1996 Aston Martin DB7 Coupé
Registration no. N987 BRD
Chassis no. SCFAA1119T1C100736

'Aston Martin is back with its most promising product since the DB4 35 years ago. It's the best looking British sportscar since the E-Type and an imperious chassis, gutsy engine and sumptuous cabin mean its talents are much more than skin-deep. Classic GTs come no finer this side of a Ferrari 456GT. Even without the emotional knee-jerk reaction to a car of such beauty, the DB7 is a triumph. In nigh-on every area of engine and chassis performance it has what it takes to hold its own against the opposition and, in many spheres, shows them the way home.' - Autocar

It was the company's 1987 acquisition by Ford which ensured the future of Aston Martin, and the former's takeover of Jaguar two years later which made possible the revival of the DB line, dormant since the end of DB6 production in 1970. Jaguar's axed XJ-S replacement - the XJ41 - was deemed more suitable as an 'entry level' Aston Martin, and work on the project commenced towards the end of 1991, responsibility for the final design being given to Tom Walkinshaw's JaguarSport company.

Brilliantly styled by Ian Callum in a manner reminiscent of the traditional Aston Martin, the body was notable for employing numerous composite-material panels in its construction. The chosen engine was a 3.2-litre version of the twin-cam, four-valves-per-cylinder AJ-6 unit that had replaced the venerable XK in Jaguar's saloon range. This was endowed with a suitable power output courtesy of a water-cooled Eaton supercharger. The result was 335bhp and a top speed of 160mph, a performance that put the DB7 on a par with rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz 500SL and Porsche 928. . A little under three years after the DB7's debut at Geneva, the planned Volante convertible was launched simultaneously at the Detroit and Los Angeles Auto Shows in January 1996, the coupé becoming available in the USA at the same time.

A desirable manual transmission model, this DB7 coupé was serviced by Aston Martin main dealers from 1996 to 2001, and since then has been serviced regularly by Nicholls Commercials. Related bills are on file and the car also comes with current MoT and a V5C Registration Certificate.