Sometimes, it takes the best part of a generation for a car to reach its full potential. Pretty looks aside, the Maserati 3200 GT didn’t come good until the run-out GranSport, and even that did away with the Coupe’s uber-cool boomerang rear lights. Then there was the F80 BMW M3 and M4; far from a failure at launch, yet it took a handful of updates and a Competition version to unlock the platform’s full potential.
You could lump the Aston Martin DB7 in with that group. Like the F80, the DB7 launched to mostly positive reviews, while the Ian Callum styling would shape the company’s design language for over 20 years. But it wasn’t without flaws, namely the Jaguar XJS-derived supercharged inline-six in place of the prototype’s V12 and a cabin kitted out with bits and pieces pinched from Ford’s parts bin. Early cars sold well, but it wasn’t until 1999, when the old straight-six was replaced with an all-new 5.9-litre V12, that the DB7 truly hit its stride. Sales nearly doubled over the next four years, comfortably placing the DB7 as the highest-volume production Aston to date.
True to form, the firm saved the best till last with the DB7 GT as seen here. Though it looks like any other V12 DB7, save for a mesh grille and unique 18-inch wheels, the GT packed an extensive list of tweaks, refinements and upgrades that, ultimately, elevated it to the car it arguably should have been from the off. Power from V12 was upped from 426hp to 441hp, while a shorter final drive for the six-speed manual gearbox brought a snappier response from the engine.
Underneath, Aston bumped up chassis stiffness by 20 per cent with a reworked front subframe and upgraded suspension. The geometry was also revised to improve stability, while the new five-spoke wheels were lighter and wrapped in lower-profile Bridgestone rubber. Clarkson heaped on the praise in his TG review and was particularly impressed by the GT’s ability to briskly cruise up to 135mph from a standstill in a single (fourth) gear.
Unfortunately, only a small portion of the DB7 buying population ever got their hands on a GT. Just 191 manual coupes were produced, with production running from 2002 to 2003. The DB9 would arrive a year later on the vastly improved VH platform and sold in considerably higher numbers. So even though the DB7 came good right at the end, it wasn’t enough to bump up the grand tourer’s street cred. The good news is that means you can still pick one up for less than a new VW Polo, and while a GT commands a hefty premium over an early inline six, we’re not talking DBS money here.
For instance, this 2003 model has 18,736 miles on the clock, a full service history and a binder stuffed with ‘general maintenance records’ as proof it’s been well cared for. You only need look at the pictures to see that, with an interior that’s in fine shape and a toolkit still stocked with all its original implements. There’s even an Aston Martin-branded fire extinguisher behind the driver’s seat! The seller will part company with it for £54,995, a good £30k more than the cheapest DB7s out there. And, sure, they’re one of the cheapest ways to scratch the Aston itch on a budget (Cygnet included), but only in the GT will you experience the DB7 the way it was meant to be.
SPECIFICATION | ASTON MARTIN DB7 GT
Engine: 5,935cc V12
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 441@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 410@5,000rpm
MPG: 14
CO2: 476g/km
Year registered: 2003
Recorded mileage: 32,000
Price new: £104,500
Yours for: £54,995
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