2003 Aston Martin Vanquish

The vendor, who has a small but nonetheless very impressive collection of exceptional cars, bought this fine specimen in 2006, when it was just three years old.

The headline news with this car is that it had a new factory-sourced engine fitted in 2016 at a cost of nearly £18,000.

Since then, the car has amassed little more than 1000 miles and, in fact, has only covered 400 miles in the last two years.

It is properly mechanically fettled and sorted, and it goes about its business like the pedigree supercar that it undoubtedly is.

It makes a noise like Brian Blessed and Tom Waits shouting at each other across a canyon and, even by today’s standards, it is still a formidably powerful and fast car.

We have driven it and can attest to its dynamic qualities, its urgent brute force and its ability to make passers-by drop to their knees and make the sign of the cross when they hear it coming.

Splendid.

Finished in black with a black leather 2 + 2 interior, the car features some signature drilled chrome/alloy flourishes, a premier Linn sound system, heated front seats, air-conditioning, a fitted boot floor over-mat, and colour-keyed brake callipers.

The vendor is only parting company with it because he doesn’t use it often enough and he believes it’s time for someone else to enjoy its considerable capabilities and presence.

First registered in February 2003, when it would have cost some £180,000, the car has had just two owners to date.

This steroidally pumped-up British brute presents very handsomely from every angle, and the black finish only adds to its air of brooding menace.

The bodywork is devoid of any dinks, dents, creases, folds or ripples of note that we can see anywhere.

The paintwork is full of deep glossy shine and lustre.

Three of the car’s alloy wheels are in pretty much unsullied condition, but the o/s/f wheel has a few scratches, nicks and scuffs in evidence.

The matching Yokohama tyres look to have a decent amount of life left in them, from what we can see.

We noticed a few stone chips and scuffs around the rim of the n/s/r wheel arch and a little nascent bubbling at the forward base of it. There’s also a patch of ingrained road rash on the sill beneath it.

There are some scratches on the front valance on the nearside, some stone chips around the 'nose’ of the car and the bonnet, and a more sizeable paint chip in the middle of the driver’s door.

There’s a dent in the chrome trim above the rear number plate.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings all look to be in good order.

The interior is every bit as impressive as its exterior counterpart and is a powerfully of-its-era expression of black leather, chrome and brushed alloy machismo.

The front seats are barely troubled by more than the odd light crease, let alone any sort of ingrained patina.

The door cards and headlining are equally time-defying in their condition, as are the carpets and mats.

Needless to say, the rear ‘seats’ are pristine and have probably only ever played host to the occasional bag of groceries.

Only the very young, the very small or the very flexible would have used them as seats.

All of the dashboard plastics are uniformly black, unfaded, uncracked and in very good order.

The instruments, dials, levers, switches and controls are all in splendid nick, aside from a backlight that’s partially failed in the digital temperature display, and as far as we and the vendor are aware, everything does what it’s supposed to do without hesitation or complaint.

We like the tray inside the glove compartment which holds an Aston Martin-branded note-book, a silver Mini-Maglite and a tyre pressure gauge.

Naturally, the boot is in similarly fine fettle and contains some very serious-looking Linn HiFi componentry.

We noticed that the dashboard section to the right of the steering wheel is loose and will need re-affixing.

There’s also some carpet trim hanging down inside the passenger footwell.

The very full engine bay is clean and dry and is, of course, playing host to a factory-supplied replacement engine of 2016 vintage.

Everything appears to be in its right and proper place, as does everything we can see on the reassuringly solid-looking undersides of the car.

There are bills, invoices and receipts aplenty covering all sorts of expensive work carried out as and when necessary.

The replacement engine is documented, as are replacement braking and exhaust systems at about the same time (2016).

Plenty of remedial and work and general fettling was carried out by esteemed marque whisperers Bamford Rose in 2024, and there are also invoices for around £15,000 worth of maintenance, repair and service work through Nicholas Mee in 2013.

The car’s MoT certificate, with no advisories, is valid until 25th January 2025.

The car comes with full sets of keys, the original user manual, a stamped-up service book and a recent, clear HPI report.

They really don’t make them like this any more.

Beyond the rare and beguiling combination of old-school craft and (then) new technology and gizmology, the real pleasure to be had from the car comes when you flex your right ankle, press on a bit and hear that thunderous exhaust note rising through a soulful wail to a metallic shriek.

One or two minor cosmetic issues aside, this car ticks all the right boxes for low mileage, low ownership, provenance, service history and condition.

Add the fact that the engine is less than 1000 miles old and you’ve got a nearly 22-year-old car that’s been given an entirely new lease of life.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £40,000 - £45,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays 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’.