Ex-Top Gear Vanquish S | Cars under the hammer
Former Aston Martin press car was revealed at Paris in 2004 before starring in a piffling motoring show on BBC2
Whenever an old press car comes up for sale here on PH, it usually garners one of two responses. The first, which makes for more pleasant reading, admittedly, is something along the lines of “oh, I remember that! I remember reading about it in [insert your mag of choice] 20 years ago.” The second, somewhat inevitably, is “bet that’s lived a hard life.” And that’s a shame, because not only are they among the most pampered cars on the planet while under the watchful eye of a press fleet manager, it also overlooks some of the incredible stories many of them have to tell.
Take this Toro Red Aston Martin Vanquish S, which is now open for bidding on PH Auctions, as a prime example. It was earmarked early in production as the company’s press and marketing car (the engine build number reads 00009, in case you were wondering) and was swiftly put to use at the 2004 Paris Auto Show to announce the new Vanquish S update. From there, it lived a busy life going from one magazine test to another, while also making the occasional TV appearance. Fifth Gear’s Vicki Butler-Henderson put Aston’s 200mph top speed claim to the test by attempting to max it out on a runway, although the one you’ll likely remember (partly because it’s still YouTube) is its Top Gear appearance nearly 20 years ago to the day.
This is the very Vanquish S that appeared alongside Ferrari’s then-new 575 Maranello on a particularly soggy day at Dunsfold for a V12 GT face-off. Clarkson was at the wheel of the Aston, which left Steve Coogan, of Alan Partridge fame, to take the 575. Hardly a consolation prize, especially as the Ferrari was quicker in a straight line and faster around the Top Gear Test Track, if only by 0.3 seconds, than the Vanquish S. But while Clarkson, Coogan and The Stig agreed that the 575 was the more polished of the two, all said they preferred the Vanquish S.
No wonder, really. Aston made huge strides with the Vanquish S, addressing some of the original car’s quirks and dialling up the 5.9-litre V12 from 466hp to 527hp. The company also fitted a faster steering rack, firmed up the suspension and increased the size of the brakes to cater for the extra grunt. The Ian Callum design was ageing better than a bottle of Bordeaux, so styling changes were kept to a minimum. Look really closely and you’ll spot a subtle nose job, the addition of a small front splitter and a more aggressive angle of attack for the boot spoiler.
“What about the gearbox?” Ah yes, Aston’s infamous automated manual. Tweaks were made to the Vanquish S to sharpen things up, though if you hammer through the ‘box Clarkson-style, you’ll get the slow, jerky shifts that riled reviewers all those years ago. But if you drive it like manual, lifting off accelerator before pulling the right paddle for the next cog, it smooths things out no end. It only takes a few minutes to wrap your head around it, meaning you can focus on the incredible rate in which the Vanquish S gains pace, the light-yet-responsive steering, and, of course, the harmonics of a naturally aspirated Aston V12 roaring away up front.
Any Vanquish is going to be special, and an S even more so, but this former press car is properly sub-zero. Its current owner has treated it to the care and attention a famous Aston deserves, too, all documented in a huge binder along with its many press appearances. It even comes with its own scale model (how many cars have that?), plus a specially-made plaque in the boot to commemorate its time of the legendary TV show. The auction ends on the evening of Wednesday 30th October - not long after we bring you news of what the very latest Vanquish is like to drive - which gives you plenty of time to watch the video dedicated to this very special Aston. Not that you should need much convincing to placing a bid, mind.
Having owned a closely related DBS which is based on the same Gaydon engine and chassis architecture I was completely underwhelmed with the driving and overall ownership
experience.
Having owned a closely related DBS which is based on the same Gaydon engine and chassis architecture I was completely underwhelmed with the driving and overall ownership
experience.
……………
“And that’s a shame, because not only are they among the most pampered cars on the planet while under the watchful eye of a press fleet manager, it also overlooks some of the incredible stories many of them have to tell.”
Yeah, right. Drivers who could never make the grade at the various racing levels then become journo’s. Pamper a car as much as you like but when various hacks with differing abilities and differing driving styles are in and out of it, its going to be more worn out and mauled than some of Katie Price’s body parts.
Having owned a closely related DBS which is based on the same Gaydon engine and chassis architecture I was completely underwhelmed with the driving and overall ownership
experience.
Does anyone really buy a 20 year old Aston and get the previous owners to swear they never went over 3000 rpm and only used it on Sundays to go to church ? You really dont know what a car has been through when you buy it and dont know the history, I think its more about a warm and fuzzy feeling than anything mechanical, a few sideways shots with the tyres smoking and journalists driving it wont kill it.
Astons tend to break sometimes anyway, probably more from lack of use or just some bits being a bit cack.
Buy on condition now and history, I would quite like the fact it was on TG, wouldnt pay extra but it wouldn't put me off.
kwish, due to his pronounciation rather than disdain!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff