2002 Aston Martin Vanquish V12

Finished in Ferrari Grigio Titanio, ‘DS52 CFA’ is an Aston Martin Vanquish with a twist – and the twist is that this ‘no reserve’ project that might end up being the cheapest Vanquish with a clean HPI report we’ve ever sold.

Details about its history might be sparse but we know the seller bought it in late 2022 and it comes with a V5C Registration Certificate in his name, so that’s one problem you aren’t going to have to deal with.

It also starts and runs, although it will definitely need recommissioning as its last MoT expired in 2011 and it’s been off the road in storage ever since.

Painted in the wonderful shade of Ferrari Grigio Titanio, the aluminium coachwork will need some attention because we spotted heavy stonechipping across the front bumper, with lesser amount to the bonnet and the nearside front wing. The latter also has a large scratch along the bottom, bubbling paint, and a missing wheelarch liner. The nearside door and A-pillar have had poor-quality repairs made to them, and the door also has a scuff under the mirror and a dent under the handle.

The nearside rear wing has scratches near the taillight and the wheelarch in addition to some blistering where it meets the rear bumper. The tailgate has bubbling under the chrome handle and a chip under the numberplate with more chips evident on the offside rear wing, the driver’s door has chips on its trailing edge and near the handle plus bubbling along its lower edge, and the offside front wing has chips, both to the middle of the panel and to the front.

That might sound like a lot, but we’ve gone into our usual fine detail because so many of you rely on our description to supplement the photos to gauge the work it might need.

So, while we’ve been typically finicky the reality is that it presents well with mm-perfect shutlines, excellent panel alignment, an even stance, and a distinct absence of the sort of ripples on the flanks you see on badly neglected examples.

Of course, rust is not an issue either.

The good news continues because the light lenses are free of chips and cracks too, as is the glazing. The tailpipes also align neatly, the polished fuel filler cap is in great shape, and the badges remain impressive.

The original equipment alloy wheels are in a decent condition with no obvious kerbing damage, so if you’re looking to shave your up-front costs they could probably be left as they are for a good while yet.

What we can see of the brake discs looks good too with only moderate corrosion to the rear discs and almost none visible on the front pair. We did spot that the offside front wheel is missing its centre cap though, but that’s about all that will demand your immediate attention.

Apart from the tyres, which are a mixed bunch from Michelin, Pirelli and Dunlop. All were made between 2006 and 2008 too, so have perished. The nearside rear also has a bulge in it and the offside front has a cut in its sidewall.

The interior is really rather good with nothing more than lightly cracked front seats, which isn’t the end of the world because few cars wear a light patina better than a Ferrari Grigio Titanio Vanquish with a black leather interior.

Still shapely, comfortable, and very stylish the pronounced bolsters are still capable of holding you securely against the sort of high lateral forces the Vanquish is capable of generating. They’re electrically adjustable too, of course, and heated.

The buttons and controls throughout are still brightly labelled, the odometer reads just 67,449 miles, the central armrest retains its original Aston Martin-branded Motorola phone, the headlining is taut and free of damage, and even the slide-out tray above the factory-fitted entertainment system is intact.

In fact, the only real problems we spotted are a hole in the driver’s mat, a broken flap on the offside vent, brinelling above the nearside vent, a few corroded fasteners, and deterioration to the finish of the flappy paddles, the handbrake, and both door-mounted tweeter pods.

The rest remains as stylish as the day it left the factory with the grey-on-white instruments being a real highlight. It’s got modern goodies too, including automatic lights and wipers, a Sport mode, and a big red Start button: Few cars make you feel as special as an Aston Martin and this one remains an exceptional place to be.

The luggage space is in an excellent condition with clean and unworn carpets, a working boot light, and the Aston Martin umbrella everyone keeps as a souvenir.

As you can see, it starts and runs. However, we had to turn it off after 15 seconds because the cooling system has been disconnected. It’s got a new radiator fitted though, which won’t have been cheap, so that’s another tick in its favour.

It also ticksover smoothly and while the offside exhaust tailpipe emits a touch of white smoke, it hasn’t been properly run for many years so it might be condensation.

The other problem is that it won’t go into gear. The seller suspects it may need a new clutch but we’ve no way of establishing that, so you’ll need to trailer it away before you can investigate. It’ll undoubtably need other work including a thorough service and sorting out the air intake.

However, the Vanquish is a pretty straightforward car really, so if you’re handy with the spanners this could be an interesting way of getting into a car you thought you couldn’t afford, with a low purchase price and the ability to stage payments for the bits you’ll need as and when you can afford ‘em.

You never know, film it for YouTube and you could attract quite a following!

Cosmetically, the engine bay has a few rusty fasteners and a veneer of grime.

Moving underneath, we see only very light scuffs and scratches to the plastic covers at the front along with a selection of new, old, and even the odd missing bolt.

There is also a small area of damage, which is visible in photo #27/39.

The bespoke sill plates state the Vanquish was built for a Mark Harris. It’s had five owners since and has been in the seller’s care since December 2022.

The Aston’s MoT certificate expired in March 2011, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar a marker for not having an MoT, and it comes with one key.

As for any history, in line with its status as a project the only other paperwork we have is a V5C Registration Certificate in the seller’s name and a printout from Aston Martin. You must therefore base your bidding on its current condition.

With a guide price of between £20,000 and £25,000, we expect this Vanquish to be the cheapest we’ve ever sold.

Better yet, it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell no matter where the bidding ends.

Of course, the added cost of buying a project car is your labour plus whatever parts are required to get it up and running again – but if you’re mechanically minded and don’t mind getting a bit of grease under your fingernails this might be the most exciting prospect of 2026 so far.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.