2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

First registered at the end of June 2006 by Lancaster Aston Martin in Sevenoaks, Kent, this Vantage is a super-low-mileage example of the 4.3-litre (4282cc) V8 powered coupé with a manual gearbox.

The first owner was so keen to get his hands on the Vantage when it came out that he put down two £5k prepayments - the first in May 2005 and the second in November. We also know that with a good spread of factory options, the final bill for the car came to £89,020.18 - thanks to the presence of original dockets in the car’s history file.

Its first owner kept the Vantage in the care of the supplying main dealer until 2009 and by 2011, the car was in the hands of its second owner from near Witney in Oxfordshire. He owned it for around 10 years and then passed it on to his son last year.

The Vantage is finished in what is probably the most popular colour for Astons of the period - Meteorite Silver, a kind of gunmetal shade evoking tailored tuxedos and vodka martinis and has the optional HID headlamps.

The exterior finish is hard to fault and has only a very few marks and blemishes for the age of the car. It has clearly been well looked after during the first two, longer-term ownerships as well as the subsequent, shorter flirtations.

Echoing the lines of the sister DB9 car, the Vantage is shorter with a sportier look created by design touches such as the side vents resolving into a sharp crease down the doors and an almost duck-tail-like boot spoiler above a rear valance pierced by the fat tail pipes either side of the diffuser. The AM wing badges - produced by Birmingham jewellers Vaughtons - are present at both ends of the car.

The car sits on the factory option 19-inch 7-spoke alloy wheels, revealing slotted Brembo brakes and grey-painted callipers bearing the Aston Martin script. There are slight scuffs on the front and rear nearside rims and a tiny chip in the rear offside but otherwise they present in a very good condition. All are fitted with Bridgestone Potenza tyres, which date from 2006 and are likely the factory fit tyres, still showing sufficient tread.

Open the so-called swan doors - hinged to open very slightly upwards - and you are met with the full leather interior, finished in Obsidian (black) hide with silver contrast stitching.

The driver seat side bolster has a bit of wear and there are a few small pressure dents in the leather on the passenger seat, which usually means something has been left there for a while - or maybe even a child seat was fitted. These can usually be removed with a little heat and moisture.

The rest of the interior presents in a very good condition and is packed with factory equipment including cruise control, navigation, 160W audio, heated and adjustable front seats, heated windscreen and folding mirrors.

The black carpets look in fine order, along with fitted overmats and the grey alcantara headlining above also appears in good condition.

What strikes you when you pop the bonnet, is how far away the engine is. To aid in achieving its 49/51 front to back weight distribution, the engine is “front mid-mounted” - pushed back into the bulkhead as far as possible. You’ve therefore got a sizable expanse of plastic cover before you get to the V8. Visually all seems to be in order but, according to the documentation, it’s probably about time the engine was properly serviced.

Front and rear, the car’s precious mechanicals are protected by undertrays, which appear in good order, and the remaining floor pans also appear clean and undamaged. Some of the red bonding material is visible, which looks a little unsightly to anyone who happens to be under the car. We are not sure whether it left the factory like this but we suspect it did.

Another thing that often surprises people experiencing a Vantage for the first time is that the boot is a full hatchback, and a pretty spacious one at that. The carpet and linings are very clean and tidy, the parcel shelf is intact and apparently undamaged and the fire extinguisher is present.

The Vantage is offered with a fresh MOT, and it has a full online history of clear passes from its first in 2009 with just a couple of rather harsh failures for a wheezy windscreen washer.

The book pack with the car includes its maintenance log, which contains the following service stamps:

Jun 2006 - 48 miles PDI - Lancaster AM Sevenoaks, Kent

Oct 2006 - 671 - a/a

Jul 2007 - 2,113 - a/a

Jul 2008 - 3,372 - a/a

Jun 2009 - 4,334 - a/a

Nov 2015 - 7,460 - Bamford Rose, Warwickshire

There are also the original deposit receipts and bill of sale and a few other invoices, including one for a new battery in December 2021.

These so-called ‘Baby Astons’ remain a popular used choice for petrolheads, not least for the brand connection to a certain suave spy from the silver screen, but also for their relative affordability and performance. Driving them is an engaging experience and although 5 seconds to 62 mph is a tad slow by today’s standards, it is still more than adequate for the UK’s roads.

With less than 10,000 on the clock, this particular example - in family ownership for the last 10 years or so - has to be one of the lowest mileage first-gen Vantages around. We think it will sell for between £36,000 and £42,000

As the dashboard says, the Aston Martin Vantage has Power, Beauty and Soul - what more could you ask for? Maybe a Walther in the glove box?!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.