The Aston Martin DB7 was more than welcomed in the mid nineties after the Aston Martin V8 went out of production. The main reason is that the DB7 took Aston Martin back to its old design language which made its models among the most beautiful cars ever made. With that, the DB7 was bound for success despite its numerous flaws and five years after it debuted, the convertible DB7 Vantage Volante was introduced sporting the, now iconic, Ford derived V12. The DB7 Vantage Volante’s horsepower was very impressive back then, and it’s enough to make it exciting even today. What makes it even more interesting in modern times is the fact that all DB7s including the Volante came with a six speed manual as standard. That makes it one of the most interesting cars on the used market despite being heavily overlooked. That’s especially true when we consider that the DB7 Vantage Volante price is the same as it is for a used Honda Civic. This DB7 Vantage Volante review will shed some light on a largely forgotten piece of automotive history. But before that, check out the ones currently available here at Exotic Car Trader.
After the muscle car inspired design of the Aston Martin V8 and the boxy design of the Virage, the DB7 was a throwback everyone was hoping for. The DB7 looks like a continuation of the iconic DB6 which is regarded by many as the most beautiful car ever made. And thankfully, Aston Martin stuck to the DB7’s design language with all the future models, even the current ones. That said, beneath the beautiful skin, the Aston Martin isn’t that impressive. All DB7s were made on the Jaguar XJS platform which dates back to 1975, so it wasn’t the latest word in chassis design in the nineties, and much less today. Even so, the DB7 was very fun to drive despite the XJS platform’s weight, plus the 5.9 liter V12 fit into the DB7 like a glove. Also, the XJS platform is modified, and if you are wondering about where was the DB7 Vantage Volante made, the answer is in the Gaydon factory like all Aston Martins before and after it. And as to how many DB7 Vantage Volantes were produced, the answer is just over 3,000 cars between 1999 and 2003 which includes both the coupe and convertible models.
The DB7 Vantage Volante, being a convertible version of a coupe model, naturally weighs noticeably more. That in turn hurts the performance in all metrics as well as braking. At the same time, the DB7 convertible has a limited top speed so the coupe is definitely a nicer car to drive. But the DB7 Vantage Volante is no slouch either and the missing roof makes it even more exciting. The DB7 Vantage Volante’s weight sits at 4,200 lbs which is nearly 200 lbs heavier than the coupe. At the same time, the DB7 Vantage Volante’s top speed is electronically limited to 165 mph. Still, that’s more than enough to land you in jail. And it will land you in jail in just 5.1 seconds as that’s the DB7 Vantage Volante’s 0-60 time. All this is made possible thanks to the 5.9 liter V12 which debuted in 1999 with the DB7 facelift. And the DB7 Vantage Volante’s horsepower torque ratings are 426 and 400 lb-ft. That’s enough to keep even modern cars exciting, plus the V12 engine was so good that a variation of it is still used in current Aston Martin Models.
The DB7 Vantage Volante came out in 1999 which means there are no screens inside, and even the number of buttons is low. Moreover, the DB7 Vantage Volante’s interior didn’t change much since the model debuted in 1994 so even the late 2003 models look like they came from the nineties. Still, the fact that the interior is so simple makes it that much more beautiful today. The BD7 Vantage Volante design used beautiful flowing lines with wood trim following them. The center console is also entirely covered in wood and so are all the buttons. Moreover, quite literally everything the eye can see and hands can touch is covered in beautiful colored leather. All that makes the DB7 a true nineties time capsule today, and the perfect place to detox from all the modern technologies and touchscreens. That said, it’s worth mentioning that the DB7 interior is ridiculously small so taller drivers might struggle. Plus, the rear seats are virtually useless for anyone who is over ten years old.
We know we have already rambled enough about how beautiful the DB7 Vantage Volante exterior is, but here it goes again. While the early DB7 models look very much like they were conceived in the early nineties, the 1999 DB7 Vantage Volante design looks as fresh today as it did back then. That’s largely thanks to a new machined front grille in the signature Aston Martin shape dating back decades and huge round fog lights which somehow fit perfectly with the design. More modern wheels also bring the DB7 into the 21st century, while the pinched rear end makes it look as handsome as it always did. Two exhaust exits on each protruding from the bumper still make it look like a concept car. And even though the tail lights came straight from a Mazda 323, they look like they were made for the DB7 instead. Even with the soft top up the DB7 looks amazing as it’s usually the same color as the exterior and it retains the coupe shape.
Given that the DB7 was developed on a shoestring budget, there isn’t much to talk about when it comes to DB7 Vantage Volante technology. The underpinnings came from a car introduced in 1975 so everything is pretty basic including the brakes, the suspension system and the chassis. Everything mentioned is perfected, but nothing groundbreaking. The highlight of technology being the V12 engine, but even that is based on the Ford Duratec V6. That said, the engine was made of aluminum and combustion chambers were substantially different, as well as all other components including the cylinder head. But parts sharing doesn’t stop at the chassis, suspension, steering, and drivetrain. Apart from using Mazda tail lights, the DB7 also uses Mazda door handles, turn signals from an MX5, switch gear from the Ford Scorpio and wing mirrors from a Citroen CX. The DB7 is then the ultimate concoction of parts sharing, yet it’s absolutely sublime which is something only the British can pull off so well.
Back when the DB7 Vantage Volante was new it was $150,000 which is $280,000 in today’s money. That said, we do have to mention that the DB7 was always a bit overpriced for what it was, but that doesn’t take anything away from its appeal today. So, how much is a DB7 Vantage Volante worth now. Well, there aren't that many post 1999 DB7s in the US, but when they do come up, they can sell for anywhere between $25,000 to $40,000 depending on the mileage and condition. The coupes are on average 20% more expensive, and so are those with a manual transmission.
The DB7 Vantage Volante trim levels were pretty much non-existent. All Aston Martins from the time were essentially bespoke and each one was customized to the customer’s wishes. That beats the purpose of any identifiable trim levels and each DB7 is as unique as the next one. That said, there was the DB7 Vantage Volante GT with ten extra horsepower, suspension modifications and a refreshed exterior and interior. But those were late production models built between 2002 and 2003 as the final send off. Not only are they extremely rare, but we are also not sure if those were sold in the US at all.
In the end, the DB7s time is yet to come on the used market as Aston Martin customers are still enticed with the newer and technically much better DB9. However, the DB7 has its own special charm which is what pushed all the future models to success, making it one of the most important Aston Martins in modern history. If you are after a DB7, which you should be at this time, buying one through Exotic Car Trader is the best way to go about it. Exotic Car Trader offers escrow protection, delivery, first inspection and infinite convenience with everything done in ten minutes before payment. The same goes if you are looking to sell a car with Exotic Car Trader as you don’t even have to worry about taking pictures and uploading the car to our website. Hopefully, this Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante review has shed some light on just how interesting this model is and how much potential it can have in the future.
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