2003 Aston Martin DB7 GTA

Aston Martin marketed the DB7 GTA thus: “for those who seek the thrill of a DB7 GT in the open road, but require the convenience and effortless relaxation of touchtronic automatic transmission around town, DB7 GTA provides the perfect solution”.

The ultimate iteration of the already well-respected DB7, the GT/GTA’s chassis boasts uprated dampers and a revised front subframe and firmer bushes, changes that made the new model 20% stiffer than the standard car.

Braking upgrades include larger brake discs that are grooved rather than cross-drilled, high-performance brake pads, improved cooling, and even the V12 Vanquish’s brake booster system. Thus equipped, the GTA is said to be capable of coming to a halt from 100mph in five seconds in the dry, which equates to -1G.

The GTA also gained the GT’s aero-optimised coachwork; additional strakes to the front undertray, extensions to the wheelarch liners, and a different rear spoiler might not sound like much but together they reduce rear-end lift by an incredible 50%.

Twin bonnet vents a la V12 Vanquish help keep the 420bhp V12 engine cool, as do the mesh radiator grille and lower air intakes. The same model also contributed its exhaust bypass valves, for reduced backpressure and an even fruitier exhaust note.

The result is a car that is 30% faster than the DB7 Vantage between 50- and 70mph. Overtaking has rarely been easier than it is in a GT/GTA.

The driver and passenger are held securely in place thanks to sports seats that feature extended side bolsters and shoulder supports. The instrumentation, which is lifted straight from the GT, is finished in a unique parchment-and-grey colour scheme, while satin aluminium was used for the sill plates, pedals, gearknob, and air-conditioning controls.

Just 112 were built, of which 60 stayed in the UK. This example is finished in Stornoway Silver with a parchment and dark grey leather interior. Fitted with the registration number ‘JB51 AML’, it is showing just 23,900 miles on the odometer.

And it set its first owner back an incredible £107,000 – a sum that included £950 for the carbonfibre veneer option – which works out to well over £200,000 in today’s money.

Since then, it has had just four previous keepers and comes with a hugely impressive MoT and service history, making this almost certainly the ultimate example of the ultimate automatic Aston Martin DB7.

The Stornoway Silver coachwork makes the DB7 GTA look like it has been sculpted from a single ingot of alloy – and by an unusually talented sculptor at that.

Because it is still in a stunning condition; the seller describes himself as fastidious and wouldn’t countenance buying anything other than the best example available. He searched long and hard to find a GTA in this condition and considered himself lucky to find this one last October.

We can see why it caught his eye: With mm-perfect shutlines and absolutely no dents, dinks, or scrapes, your eyes are free to roam over that iconic shape free of distractions.

Even Our Man, who’s been in the trade long enough to keep a cool head no matter how shiny the paintwork, said of it: “It’s a really outstanding example, immaculate” before going back to polishing his magnifying glass while reading his subscription copy of Nit-Picking Weekly.

This flawless condition includes the alloy wheels; despite being clothed in such low-profile tyres, their rims are free of the scuffs and scrapes that are almost inevitable these days.

The matching Bridgestone Potenza tyres were fitted only four years and 1,500 miles ago, so they still have plenty of tread left on them.

Plus, 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.

As for the rest, the lamp lenses are bright and free of damage; the badges, including the all-important ‘GTA’ ones, are shiny and neatly aligned; and the glazing is free of chips and cracks.

We also admired the brace of mesh front grilles, the ‘Works Prepared’ sticker in the windscreen, and the still-pliant window and door rubbers.

As for flaws, there aren’t any really apart from the usual light stonechips every car accumulates over the years, which extend to the nearside front wing and the offside door. A small blemish has also been touched-up on the rear, but these are all minor and in no way detract from the car’s impressive condition.

The dark-grey-and-parchment front seats are terrific, aren’t they? Something of a statement of intent from Aston Martin, they’re both comfortable and supportive, thereby fulfilling the twin roles demanded of them while oozing showroom appeal.

Everything inside is just as nicely finished with leather being used for the majority of the surfaces, backed up by Parchment Alcantara for the headlining.

As we mentioned earlier, the Aston Martin’s first owner splashed out £950 for carbonfibre trim instead of wood veneer, and we think that was probably the best £950 they ever spent because it looks terrific and has lasted very well.

Black-on-parchment instruments continue the monochromatic colour scheme and give the driver information on road speed, distance covered, engine revs, coolant temperature, oil pressure, battery charge, and fuel level.

