By Guy Jenner
If you have been reading our blogs, we have occasionally spoken about cars that we think are over-looked in the market place. Today it is the turn of the DB7.
The DB7 was a significant car for Aston Martin with an interesting history. Revealed to the world at Geneva Motor Show in March 1993, it was an instant success. Frankly, a car designed on a tight budget, with the magical talent of Ian Callum, a truly desirable Aston Martin was created at a more accessible price point. This was exactly what the market needed which meant that more than 7,000 were built before production ceased for the DB9 in 2004.
These kind of numbers were success in terms of Aston Martin volume but relatively small fry for a decade of sales, when compared with other manufacturer. To give some context, Ferrari made over 17,000 F360s in just four year.DB7 therefore remains a rare car.
It would also be fair to say that it has gone through that awkward aging period. When DB9 production was in full swing it suddenly made the DB7 look dated and possibly a bit soft. For a period, it has not been uncommon to be able to pick up early, high mileage cars for well under £20,000.
But, to our eye, something has happened over the last few years.DB7 seems to have gone through the unloved stage and all of a sudden those lines are looking far more elegant. It is a car that is sporty without being crass. It is new enough to have air conditioning and some creature comforts but old enough to be considered a modern classic. It is a car that is appreciated and never offends.
To drive DB7, it is not a sports car. It is a sporty GT but certainly less sporty than the modern line up. It is a car that is superb to travel in. The seats are supportive but comfortable, the suspension more forgiving than you would expect. It is a car that likes swift progress but doesn’t want to be hustled. That would be undignified.
DB7 was available in 6 cylinder supercharged (the i6) or V12 (Vantage and GT/A).Naturally, there is a huge amount of affection for the V12.Why wouldn’t you want a V12 up front? That’s not to say to say that the 6 cylinder variant should be over-looked. The later, larger capacity cars are undoubtedly slicker but there is something about the purity of the very first DB7’s that appeal. Their disc alloy wheels and enclosed headrest seats hark back to the excitement of this model when it was first revealed.
There were a number of special editions and variants, including the DB7 GT which we will touch on another time. As a dealership, we still sell and maintain a reasonable amount of DB7’s.For their age, they remain a robust car which can be reliable with the right maintenance. They are good value in relation to their relative scarcity too. They are also enjoyable to own and make a superb weekend car for touring and events.
We wonder if we might see the good ones continue to gently appreciate over the next decade.