Thursday 14th January
Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster: Spotted
How better to bid farewell to the old Aston V12 than a manual gearbox and no roof?
V12 and a manual
Now that old engine created quite a reputation for itself, beginning as it did way back with the DB7 Vantage. Since then it has powered quite a lot of memorable Astons and elicited many an agonising simile from journalists driving it. With the end in sight for the old stager, it seemed high time to feature an Aston V12 with that engine.But which one? The Virage is quite rare, the latest Vanquish and Vantage S the most powerful and the DB7 Vantage the first. But eventually a V12 Vantage Roadster was settled on. This V12 Vantage Roadster to be precise, in Amethyst Red Pearl.
Theis a curious car. It was launched three years after the original V12 Vantage coupe, and only 100 were produced. Compare that to thethat succeeded it, where the hard top and roadster were announced just over 12 months apart with no restrictions on availability. Furthermore, it combines the more relaxed and less focused Roadster form with the hairy chested and quite unruly. Manual only, remember. It's rather an odd mix.
It's impossible to comment on just how oddly this mix drives without having been in one, but that seems almost immaterial looking at it. Yes, it's a familiar shape and, yes, there's new Aston design language coming, but it would be doing well to look this good. The proportions, the details, the overall shape; everything about the Vantage just works.
A rare sight indeed
There has been some, er, debate about the specification of this particular V12 in the office. Dan, being wrong in my opinion, says it's a tart's handbag. I think it's exquisitely done, even if there's perhaps a little too much purple inside for me. All views on this welcome, whichever side of the fence you fall. There's quite a lot of pride at stake here...Such is the scarcity of V12 Roadsters and this car's measly mileage, it's actually for sale at more than what a new V12 Vantage S would cost. That's where the case for the older car becomes tougher. The S is more powerful and more dynamically resolved, plus you would have the advantage of speccing it exactly to your taste if this doesn't suit.
But with the 5.9-litre V12 finally meeting its demise, don't be surprised to see certain versions become more desirable. This car has looks, the limited edition status and the manual gearbox in its favour, which bodes well for future values. And there have to be people wealthy enough to afford it who like the colour, right?
ASTON MARTIN V12 VATAGE ROADSTER
Engine : 5,935cc, V12
Transmission : 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp) : 517@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft) : 420@5,750rpm
MPG : N/A
CO2 : 388g/km
First registered : 2013
Recorded mileage : 144
Price new : N/A
Yours for : £154,850
See the original advert.
[Specs: