1998 Aston Martin DB7 Volante

Description

Aston Martins have always been something special, a bespoke, custom-tailored motorcar built for a discerning clientele and designed to challenge the best in the world. But some are more exclusive than others, with this beautiful 1998 Aston Martin DB7 Volante Neiman Marcus Edition being perhaps the best example. One of only ten built (and nine to still exist), it is traditional British craftsmanship mated with performance that will make you grin like an escaped convict.

Each year, Neiman Marcus features some exclusive, unobtainable machine in their Christmas catalog, and in 1998, they commissioned Aston Martin to create 10 special Volante models (Volante is convertible in Aston-speak). The result was a series of ten $150,000 super convertibles, all dressed in a special shade of black paint. This is serial number 4, owned by a meticulous caretaker and it's chock full of documentation, making it the best kind of find for a collector. It shows just 28,422 original miles and looks a lot fresher than its two decades of life would suggest. Of course, a lot of that is due to the slow evolution of the Aston Martin DB-series, with this car looking almost as sleek and contemporary as last year's models. If you want your neighbors to think you've won the lottery, this is a great way to do it. Of course, you'll also enjoy the spectacular black bodywork that's so glossy you're afraid to touch it, as well as the bespoke features like the mesh grille, which was part of the Neiman Markus package.

The interior is equally stunning, with hand-crafted Connelly leather hides on the comfortable bucket seats, which have that uniquely British look. Perhaps it's the black piping or the feeling that they're as comfortable as they are beautiful, and again, it's very nicely preserved. There are some comfort marks on the driver's seat, but it's quite minor, and the rest of the interior looks virtually new. The dash has been augmented with a carbon-fiber fascia, as have the door panels, all part of the Neiman Marcus upgrade, while the rest remains the same first-class stuff found in other six-figure Astons. Big round gauges are just delightful to look at and the center stack is outfitted with useful, minimalist controls that make it easy to get comfortable quickly. Of course, a powerful entertainment system is included, along with just about every other feature you could want, including heated seats. The power convertible top is black canvas and the surprisingly roomy trunk is nicely finished.

Descended from Jaguars, the supercharged 3.2 liter inline-6 rips and snarls to the tune of 340 horsepower and a whopping 365 pounds of torque. It's supremely smooth but the low-end hit of torque makes it feel like a muscle car, although it never seems to run out of breath at high RPM. It has, of course, been properly maintained and runs superbly today, which is what you'd expect, but what you won't expect is how affordable it is to own. Part of that thanks goes to a GM-sources 4L80E 4-speed automatic transmission, which is practically indestructible and has quick reflexes suitable to the big Aston. The suspension is a wonderful blend of supple and aggressive, so you can drive it every day or take it canyon carving on weekends; it does both equally well. Massive disc brakes live behind those bespoke wheels, which were the last part of the exclusive Neiman Marcus package and they now wear 245/40/18 Bridgestone Potenza radials.

Documented with more paperwork than we can list here, this is a fantastic A-List ride at a very affordable price, and it's arguably the rarest and most desirable of the 6-cylinder Astons. Call today!