1996 Aston Martin DB7

A walk around this mid-production, six-cylinder Aston Martin DB7 will tell you that the owners have not been afraid to ‘live’ with the car. It’s been part of their lives and they’ve used it like any other. (Luckily, the service stamps will tell you that they’ve serviced it better than many over its life). But a drive will tell you that it’s still a pretty lively GT (the reviewer also drove and photographed the DB7) and it retains all the qualities that keep the model desirable. So expect decent acceleration, handling and braking, and being able to hold a conversation while in the cabin without being distracted by squeaks, groans or shunting from the transmission. And when you park the Aston, you’ve got ‘that shape’ to glance back at over your shoulder. (Yes, I know we’re not supposed to do that kind of thing.)

It’s a car for classic car realists who are prepared to put a little time into the cars they buy, or to simply have fun with them the way they are.  

This Aston Martin presents well in this deep shade of metallic blue. All the panels and materials hang together nicely to retain the sultry curves that have seduced sports car aficionados since 1994. The big front and rear bumper sections have not warped or shifted and the doors maintain their narrow shut lines and do not drop on opening. The belt-line rubbing strip detail along the flanks is intact and lines up nicely across the panels and joins between plastics and metal are good.

Closer scrutiny does reveal quite a few small marks, most often along edges where there are are small nicks or scuffs, such as (just under) the leading edge of the bonnet, or the top lip of the nose. There is a very tiny spot of rust just above the join with the lower panel on the rear of the off-side rear wheel arch. Also, in small places, the lacquer is peeling on top of the near-side wing mirror and on the roof above the rear view mirror.

The Aston is almost devoid of bright metal, save for the badges and the ‘blades’ of the front wing vents. All these pieces are largely good, though the edges and joins could do with a clean. In place of chrome on the window frames, we have a more contemporary black finish. This is in largely good condition, with no bubbling or, for the most part, fading or discolouration. The main exception to this is the bottom of the rear window surround, which is looking fairly weathered and perhaps starting to corrode.

Basically a sound Aston that needs work on the details.

The GT’s grey with blue piping leather interior is in largely good condition. The curvaceous sports seats retain all of their shape and structure, with no wobbling panels or bolsters - not always the case with Astons and Jaguars of this era.

The hide itself is pretty good, with mainly only light wear, understandably, to the outer side of the driver’s seat. It seems to be the blue piping that has taken the most abrasions, with worn patches on both front seats. The rear bucket seats are in excellent condition. There is a slight impress in the cushion of one and a couple of very light scratches, but they remain very presentable.

The cabin gives the impression that the owners haven’t been afraid to use the car - though that doesn’t mean abuse it. There are small scratches on the door furniture, and areas where feet traverse are more scuffed and in places discoloured. The carpets are good in the main, but some edges are also a little worn and there are one or two places of slight discolouration, though the pile is generally very good. Those at the bottoms of the doors are slightly more uneven at the edges.

The centre arm rest is in good condition - not squashed - and the gear selector mounting is in fine fettle. The polished wood throughout the cabin is in generally very good nick (perhaps some fading on the passenger side outer edge), with both the the gear knob and the steering wheel retailing a very good gloss. The leather covering of the right hand spoke shows a few handling marks.

The only area in the cabin that might be more awkward to fix is where the dash/roll top has come away from the edge of the windscreen.

The engine bay is very much that of a working sports car, a little bit grubby, but everything basically where it should be and functioning as it’s supposed to. The motor is pretty snug in there, with most components looking a little weathered but robust. There is a covering of dust, but nothing has been allowed to deteriorate. Ducting and hoses appear healthy and rubber seals also retain a good shape and springy texture. There are little flecks of surface corrosion on the odd edge and on one or two clips or localized to one part. The oil cooler and radiator appear sound as do other visible ancillaries, but most of the six-cylinder is hidden from view. The bonnet stays raised on its struts. It’s underside soundproofing is all intact.

The boot area is very tidy, the carpets a little worn along the joins. Like the engine bay, the seals around the compartment are very good, and in the spare wheel cavity below there are no signs of damp. The battery is appears to be relatively new.

Below the car, the undertrays appear to be in good condition (earlier DB7’s had better undersealing done by the factory). None have sustained any serious damage or corrosion. There is some surface rust on the exhaust, while suspension parts look, for the most part very sturdy, with one or two patches of corrosion on singular components and a little on the front sub-frame. The alloy wheels are quite presentable - one or two very small blemishes - and the locking nut socket on each has some surface corrosion. Brake callipers are a little pitted behind. The Pirelli Cinturato P7s are virtually new and appear to be in excellent condition.

The DB7’s service book carries plenty of stamps and, throughout its life (either from Aston main agents or marque specialists), it seems owners have been willing to spend money on its upkeep. Happily, this has extended into the later years. 2018 saw the ‘eight year’ service (ponder that one for yourself), with a spot of welding and a host of smaller seals and gaskets replaced, as well as the brakes refettled. Almost £900 was also spent on tyres at 83,471 miles. (The car has travelled some 1200 miles since). In 2019 it had a further brake and suspension bush overhaul and, yes, you guessed it, the ‘nine year’ service.

This DB7 has obviously been out there on the road rather than a trailer queen. The latter are great of course because they look beautiful, but one can become less and less inclined to use them. This is a very sound GT, ready to use just as it is, or maybe it’s something to buy now (for less than the aforementioned trailer queens) and titivate over the Winter. Six-cylinder DB7 values will remain firm, so mechanically and financially, you have a solid base from which to work.

We think this example will sell for between £18,000 - £23,000