2001 Aston Martin Vanquish

Believed to be finished in Ferrari Grigio Titanium, ‘MX51 WEF’ is a Vanquish V12 that also benefits from having a Charcoal leather 2+2 interior.

It’s had an, er, “interesting” life but it also benefits from a good service record and significant recent expenditure. As part of a collection, it hasn’t seen much use over the past couple of years, something that will have contributed to its low recorded mileage.

A car of two halves then, but one that will almost certainly offer a very cost-effective route into owning a proper V12-engined Aston Martin.

The coachwork presents well, with the ripple- and dink-free panels providing a flat surface for the paintwork to shine.

And shine it does, both figuratively and literally; seeing a Vanquish in the flesh never fails to remind us just how utterly gorgeous they are – and when they’re finished in a colour like this, they attract a huge amount of the right attention.

Because everyone loves an Aston Martin, and whereas some of the German and Italian marques might be baulked at junctions, drivers will be practically falling over themselves to let you out so they can admire your curves. 

When this Vanquish was sold at auction in 2022, it was described as being painted Tungsten Grey – yet when the seller asked Aston Service Dorset to supply a touch-up paint, they said it is Ferrari Grigio Titanium. 

And while a question hovers over its colour, what isn’t in debate is the condition of the lamps, badges, and glazing, all of which are very good.

The 19-inch alloy wheels are also in a very good condition. Free of scuffs, scrapes, and other kerbing damage, they’re fitted with matching Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

The front ones are 255/40ZR19 in size and were made in 2012. The rear rubber is slightly wider at 285/40ZR19 as well as being newer, dating to 2018.

All have good tread on them, but the front pair have perished and will need to be replaced. 

Traces remain of the Vanquish’s somewhat interesting life. For example, some of the shutlines – most obviously where the one-piece nose meets the front wings and bonnet, the boot lid, and both front wings – aren’t as sharp as they would have been when it rolled out of Newport Pagnell a quarter of a century ago, and the paint finish to the driver’s door isn’t to the same standard as the rest of the car. 

These flaws almost certainly relates to the Category S write-off in 2023, after which ASD Workshops of Ferndown in Dorset carried out repairs to the driver’s door, offside front wing, bonnet hinges, and the whole of the front end.

As for the rest, the chrome trim on both front wings has faded, the nearside door mirror housing sports some scratches, and the nearside rear corner has a few light marks.

The front seats might have a few creases to their finish but the fact they’re trimmed in Charcoal hide means this presents merely as a developing patina rather than anything more.

Because if, like us, you’re a romantic at heart then the sight of well-cared-for but characterful interior reminds you that part of the appeal of buying a classic is the charm and history it brings with it; it’s a bit like meeting a partner later in life, where half of the fun is exploring experiences you might have in common before you go on to create new ones together. 

Because the creasing is the only issue we found with them; they work as they should and are both comfortable and supportive, competing demands that some manufacturers have struggled to reconcile. 

The rear seats might be a simpler proposition than their siblings in front, but their condition is excellent with no noticeable creases or softening. They look so good, in fact, that we doubt they’ve seen much use during the Vanquish’s  52,000-mile life. 

Aston Martin’s juggling act continues with the design of the dashboard, which is sleek and minimal while also managing to be luxurious and tactile – and it does it all without resorting to industry staples like chrome and butt walnut veneer.

The dashboard is a pleasing mix of neatly stitched black leather and brushed metal, the headlining is suede, and the carpets have a suitably deep pile.

It also gets a fat-rimmed steering wheel with flappy paddles too, plus a big red start button, alloy pedals, an analogue clock, and a vintage serif font on the white-faced instruments. 

The boot is beautifully trimmed and usefully large. 

As for flaws, the heating and ventilation system smells a bit musty; the trim around the driver’s seatbelt is cracked; the driver’s mat has a couple of spots of what looks like glue on it; the dashboard has a few chips; the base of the nearside A-pillar shows wear; the driver’s door card has scratches to the leather behind door pull; and the window trims have warped. 

That said, any issues it has appear to be cosmetic as everything we pressed and pulled did what exactly what it was supposed to.

But then the Vanquish’s service history is good, and is recorded as follows:

• 03.03.2026 and 52,392 miles – oil service and two new track rod ends  by Aston Service Dorset at a cost of £1,775
• 07.08.2020 and 51,317 miles – service by Aston Martin Mayfair
• 14.02.2019 and 50,445 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 21.02.2018 and 48,786 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 02.03.2017 and 46,973 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 12.01.2016 and 43,436 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 29.10.2014 and 39,135 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 30.01.2014 and 35,882 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 03.10.2012 and 31,169 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 23.06.2011 and 22,853 miles – service by Nicholas Mee
• 14.01.2005 and 13,780 miles – by Aston Martin Wilmslow
• 20.05.2004 and 11,431 miles – by Aston Martin Wilmslow
• 15.05.2003 and 5,730 miles – by Aston Martin Wilmslow
• 11.12.2001 – pre-delivery inspection by Aston Martin Wilmslow

There are other invoices on file for various bits and bobs, including sorting out the airbag warning light and windscreen washers in January 2024 at a cost of £2,133, repairing impact damage and fitting new door seals in September 2023 (£9,935), and for a new headlamp assembly in June 2022 (£1,150).

As you can see, the handbuilt engine starts well and idles with metronomic precision – and as you can hear, it revs with enthusiasm and one of the best exhaust notes in the business.

It’s also as smooth as only a V12 can be; balance a pound coin on its edge and it’ll sit rock steady, even when the tachometer is exploring the upper reaches of its range.

Our man reports that it drives well too, albeit with a slight rattle from the rear end. 

The engine bay is very tidy, with the highlight for many being the presence of a carbonfibre strut brace. There are a few rubbing marks on the air intake assembly, but it otherwise looks to be in good shape.

The underside bears witness to the accident it had three years ago, with visible damage still to the underside of the front bodywork. There is also surface rust to some of the steel brackets and fasteners. 

The Aston’s MoT certificate expires in March 2027, and it shows advisories for a loose mirror and a worn bush on the offside front lower damper mount. 

It also shows not one but two markers for having been written-off. The first was when a fire broke out next to it, leading to a non-structural Category N payout in February 2016. The RAC Vehicle History Check also shows another ‘Category S’ write-off, this time for structural damage, in January 2021. We have no further information about this incident other than what we’ve written earlier. 

The history file also includes the Aston Martin wallet and book pack, the all-important stamped service history booklet, some expired MoT certificates, and a few recent invoices. 

We suspect this Vanquish will fetch between £35,000 and £45,000, which means it’s probably the cheapest way of joining the 200mph Club we know of.

Possibly the most beautiful too, and maybe the best sounding. 

Also, one of the most practical given that so few of its contemporaries are capable of shuffling you and three friends at warp-speed in complete comfort.

Yes, it would benefit from being tidied up a bit but the flipside of this is that you aren’t going to be afraid to use it.

And, you may well add value with every panel you tweak back into alignment – and let’s not discount the fact that this is one of the last of the ‘real’ Aston Martins, the like of which we will never see again.

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