A fat-rimmed steering wheel and a set of alloy pedals, which includes a footrest for your redundant left foot, complete the driver’s suite of controls.

Except for the stubby gearlever, of course, which gives you the option of letting the automatic ‘box do its thing or intervening using either the gearlever or the buttons on the steering wheel.

An analogue clock is fitted, as is an Aston Martin-branded headunit.

The boot, which is clean and neatly ordered, still contains the Aston Martin umbrella, which is always a good sign. The hazard warning triangle is still there too, and the boot also contains two empty blue suitcases, a fire extinguisher, a car cover, and the loom to connect a battery conditioner.

As for the condition of the interior, our man rates it as being “very good”. Sure, there is the usual minor wear ‘n’ tear, most obviously to the outer edge of that deeply-sculpted driver’s seat, but it is very good, nonetheless.

The only problem we discovered is that the driver’s seat doesn’t flip forward.

However, all the electrical items work as they should, and things like the door cards, carpets, and headlining are all virtually unmarked and completely free of damage.

The DB7 GTA’s service and maintenance record is recorded as follows:

· 11.07.2013 – pre-delivery inspection by Harwoods

· 12.08.2003 and 1,015 miles – service by Harwoods

· 12.01.2004 and 7,228 miles – service by Harwoods

· 29.09.2006 and 12,105 miles – service by Harwoods

· 10.07.2008 and 13,881 miles – service by Harwoods

· 14.07.2010 and 15,407 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre

· 20.06.2011 and 15,457 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre

· 08.11.2011 and 19,619 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre

· 18.06.2013 and 21,563 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre

· 31.07.2013 and 21,738 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre at a cost of £3,000

· 27.02.2014 and 22,004 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre at a cost of £800

· 23.11.2018 and 22,382 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre plus more at a cost of £2,600

· 20.06.2022 and 22,464 miles – service by Chiltern Aston Centre including four new tyres at a cost of £2,400

· 10.11.2025 and 23,365 miles – service by George Edward

George Edward, an independent Aston Martin specialist, uprated the headlamps with LED items in January 2026, taking the opportunity to clean, treat, and protect the underside while he had it.

Chiltern Aston Centre also carried out extensive work to the ignition system in September 2022, running up a bill for around £2,400 in the process.

There are many other invoices on file for routine work, and while we haven’t tallied them up, it’s fair to say this Aston Martin DB7 has not been maintained on a budget.

Which makes the next sentence we’re about to write a bit less of a surprise.

It starts, idles, revs, and drives perfectly.

The seller describes it as “spectacular” to drive, singling out the uprated brakes and engine for praise – and as we’re also selling his standard DB7, he’s got a first-rate benchmark to compare it against.

Our test drive revealed nothing to the contrary either, and we’d encourage you to turn the sound up so you can also enjoy one of the best exhaust notes of 2026.

The condition of the engine bay is every bit as impressive as everything else we’ve examined. It’s so good, in fact, that the only flaw we can see is a tiny spot of rust on one of the bonnet hinges.

The underside is very good, including the vulnerable front spoiler that is free of scuffs and scrapes. Neatly undersealed, no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural rust or corrosion.

In fact, only one of the MoT testers that have inspected the DB7 GTA has made a comment – and that was for “long travel” on the handbrake.

This means, of course, that the current MoT certificate, which is valid until October 2026, was issued with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is also clear, and it comes with two keys.

The history file includes the Aston Martin wallet and handbook, the stamped service history booklet, many old MoT certificates to confirm the recorded mileage, a wad of invoices, and even some photocopied tax discs.

As with the green DB7 we are also selling, the owner is only selling his much-loved GTA because he’s unexpectedly lost four spaces and has nowhere to keep it.

This is especially hard in the case of his GTA because he’s smitten and can’t understand why Aston Martin didn’t stick with it – and having driven it, we think it would be a winner if they released a new one tomorrow.

But they won’t which leaves the secondhand market the only place you’ll find one – and if you do decide to bite the bullet and treat yourself, we think this example is the one to have.

And prices still lag behind where we think they should be.

This one, for example, which is being offered in a flawless condition and with a stellar service and maintenance history, is only likely to fetch somewhere between £25,000 and £30,000, but as it is being offered with no reserve, it may sell for even less.

Buy one while you can still afford to, eh?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.