2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Still in the hands of its one and only owner (who is, in his own words, “non-smoking and mature”), this 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is finished in black and fitted with the desirable six-speed manual gearbox.

‘AE07 CWD’ comes with a well-stamped service history that covers its 14,990-mile history and has always been garaged. Never used as a daily driver because the owner generally found himself in need of three seats, it’s been a much-loved ‘high days and holidays’ car.

All original and with a very good black leather interior, this is a rare opportunity to get your hands on an unadulterated, well cared for example of a car whose full charms have, we think, yet to be fully recognised by the market.

Black is a helluva colour for a secondhand sportscar like this, highlighting flaws with the laser-guided ruthlessness of Liverpool playing against a well-oiled pub team.

And yet, when it works it works brilliantly and we can’t think of many cars this age that look quite this good. With excellent shutlines, ultra-straight panels, matching alloy wheels, and minimal chrome, the Vantage looks absolutely stunning still, doesn’t it?

And those seven-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels are absolute gems, even if they have been nibbled against the kerb. Better news comes with the fact they’re shod with matching Bridgestone Potenza tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for the rest, it’s all good. The glazing is free of damage and chips, the badges are stunning, and the light lenses are bright and clean. The door mirrors, which are surely the most elegant of any production car, are also undamaged.

This means there really isn’t much for you to do. You’ll probably want to get the rims refurbished and you’re going to need new rear tyres shortly, so it would make sense to get both jobs done at the same time.

There’s also a small rubbing mark at the top of the passenger’s door.

The black leather interior is spectacular in its design, execution, and curation.

The sculpted seats, for example, are as beautiful as they are comfortable. Swooping and cosseting and supportive, they’re trimmed in some of the finest leather in the world and precision-stitched in contrasting thread.

Electrically adjustable, they’re in a fine condition but then that’s what you get with just the one careful owner and so few miles. Even the outer bolster, usually the first place to show wear, is almost unmarked.

The hide trim extends to the centre console, dashboard, and door cards. All of it is utterly lovely and demonstrates in the clearest way that Aston Martin was at the very top of its game when it built this.

The suede headlining is also taut and clean and utterly lovely. It’s finished in a light grey colour too, lifting the cabin and lightening the tone.

More modern materials like brushed metal further reinforce the Vantage’s luxury sporting credentials while dodging Old School stuffiness by a huge margin.

The three pedals, plus a useful footrest, are an alloy delight, allowing you to dance your way around them like Hannu Mikkola back in the day. The steering wheel is as thick-rimmed as you’d hope and the gear knob fills your left hand; this is a very tactile car to drive, albeit one that barely mutes its visceral nature.

The boot is as well-trimmed and beautifully presented as the rest of the interior. With very good carpets, it’s home to the warning triangle and Continental tyre compressor.

Flaws are few. There are some marks on the driver’s door card and, well, that’s about it.

The Vantage’s maintenance record is documented in the service history booklet as follows:

• 08.05.2007 – pre-delivery inspection by Lancaster Cambridge
• 04.09.2008 and 3,212 miles – service by Lancaster Cambridge
• 04.09.2009 and 3,950 miles – service by Lancaster Cambridge
• 19.02.2013 and 6,673 miles – service by Stephen J. Cato
• 10.12.2014 and 9,187 miles – service by Stephen J. Cato
• 27.04.2017 and 10,571 miles – service by Stephen J. Cato
• 15.01.2019 and 12,578 miles – service by Stephen J. Cato
• 27.09.2022 and 14,570 miles – service by Stephen J. Cato

As you can probably guess by now, the engine bay is very nicely presented being clean and well ordered. Ditto, the underside. Obviously.

The 4.3-litre V8 engine fires into life with alacrity, quickly settling into a steady idle and revving beautifully - and while the engine note is suitably muted, that of the exhaust is joyously riotous.

We are aware of only two faults: the warning light on the dash shows that the emission system needs servicing and the fuel cap release button can be temperamental.

The Aston Martin’s MoT certificate is valid until July 2024 and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

The Vantage comes with a number of old MoT certificates and invoices in addition to the service history booklet. The history file also contains proof the recall to replace the door modules was carried out.

Look, it’s one of the most desirable sportscars in the world, not least because it goes like stink, sounds incredible and looks utterly gorgeous.

That’s it’s been looked after as well as it has is a very welcome bonus.

All of which will probably be available for somewhere between £30,000 and £35,000, which looks like astonishing value to us.

Go on, life’s too short to drive boring cars…

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.