ASTON MARTIN’S DESIRABLE BEAUTY
When the Aston Martin DB7 launched 25 years ago, it had all the hallmarks of a model to transform the fortunes of the specialist, limited-production carmaker. Yet, when production ended nine years later, in December 2003, enthusiasm was waning, even though the numbers built were comfortably within original expectations.
In 1994, we were wowed by the DB7’s sensuous shape, supercharged performance, and nimble, responsive road manners. We could not predict whether time would be kind to a car that many thought would be the most significant production road-going Aston ever produced. Like it or not, the enduring long-term value of any costly, high-profile car is usually the measure of its worth.
Hindsight is great, if meaningless, and, as the DB7 stormed out of the blocks, it had a serious rival in the mid-engined Ferrari F355 GTB. When new, they were both available for similar coin in New Zealand: a costly $325K for the Aston and $330K for the Italian machine. Fast forward two-and-a-half decades and the Ferrari’s value is solid and rising, while the DB7 languishes with major depreciation. In 2012, crime barrister Barry Hart’s 2002 DB7 V12 sold for $52K at a Turners auction in Auckland.
To Britain, for an early drive
However, we were scarcely considering retained values as the DB7 was wheeled out for the first time. Clutching a letter of introduction
