Aston Martin DB7

Officially the DB7 was never available with the V8 engine. But at least two cars have been built (under different circumstances) with the Newport Pagnell, hand built , Tadek Marek V8.

For the 1995 Le Mans 24 hour race, Michel Hommell, a French publishing millionaire, created a DB7 complete with a 6.3 litre V8 and destined to compete in the GT1 class. The car was built by Synergie, a Le Mans based constructor: significantly lighter than the standard car at 1330kg with carbonfibre doors, wings and bonnet. The engine was built in the UK by R. S. Williams - effectively a detuned version of the AMR1 V8 with an output 619 bhp mated to a six speed ZF gearbox.

Hastily prepared for the qualifying weekend and driven by Eric Helary and Alain Cudini, the car failed to qualify for the 1995 race by the narrowest of margins. It was unfortunate as the DB7 had become victim of the intense rivalry between the other GT1 cars, the McLaren F1 and Ferrari F40 GTE. Despite being on the reserve list, it didn’t race in anger; it’s owner was so exasperated being classified below 3 others, he retired the car. I believe that if the car was able to be entered in the GT2 class, it would have raced, and maybe even finished. The car now resides in the owners motor museum, Manoir de l’Automobile, in Brittany, France.

In 1996, Autocar magazine drove a very different DB7 V8 altogether. Built to special order for a wealthy customer by Works Service, this one-off road car featured a 6.3 litre version of the 48 valve Marek V8. Although I’ve never been able to photograph the car, Autocar pictures showed a car with the ‘driving dynamics’ body kit and very discrete ‘V8′ badges. Also the bonnet has a noticeable power bulge to cover the 452bhp engine.

The Beverly Hills DB7 was only available through the Aston Martin dealership in Beverly Hills, California.

In all, six cars were built and feature the following specification

• Midnight Blue coachwork

• Mohair Midnight blue roof (Volante)

• Upper mesh grilles

• Spark Silver alloy wheels - a sort of satin silver finish

• Upper interior and seat piping in blue hide

• Lower interior and seats in parchment hide

• Burr maple (also described as oak) wood veneers, including instrument surrounds

• Sheepskin over rugs

• Fitted luggage

• Left hand drive

If the six cars, two were coupes (one 5 speed manual, one auto) and the remaining four were Volantes (one 5 speed manual, three auto)

Since all examples are all in the US, it is very unlikely that I’ll have an opportunity to photograph the Beverly Hills. So I have borrowed the pictures of the Volante here from the website of US car dealer, Ron Susser, who is selling this car. The pictures of the Coupe were provided by AMOC member called Robin.

Shortly before the ending of DB7 i6 production in May 1999, Stratstone of Mayfair, the London dealer of Aston Martins commissioned a small series of identical DB7’s for their customers. But unlike the previous Stratstone commissioned cars, the GTS/GTS 2, the Stratstone limited edition, the car was built totally by Aston Martin. In total, 19 were built, 9 coupes and 10 Volantes - all right hand drive and all destined for the UK market. Each car was individually numbered on the sill plates, together with the first owners name.

Particulars of the unique and fully loaded specification of the cars are listed below

• Special order black coachwork with a light grey interior, piped in black (not 2 tone as seen in the standard DB7)
• Seats embossed with ‘Stratstone of Mayfair’, plus embroidered mats
• mesh grille with chrome surround
• wheels coloured in a more highly polished silver finish
• Carbon fibre trim (first time on a DB7)
• CD player, Heated front screen, plus leather hood cover on the Volante

Customers took delivery of their cars at a special handover ceremony held at Blenheim Palace and were even transported to the venue by especially chartered helicopters.

Neiman Marcus are a North American exclusive store (a bit like Harrods I suppose), and for Christmas 1998, the store offered an exclusive DB7 in its special limited edition catalogue - the ‘Answer Book’. Ten examples were available at a price of $150,000 each. All were finished in a unique shade of black especially created for the car, complemented by a black mohair convertible roof and light grey Connolly hide interior piped black. To replace the traditional wood veneers for the instruments, centre console and doors tops, the Neiman Marcus DB7 has carbon fibre panels. The wheels are finished in bright chrome as is the wire mesh grille. 

As well as the car, owners received a set of matching black luggage by Swaine Adeney Brigg of London and a monogrammed black car cover. The car was only available to the US market and is now considered the rarest variant of the i6  cars.

During June 1997, AML unveiled a unique DB7 for Alfred Dunhill, the leading English company specialising in clothing and accessories for a discerning clientele. The car featured a series of exclusive luxury appointments such as a humidor for the carriage of the finest cigars, a silver cigar cutter, cigar lighter, a set of carbon fibre AD 2000 pens and an exclusive Dunhill Millennium clock set into the centre console.

The exterior was painted in an exclusive platinum metallic - also applied to the wheels; the interior was in a  contrasting Charcoal Connolly hide piped in silver grey. Also the traditional Aston Martin walnut veneers were replaced with attractive brushed aluminium panels. Design features from Dunhill products were incorporated in the door handles, surround for the boot release, white faced instruments and the gear leaver. The design of the wheel centres was even based on that of the Dunhill Millennium Watch.

The press releases from June 1997 clearly stated that the car was ‘A unique model and not for sale’ but potential buyers must have made a little fuss as by December 1997, it was announced that the production and sale of just 150 examples would begin in 1998. The only difference of note from the original car was that  a ‘non smoking’ version was also offered where the humidor was replaced by a Dunhill grooming kit.

