2003 ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH

• One of the nicest Vanquishes we have had
• Ticks all the boxes of a collector’s Vanquish being:
• In a superb color combination
• Very low mileage (only 31.000 km’s)
• With the desirable Linn Stereo upgrade
• Very well DEALER maintained
• The Vanquish is yet another ‘James Bond’ Aston Martin, having featured in ‘Die Another Day’ starring Pierce Brosnan as the eponymous secret agent
• Hand-crafted aluminum body panels and leather interior
• 200mph+ performance
• This model is now becoming both collectable and recognized as a serious future classic as well as a fabulous car to drive and enjoy
• Beautifully presented in a great colour combination

An entirely new Aston Martin for the 21st Century, the Vanquish debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2001, with deliveries commencing a few months later. The Vanquish took over from the Vantage V8, the Newport Pagnell factory undergoing an extensive multi-million pound refurbishment to accommodate it, gaining a new assembly line, paint shop, rolling road and water test facility.
Styled by Ian Callum, the man responsible for the extremely successful DB7, the Vanquish was developed with assistance from Aston Martin’s parent company Ford using constructional techniques which were more advanced than those of any other road car.
The monocoque tub was made of heat-cured bonded aluminium, braced by a central tunnel of carbon fibre to create a lightweight structure of exceptional rigidity, thus enabling the chassis engineers to develop suspension combining excellent handling and roadholding with unrivalled ride quality. As well as its superior strength/weight ratio compared to aluminium, the carbon fibre backbone also provided better insulation from transmission and exhaust heat in the cabin.
The all-independent suspension followed the accepted supercar norm and comprised double aluminium wishbones, coil springs, mono-tube damper and anti-roll bar front and rear. Four-wheel ventilated steel disc brakes gripped by four-piston callipers provided all the stopping power one needs, while ABS and traction control afforded maximum security in poor road conditions or ‘on the limit’.
Aston Martin’s first power unit of its type, the 6.0-litre, 48-valve, V12 engine developed 460bhp at 6,800rpm, with 400lb/ft of torque available at 5,500 revs.
The gearchange is controlled by F1-style paddles and could be operated in either of two modes – fully manual and computer-controlled automatic – with a ‘sport’ setting available on both. The system allowed the driver to skip intermediate gears on down-changes without recourse to the clutch, while at the same time providing engine protection by means of a rev limiter. All emissions requirements worldwide were surpassed, including California’s LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) standards.
Standard equipment inventory included almost everything the discerning connoisseur would wish for: Alpine stereo system, 6 CD changer, air conditioning, electrically adjustable seats, alarm/immobiliser, tyre pressure sensing, automatic rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamp operation, automatic rear-view mirror dipping, trip computer, etc.
The performance? 190mph and 0-60 in 4.5 seconds.
The Vanquish was built like all other Astons before it, one at a time, by hand. Production ceased in 2007, by which time the model had been upgraded as the Vanquish S and the UK list price had risen to over £183,000 (approximately €219,000 at today’s rate of exchange). The Vanquish is yet another ‘James Bond’ Aston Martin, having featured in ‘Die Another Day’ starring Pierce Brosnan as the eponymous secret agent.


ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE


This particular Aston Martin Vanquish is newly delivered in April 2003 to it’s first owner via the Dutch dealer Cito in Eindhoven.
The car was superbly ordered in an absolute stunning color combination of Tungsten Silver with Tan interior.
The optional Linn stereo system was added to the specification which makes a big difference in the experience of the car.
The first owner bought the car in Holland but registered the car most probably because of tax reasons in Belgium.
After 2 years of use he sold the car via Aston Martin Cito to another Dutch owner.
Since then the Aston only had 2 additional owners which we know very well. These owners are collectors and are very careful with their car. The Vanquish has therefore been very carefully used which can be easily seen on the quality of the car today.
It’s the very first Vanquish which we have had in our collection which was always maintained by the Aston Martin dealer till some months ago.
A service overview will be shown here below:


20-03-2003, 142 kilometers service at Aston Martin dealer Cito Eindhoven
29-08-2007, 11.093 kilometers service at Aston Martin dealer Cito Eindhoven
30-06-2010, 21.623 kilometers service at Aston Martin dealer Cito Eindhoven
06-11-2013, 24.402 kilometers service at Aston Martin dealer Cito Eindhoven
10-11-2015, 26.536 kilometers service at Aston Martin dealer Cito Eindhoven
18-05-2017, 28.267 kilometers service at Aston Martin dealer Cito Eindhoven


As can be seen the Aston has been regularly maintained at the Aston Martin dealer and remains therefore in a very good condition, commensurate with its pretty low mileage of only 31.000 kilometers since its first registration. This means only around 1.500 kilometers per year.


CONDITION EXTERIOR
The shape of the Vanquish is extraordinary and impressively well designed.
The front is a sort of sharp shark nose while the back is extremely wide. When you take a seat on the drivers seat and look in the mirrors, the view is amazing as you can see the beautiful designing of the car.
In our opinion, everything is correct on the design of a Vanquish.
Condition wise this Vanquish is one of a kind. We won’t talk about the superb color combination but just about the condition which is because of the low amount of driven kilometers absolutely wonderful.
If one looks extremely careful it might be possible to find some sign of use but don’t forget that this car has an age of 21 years and it will be very difficult to find another example in such a nice condition.
The body as well as the glasses and the wheels are all in a very nice condition.
A common problem on the Vanquish are damages on the front spoiler but due to the fact that the owners of this Vanquish have been very careful, the spoiler is in a wonderful condition even as the rest of the car.
CONDITION INTERIOR
Inside, the Vanquish showed what could be achieved with beautiful hand stitched leather. The dashboard and many of the smaller interior pieces are trimmed in hide adding to the bespoke feel of the already impressive coupe.
The interior is dominated by an imposing aluminium centre console extending from fascia to transmission tunnel. Connolly leather upholstery, Wilton carpeting and quilted Alcantara headlining emphasizes the Aston Martin heritage, for despite its advanced specification, the Vanquish was built like all other Astons before it, one at a time, by hand.
We have seen quite some Vanquishes over the years but this certainly is one of a kind due to the amazing color combination of the car. The Tungsten Silver exterior is finished with a wonderful tan interior color which suits the Vanquish extremely well.
Most often these cars are black or light beige inside but although this is not a usual color, it is a very beautiful color.
The condition of the interior is extremely nice. The seats are not damaged even as the carpets which are also still in a very nice / superb condition.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
When Pierce Brosnan, aka James Bond, stepped out of his Ian Callum designed Vanquish in the 2002 film, ‘Die Another Day’, the legend was born and immediately every car enthusiast throughout the world wanted to be James Bond. The 6.0 litre V12 produced 450bhp, the car had an early ‘flappy paddle’ electrohydraulic manual gearbox, fly by wire throttle and, of course, looks to die for! The Aston Martin legend as the ultimate British sports car was set to continue.
Steeped in the finest traditions of hand-built craftsmanship, even as it demonstrates 21st Century sports car performance and handling most rewardingly, the 2004 Aston Martin Vanquish is a wonderfully capable and immensely grand expression of the bespoke British sports car.
Driving the Vanquish is a dream which starts when the starter button is touched on the dashboard.
The car activates herself with a beautiful sound and from that moment on the Vanquish is a dream. The handling is although it’s a big car very easy and smooth.
The gearbox handles very easy and the Vanquish can be driven very fast or just comfortable as a GT when grandmother takes place on the passenger seat.
This model is now becoming both collectable and recognized as a serious future classic as well as a fabulous car to drive and enjoy.
Nevertheless finding an example in the condition like this car will be very difficult.