First owned by actor Hugh Grant
2002 Aston Martin Vanquish 2+2 Coupé
Chassis no. SCFAC13392B500352
Engine no. AM3/00419

A new Aston Martin for the 21st Century, the V12-engined Vanquish coupé debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2001. Styled by Ian Callum, the man responsible for the DB7, the Vanquish was inspired by one of Aston Martin's most celebrated models: the DB4 GT Zagato.

Debuted in the DB7 Vantage, and Aston Martin's first power unit of its type, the 6.0-litre 48-valve engine developed 460bhp. The six-speed gearbox was controlled by F1-style paddles operable in either of two modes: fully manual or computer-controlled automatic, with a 'sport' setting available on both. Standard equipment included almost everything the discerning connoisseur could wish for, while the performance - 190mph and 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds – placed the Vanquish firmly in the supercar class.

The interior featured Connolly leather upholstery and Wilton carpeting, emphasising the Aston Martin heritage, for despite its advanced specification, the Vanquish was built like all other Astons before it: one at a time and by hand. Production ceased in 2007, by which time the UK list price had risen to over £183,000. The Vanquish is yet another 'James Bond' Aston Martin, having appeared in Die Another Day (2002) starring Pierce Brosnan as '007'.

This Vanquish was originally ordered by actor Hugh Grant following the making of the film, About A Boy. It is understood that co-star Nicholas Hoult, who played the young boy Marcus in the film and is a keen car enthusiast, advised Hugh on what sports car he should purchase. Originally registered on Mr Grant's well-known plate, 'APE V12', the Aston was ordered in 2+2 configuration finished in Solway Grey with Charcoal interior. Other notable features include a built in phone system; satellite navigation; stereo system with CD player; air conditioning; and a tracker. The original umbrella may be found in the boot.

Hugh Grant's name appears in the owner's guide/service book, the latter boasting 13 stamps from Aston Martin main dealers. The car was serviced by Aston Martin Works in 2019 after a period of storage, and subsequently by Harwoods Aston Martin in Chichester. New suspension arms and associated components were fitted front and rear in 2020, the spark plugs and coils changed, while the coolant was changed and new hoses fitted that same year. New Aston Martin-approved Yokohama tyres are fitted all round. The car was serviced and MoT'd on the 22nd March 2022 at Harwoods. Bills, MoT certificates and the current V5C document (stating three former keepers) may be found in the history file. Currently showing 38,367 miles on the odometer, the car also comes with two sets of keys.