2011 Aston Martin Vantage V12 Carbon Black Edition

‘VX61 HLK’ is a 2011 Aston Martin Vantage V12 Carbon Black Edition, a specification that was limited to just one car per dealer, making it as rare as it is beautiful.

Finished in Carbon Black Metallic with an Obsidian Black leather interior and a manual gearbox, this is, for many of us, the ultimate Vantage.

This one’s been looked after properly too with a full Aston Martin Cheltenham service history up to 2022, at which point Aston Martin Sevenoaks picked up the baton. Not that it was a heavy baton because the car’s still only covered 37,750 miles.

The seller wasn’t even looking for an Aston Martin, but his stepson sells high-end cars, and he’d just taken this one in as a part-exchange against a Ferrari. He suggested it would complement the Bentley that was already in the garage very nicely, and the deal was done.

As you can see, it’s been used sparingly in the three years he’s owned it, only being wheeled out for high days and holidays. The seller was careful to  maintain the car’s main dealer service history, but feels that now is the right time for someone else to enjoy it. 
 

The Vantage’s Carbon Black status means you get four carbonfibre bonnet vents, carbonfibre side strakes with black mesh behind them, a carbonfibre front splitter and rear diffuser, and a bright grille.

Of course, black cars are all very well when they’re sitting in the showroom but no colour – and we do mean no colour – highlights problems with the coachwork more ruthlessly than it.

Luckily there is little to worry about, leaving you free to enjoy the slightly sinister presence this V12 example exudes, even when stationary.

The Carbon Black Metallic paintwork has a very good shine to it, and the combination of the subtle metallic hue and the use of carbonfibre means it treads the line between stealth and wealth better than most of its rivals.

Because there is no doubt this is a premium sportscar, even to the uninitiated – and even before you start the engine.

The details reinforce this; the lamp lenses are bright and free of damage, the badges are all present and correct, and while the shutlines aren’t as instantly noticeable as they would be on a lighter car, when you peer closely you can see they’re still mm-perfect.

There are hidden jewels here too, including a lovely alloy fuel cap behind the flap. Clean aperture shuts too, plus shiny tailpipes.

The specification also brings a set of ten-spoke, diamond-turned, 19-inch alloy wheels to the game. These are, of course, finished in black and they sit in front of a set of carbon-ceramic brake discs and white-on-black Aston Martin calipers.

As you can see, they look great even if they do show a few kerbing scuffs.

The tyres are matching though, so that adds back a few points because 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.

The rear Pilot Sport 5 tyres, in a whopping 295/30ZR19, were made in 2019, while the front Pilot Sport 4 tyres, in a slightly more modest 255/35ZR19, were made in 2020. All have decent tread but there is some light cracking to the sidewalls, so it would be prudent to include the cost of replacing them in your budget.

Apart from the inevitable marks and stonechips every car collects along the way, the rear numberplate is wonky, there is a small patch of peeling lacquer on the lower edge of the nearside rear wing, two significant chips in the nearside door, a small dink in the top of the offside rear wing, a mark on the rear bumper above the nearside parking sensor, and a deep scuff on the offside edge of the front splitter.
 

The Carbon Black’s interior comprises Obsidian Black hide on the seats, dashboard, transmission tunnel, handbrake, gearlever gaiter, and door cards, plus an Alcantara headlining and steering wheel, black carpets, piano black trim, anodised black steering wheel trim, and unique anodised sill tread plates.

Plus, carbonfibre door pulls, of course.

You might think all that black is would be a bit gloomy, but the combination of coarse silver contrast stitching and shiny controls and switches means it’s actually a very pleasant place to be.

Not least because the tombstone front seats, which are a fetching combination of hide and suede, are as comfortable and supportive as they are attractive. They’re in good shape too, with nothing more than minor creasing to their outer edges.

The carpets, headlining, door cards, and dashboard are virtually unmarked, as is the useful storage space behind the front seats.

The boot is also a very good sized, making the Vantage as practical as it is accomplished. It too is very well trimmed and very clean and contains a spare set of numberplates and the hazard warning triangle.

As for faults, the leather trim has warped behind the instrument binnacle, but that’s about the extent of the issues as far as we can see. 
 

The Virage’s maintenance is recorded in the service history booklet as follows:

•    07.02.2013 and 4,613 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham 
•    29.01.2014 and 12,180 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    06.01.2015 and 16,424 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    11.02.2016 and 23,431 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    13.02.2017 and 26,201 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    26.02.2018 and 27,756 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    07.03.2019 and 28,293 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    13.03.2020 and 31,291 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    17.03.2021 and 32,665 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham
•    18.03.2022 and 33,297 miles – service by Aston Martin Cheltenham

At this point the service history booklet was full having had a main dealer service every single year for ten years, which isn’t a bad record, is it?

It picked up a new book in 2023:

•    07.11.2023 and 36,606 miles – service by Aston Martin Sevenoaks 
•    22.11.2024 and 38,119 miles – service by Aston Martin Sevenoaks

That’s an unimpeachable record, and one the new owner is going to have to continue by getting it serviced – at an Aston Martin main dealer or independent specialist, of course – PDQ.

The condition of the engine bay is very good. Clean and nicely presented, that magnificent V12 engine is as much a piece of art as it is a means of power.

Hyperbole? Not at all; Aston’s engineers have made sure it is as aurally and visually pleasing as it is powerful and torquey as the video shows.

And it starts perfectly, idles solidly, and screams like a banshee when you press the throttle pedal thanks to a subtly tweaked exhaust system.
 

The Vantage’s MoT certificate, which is valid until May 2026, was issued with no advisories, just like so many before.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Aston Martin comes with the leather case and fob and a thick wad of invoices for work over the years. 
 

The need for a service and a set of tyres has been factored into our guide price, which sits at a lowly £50-60,000, which doesn’t feel like a lot to get behind the wheel of a car the American magazine Road & Track said of:

"The uprated Vantage really is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Beyond the superb leather, aluminum and carbon fiber, what's left is superb speed and handling, precisely what makes enthusiasts giddy.”

Such a rare and pampered example should also do better than most Vantage V12s over the years, so it might not end up costing you as much as you think by the time you let it go.

Assuming, of course, that you can bear to part with it…

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’.