2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Manual

Highlights

• Excellent MOT record, current MOT to March 2026

• Striking Iron Ore Red upholstery

• Uprated Velocity AP clutch

• Uprated adjustable front dampers

• Apple Carplay/ Android Auto upgrade

Overview

Tennis is a funny old game. You often hear about specialists who have rocket serves, are great from the baseline, or have a smashing forehand. And they’ll often do exceptionally well in terms of marketing or notoriety. But the ones you really need to watch for are the all-rounders. The ones who have real ability everywhere on the court. They may not have the fastest serve or the cleverest netplay, but they grind out wins and amass victories year after year. They’re the ones we often remember long after their career is over. (You better not be setting up a cringey joke at the end with all this tennis malarkey – Ed)

No, you haven’t accidentally strayed onto the ‘tennis lover’s weekly’ website, but we are going to celebrate a truly magnificent British all-rounder: the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Is it the fastest car from the Aston stable? No. It’s quick, for sure, but it’s no record-setter. It’s not a track specialist either. And you certainly can’t squeeze the kids into the back because… er… there are no rear seats.

However, what it does do exceptionally well, possibly better than any other car from Aston’s fabulous history, is EVERYTHING. It goes well (0-62mph in less than 5 seconds), handles well but maintains the suppleness you’d expect of an Aston, and it sounds incredible. You think some of those tennis players can yell? Wait until you hear a V8 Vantage empty its lungs at 7,000rpm. Besides all that, it’s surprisingly practical, comfortable and luxurious. It’s genuinely the kind of car that will have you glancing back over your shoulder every time you park it. And you’ll park it a lot, because you could genuinely use it every day, with minimal compromises.

This particular example keeps sending great hits your way too – *wham* manual transmission, *smash* delightful silver-over-red solar scheme, *volley* lovely recent service record and MOT history, *bosh* well-chosen upgrades. (Enough - Ed)

We mustn’t forget that it’s also incredibly, knee-tremblingly, fist-bitingly pretty. Pretty in that eternally appreciated way that makes grown men go all misty eyed and need a minute or two of quiet introspection.

If you’re looking to park one of the most stylish cars ever built on your driveway, there aren’t many better ways to garner neighbour envy than this.

History and documentation

• First registered 10th November 2005, sold from Grange of Exeter

• Current owner since 27th April 2024

• Full document pack, including the ‘Owner’s Guide’ leather wallet and service book

• Collection of maintenance and servicing invoices, as well as a number of old MOT certificates

• Two keys and one electronic fob

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 12th March 2026

• Excellent MOT record, with no significant issues or problems noted, and no advisories in recent years

• 84,750 miles on the clock, verified by the service and MOT records

• Stamps in the book show service history as follows: PDI, Dec 2005, Nov 2006 @ 5,496 miles, Nov 2007 @ 9,459 miles, Oct 2008 @13,582 miles, Dec 2009 @ 22,393 miles, Nov 2010 @ 29,787 miles, Nov 2011 @ 34,386 miles, Jun 2013 @ 38,970 miles, Mar 2015 @ 47,000 miles, Jun 2016 @ 54,887, Sep 2017 @ 62,967, Dec 2018 @ 68,115, Apr 2021 @ 74,607, Mar 2022 @ 76,415, Feb 2023 @ 78,709, Feb 2024 @ 80,489

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• Cherished registration is not included, and will be removed and replaced with an age-appropriate registration before sale

Interior

• Iron Ore Red leather upholstery, presented in good overall condition, with some light patination and creasing to the seats, but no rips or significant wear we could see

• Matched deep red carpeting and OEM over-mats, all in fine condition with no threading or staining apparent

• Alloy interior trim

• There are a few light scuffs and marks to the interior trim and switchgear, but only what is commensurate with the vehicle’s age and mileage

• Electrically adjustable seats with heating function – the vendor notes that the driver’s seat does not heat up

• Light grey headlining is in excellent condition, with no staining, sagging or damage

• Multi-CD system and radio

• Uprated high definition screen by the well-regarded specialist Aston Installations featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and cameras front and rear

• The main instrument cluster is clear and well lit, showing no faults or warning lights

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Air-conditioning

• Electrically operated windows and door mirrors

• Heated front and rear screens

• Behind the seats there is a sizeable and practical storage shelf, ideal for overnight cases or bags

• Spacious boot space, neatly trimmed with black carpet that looks to be in fine fettle

• We’re assured that all the rest of the cabin’s features and functions work just as they should

Exterior

• Handsome Tungsten Silver paintwork, which looks to be in great condition for its age, with just a few minor blemishes and stone chips

• In June 2019, the front bumper, bonnet, front wings, both doors, roof and door shut were all professionally resprayed

• The vendor reports a very small amount of oxidation/bubbling on the offside door

• Black door mirrors and roof complemented by smoked glass

• All of the bodywork looks to be straight and in very good order, with no damage, corrosion or misalignment we could discern

• The external badging and trim all looks to be present, correct and in fine condition, with no notable wear or damage

• Underneath, the car’s sills and floor pans appear to be straight and clean, with all the undertrays intact and just a few scrapes showing on the front and side trays

• The vehicle’s glass elements all show very well, being clean and clear, with no cracks or chips we could see

• At the rear, the light clusters have been upgraded to the newer clear lenses, and the vendor tells us that an “upgraded headlight demister system” has been fitted

• The 19-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels are finished in black and look really well on the car, with no notable lacquer peel or kerb damage – the previous owner had them professionally refurbished in November 2021

• A matched set of Michelin PilotSport 4S tyres is fitted – 235/40 at the front, 285/35 at the rear – and all appear to have plenty of tread and are free from obvious sidewall damage

• In all, it's in great condition for its age

Mechanical

• Naturally aspirated 4,282cc V8

• 6-speed manual transmission

• Rear-wheel drive

• Traction control, ABS and power-assisted steering

• Factory performance figures: 380bhp, 0-62mph in c.4.9 seconds, 175 mph top speed

• Switchable exhaust system

• June 2018 - new radiator fitted

• April 2021 - adjustable front dampers (DAE Nitron R1-AM) fitted, new FEAD belt and pulley

• October 2022 - upgraded lightweight Velocity AP clutch fitted, as well as a new clutch slave cylinder

• June 2023 - new brake discs and pads all round (at 79,265 miles)

• October/November 2023 - new exhaust bypass valve and pump, as well as a new offside door seal

• March 2024 - new front springs, A/C condenser and oil separator

• The vehicle starts, idles and revs well, with a smooth, baritone rumble and a bark on the overrun

• We’re assured by the vendor that the car drives “faultlessly”, with no mechanical issues or problems that they are aware of

Summary

In our eyes, there’s still very little that can hold a candle to the V8 Vantage in terms of styling and general “rightness”. It’s an achingly pretty car, with a wonderfully charismatic engine and all the performance you could realistically want from a small sporting GT.

Finished in that cracking silver-over-red colour scheme, benefiting from the desirable manual transmission, with a couple of well chosen upgrades, a fine MOT record and plenty of recent maintenance, we think this stylish example could be the ideal way to get into Aston Martin ownership. It just ticks so many boxes, it’s a genuinely great all-rounder.

It’ll certainly be all ‘love’ then (please no – Ed), because this gem ‘serves’ up (oh lord – Ed) a blinding blend of talents, meaning the ‘adVantage’ will definitely be yours (you are so very fired – Ed).

Worth it.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Neath, South Wales.