Although the car was only initially offered in coupe form, a Volante version was also made available. Despite the projected build of 150 examples, I believe a mere 78 cars were actually produced before the i6 DB7 was retired and replaced by the V12 Vantage. A recent AM publication has stated that 140 were produced - I’ll eventually get to the bottom of this.

This particular Dunhill DB7 is possibly the most expensive 6 cylinder DB7 ever specified. The total cost of the car in 1999 was almost £120,000 as it features the full works Driving Dynamics package including bodykit and GT wheels.

Not only can the Driving/Visual Dynamics package be used on the coupe, it can also occasionally be seen on the Volante too. This vivid example was spotted at the AMOC Spring Concours in May 2005. Although the Visual Dynamics package is an acquired taste on the coupe, I think this Volante in yellow looks quite well.

When the customer wants their i6 DB7 with something special, the car has to go the AML Works Service in Newport Pagnell for that extra touch. The Driving, Visual and Chassis Dynamics packages offer a menu of enhancements for the i6 DB7 that have evolved from the stillborn DB7GT. Under the skin are up-rated brakes based on those of the V8 Vantage, up-rated suspension, sports exhaust and traction control. Bodywork enhancements, marketed under ‘Visual Dynamics’ include revised front spoiler, sill extension, rear bumper with lower valance and a boot spoiler. A larger intercooler for the supercharger is also available letting the engine breathe denser air - together with a free-flowing exhaust manifold increasing power by upto 50 bhp, giving as potential 385 bhp. Cars with such aftermarket enhancements are also known as ‘Works Prepared’ and often feature the addition of the green ‘Works Prepared’ badge, although the modifications are also available from official AM dealers worldwide (where such after market modifications are allowed).

This dramatic DB7 with it’s ‘Special Metallic Green’ paintwork was the works development car for the driving dynamics package.

This is another ‘works’ DB7 Driving Dynamics as displayed at the Newport Pagnell  factory at the Brooks auction in Spring 2000. The rear view clearly shows the addition of the aerofoil and upgraded rear valance. Very smart five spoke lightweight magnesium alloy GT wheels by OZ are a popular addition to many works modified cars.

This exceptional DB7 was used by Works Service to showcase a number of works prepared enhancements available aftermarket. Finished in Cognac, the car features Sports exhausts, round Vantage rear lamps with revised bumper, plus numerous performance modifications.

The DB7 GTS II was the second of the special editions of the  DB7 especially commissioned and built for Aston Martin Sales of Mayfair by the independent specialists in DB7’s, Car Care Works of Hertfordshire (know known as the Chiltern Aston Centre). Now I cannot claim that either of these cars are built to full GTS II specifications as this was influenced by customer requests , but they do illustrate some of the unique features of this special edition, especially the Vantage style rear light clusters. It is now also possible for many of the GTS II modifications to be retro-fitted to the current DB7 V12 Vantage.

The coupe on the left is a bit of a hybrid since it is not only to GTS II spec but also has the Works Service Driving Dynamics brakes and suspension with GT spec wheels. According to the owner, the DD package is a must have addition to any i6 DB7.

GTS II Specifications

• as the GTS plus
• Vantage style rear light clusters (with integral centre reflectors and reversing lights (so, not like the type used by Works Service)
• GTS monogrammed wheel centre and boot finishers

The DB7 GTS was a special edition of the 6 cylinder DB7 especially commissioned and built for Aston Martin Sales of Mayfair. The conversion work was carried out by the independent specialists in DB7’s, Chilton Aston (aka Car Care Works) of Hertfordshire. Not only have new cars been converted but previously owned models can have the modifications retro fitted. Both Coupe and Volantes were have been converted to GTS specification.

GTS

• Air louvers set into twin ‘Zagato style’ bonnet bulges
• Window quarters and scuttle panel body coloured
• Black ‘Le Mans’ style grille with bright surround
• Speedline split rim wheels with body coloured centres
• (also Aliseo and Mistral available)
• Yellow nose cone and fine coachline
• Sports exhaust system
• White instrument dials and a wood rimmed steering wheel (half wood on airbag wheels)
• Yellow edged overmats
• Additional wood veneers around the instruments plus a Garrard Swiss analogue clock

The DB7 Volante was unveiled a little while after the Coupe at both the Los Angeles and Detroit motor shows in early 1996. This was no accident as the main market for this car was to be in the States. Performance is slightly down on the coupe due to increased weight and aerodynamic drag. Sixty miles per hour comes up in six seconds and top speed is 155 mph for the manual transmission, as claimed by Aston Martin.

Designed by Ian Callum at the same time as he designed the Coupe, the Volante looks elegant both hood up or down, much like the earlier Aston Martin drop head cars. Underneath the sleek and perfectly proportioned thoroughbred, lies additional strengthening to offset the lack of the roof, especially around the windscreen, to provide a degree of rollover protection. Another invisible change to the Volante was softer suspension settings, more suited to to the touring image but also to compensate for the reduction in rigidity over the coupe. Less well known was that the series 2 coupe also adopted the softer Volante suspension. Thus, to driving enthusiasts, the later non-air bagged coupes are the most desirable of the six cylinder DB7’s.

As one might expect, the roof is fully tailored and electrically operated but sadly it sits rather proud of the boot. The typically English ambience is achieved by sumptuous Connolly hide, restrained amounts of burr walnut veneer (oak, elm and maple were also available) and deep pile Wilton carpets. This interior shot illustrates the airbag equipped steering wheel fitted to all series 2 Coupes and Volantes.

I was told some time ago that a small number of TWR development Volantes were actually sold onto the UK market, both with and without airbags. More recently, photographs have been sent to me that actually confirms this to be true.