thoroughly belies its 28 year age.
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The History and Paperwork

  • The car left the Bloxham factory in early 1996 
  • The car was first registered in May of that year
  • The car was supplied new by dealers, Stratsone of London, W1
  • The original owner specified a number of valuable options
  • These include the special order, Warm Charcoal single hue interior
  • Stratstone undertook the PDI at 127 miles 
  • Subsequently the DB7 was lightly used and enjoyed by a further four keepers
  • The current and sixth keeper acquired the DB7 in August 2020
  • At this stage the DB7 had covered around 16,000 miles
  • At around this time, the car went to specialists Desmond Smail for a full overhaul
  • As well as a full service at this time, a number of other matters were addressed
 
These included: 
  • Replacement of the gearbox mounting
  • New top mounts fitted
  • Refurbishment of the wheel nuts
  • Touch up and Waxoyling of the underside
  • This was at 16,741 miles at a cost of nearly £4,000
  • Another service was performed at Desmond Smail in January 2024
  • This was at 17,444 miles – a mere 7 miles ago
  • Due to the sad passing of the owner the sale is now being handled by his family
  • There is a comprehensive archive of paperwork included with the DB7
  • Extending to over 100 documents, a selection only has been photographed
  • The current V5 is on hand but wasn’t present for photographing
  • The DB7 was last MOT’d in July 2023 at 17,353 miles
  • This was an advisory free test which expired in July 2024
  • Numerous earlier MOTs are present
  • The hard bound, leather covered service book is included
  • This documents 16 services at mileages from 653 to 17,444 miles
  • Other paperwork highlights include the 1996 original bill of sale
  • An interesting vehicle assessment is present
  • Issues noted here were predominantly addressed by the current owner in 2020
  • A number of invoices for services and repair are present
  • These include the last two services from Desmond Smail
Dealer fitted options include
 
  • CD Autochanger - £700
  • Aston Martin carpet over mats - £139
  • Speedline magnesium alloy wheels - £1800
  • Tracker - £459
  • Car Cover - £199
  • Car care kit - £98
  • These combine with the £932 special interior for a total of £81,349

The Condition

  • The exterior of the DB7 presents in Brecon Black Mica Metallic paintwork
  • The condition of this appears excellent overall
  • Another exterior highlight are the 18-inch Speedline magnesium alloy wheels
  • The interior of the DB7 is sumptuously trimmed and finished in a special order finish
  • This is courtesy of Warm Charcoal leather in a single “black on black” hue
 
This DB7 is a striking looking car. At some point in its history, it has been fitted with a Driving Dynamics body kit and stainless steel mesh grill inserts. These combine with the AML147 Speedline wheels and the DB7’s sleek styling to create a very eye-catching GT car.

There is a high level of metallic flake present in the paint and a lustrous shine is evident throughout the car (please note that due to bright day of our shoot, many reflections can be seen in the paintwork – these are not imperfections).
 
The interior appears faultless, too. The Warm Charcoal leather, Wilton carpets and Alcantara suede cloth style headlining makes for a luxurious GT car ambiance. Everything in here boasts a condition commensurate with the car’s very modest mileage history.

The originality of this DB7 is highly impressive, too. In the boot the original space saver wheel, tools and compressor are even still present.
 
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The Mechanics

  • This DB7 is fitted with the Jaguar derived 3.2 litre AJ6, TWR built engine
  • It is a light alloy, twin overhead camshaft, supercharged straight six featuring 32 valves
  • A water-cooled Eaton, 'Rootes' type, camshaft driven supercharger is featured
  • This generous specification delivered 335bhp and a healthy 361 Ib-ft of torque
  • Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed GM 4L80-E automatic gearbox
 
The DB7 offered an impressive mechanical specification for its time and a top speed of over 160mph and a 0-60mph time in the six second bracket were the statistics originally quoted. As the accompanying paperwork attests, the DB7 has enjoyed diligent and regular maintenance throughout its life, especially in its current ownership. With approximately £5,000 spent with specialists Desmond Smail in the last 1,000 miles or so, mechanical condition is thought to be excellent.
 
The under-bonnet condition is deeply impressive. It is very clean and original with all the expected data plates and workshop instruction stickers present. Every aspect of this facet of the DB7 is truly excellent. The underside of the car presents nicely, too, and has enjoyed recent attention in current ownership.
 
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BEFORE YOU BUY 
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 
The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions.. 
We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 
This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 
We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence. 
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own  full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle. 
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection 
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected] 

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Auction Details
  • Year 1996
  • Make Aston Martin
  • Model DB7
  • Colour Black
  • Odometer 17,500 Miles
  • Engine size 3239
  • Seller Type Private
  • Town Olney
  • County Buckinghamshire
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Auction ends
Auction FAQs
Bidding history
4 Bids from 3 bidders
  • Frendt•••• £20,000 09/09/24
  • Frendt•••• £15,000 09/09/24
  • Stanley•••• £14,500 05/09/24
  • Aaronpr•••• £14,000 03/09/24

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