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The Aston Martin DB9 occupies a particularly important place in the history of the marque. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003, it was far more than simply the successor to the hugely successful DB7. It represented the beginning of a new era for Aston Martin.
The DB9 was the first production Aston Martin to be built at the company’s new Gaydon headquarters and the first to use the bonded-aluminium VH architecture. That platform would go on to underpin an extraordinary generation of Aston Martins and help define the company for more than a decade.
The story of the DB9 is the subject of the latest Aston Martin Heritage Trust podcast, hosted by Garry Taylor and featuring HWM Aston Martin CEO Guy Jenner alongside Aston Martin Lagonda historian Steve Waddingham and early DB9 owner Adam Osborne.
Between them, the three guests bring very different perspectives to the story. Steve provides the historical context behind the development of the car and the transformation taking place within Aston Martin at the time. Adam discusses the experience of owning and living with an early DB9, while Guy draws on nearly two decades of experience with the model from the perspective of an Aston Martin retailer, specialist and enthusiast.
The conversation explores the development and launch of the DB9, its relationship with the DB7 it replaced, the importance of the new Gaydon facility and the engineering philosophy behind the VH platform. It also considers something that is perhaps easier to appreciate with the benefit of more than 20 years of hindsight: just how significant the DB9 became.
Production continued until July 2016, encompassing both Coupé and Volante models and numerous mechanical, technical and design developments along the way. More than 16,500 examples were produced, making the DB9 one of the most successful Aston Martins of its era.
Its influence extended considerably further. The engineering principles and VH architecture introduced with the DB9 provided the foundations for a remarkable family of Aston Martins, including the V8 Vantage, DBS, Rapide, Virage and second-generation Vanquish.
For HWM, the DB9 is also a car we know extremely well. We supplied, maintained and supported these cars throughout their production life and continue to look after DB9s ranging from the earliest 2004 examples through to the final DB9 GT today.
That experience is also forming the basis of our new HWM Aston Martin DB9 Guide. Alongside the podcast, we are creating a detailed series covering the history and development of the DB9, the changes introduced throughout its 12-year production run, driving and ownership, servicing and maintenance, buying advice and the differences between the various generations.
The podcast tells the story of the DB9. Our HWM guide will take that story further, providing a detailed reference for existing owners, prospective buyers and anyone with an interest in one of the most important Aston Martins of the modern era.
More than two decades after its introduction, the DB9 remains an elegant, usable and thoroughly desirable V12 grand tourer. More importantly, its influence can still be seen in the Aston Martin that exists today.