2002 Aston Martin Vanquish Manual Conversion
About this Model
Stepping into the 21st Century, Aston Martin was in desperate need of a refreshed line up that reflected a new era and ambition from the British marque. Legendary designer Ian Callum was given full rein over the design of an Aston Martin for the first time, and the result was what we now regard as the rebirth of the brand.
So good was the design that for the first time in over 10 years, the flagship Aston became the primary choice of James Bond again in Die Another Day. Although no production model has been fitted with machine guns or the ability to disappear, as far as we are aware. The first generation Vanquish has since been voted the third most iconic British film car of all time.
All new material technology was used on the chassis, designed in collaboration with Lotus to ensure the car's weight was kept down. While the exterior has undeniably sporty looks, the interior has always been noted as being spacious and luxurious, making this a truly comfortable GT unlike many modern alternatives. The true masterpiece, however, sits upfront with the 5.9 litre naturally aspirated V12 producing 460bhp and good for a top speed of 190mph. As with most modern Aston V12s, the sound is simply unrivalled by its competitors. With the crescendo of noise arriving after 3,000rpm, you are unable to do anything other than grin like a Cheshire cat.
This Particular Car
This car was supplied new via Aston Martin Reg Vardy in Houghton le Spring on 30th April 2002, and is finished in the very attractive shade of AML Racing Green over a Green and Cream leather interior. The early owners were evidently intoxicated by its driving ability, having covered some 50,000 miles in the first four years.
Long term owner Mr Gray then sent the car back to Aston Martin Works in 2010 to have it refreshed, with the gearbox altered from the original automated manual it was supplied with to a six-speed manual. This was a service previously offered by Newport Pagnell, with just over 90 cars believed to have been sent back to the factory for an official conversion. The invoice for the work came to £15,956 before VAT, which equates to just over £25,000 in 2026.
The car boasts an outstanding service history, having been looked after by Aston Martin and subsequently by V12 Vanquish guru David Such. The most recent service has just been carried out, with a fresh MoT valid until July 2027.
Why This Particular Car
Stepping into this car for the first time puts you in quite an exclusive club. First of all, there are not many people who have had the experience of driving a V12 with a manual transmission, especially a car from the last 25 years or so. Second, there are fewer than 100 examples of the V12 Vanquish that have been converted to manual, so you somehow end up in an even more exclusive club.
But all of that comes after you have actually looked at this car. The AML Racing Green is enough of a spec to make me pull funny shapes with my face when I see it, simply because it looks that good. Having started the car, heard the V12 roar into life, and engaged the clutch, I was immediately sold.
Once you are out on the open road, the car feels much smaller and more nimble than it looks, yet somehow remains every bit as luxurious as a GT car should. The main star of this example is of course the gearbox, and it really has to be experienced to be understood. I was not sure what to expect when taking it out for the first time, but once driven you really understand why the previous owners could not stop driving this thing. There simply are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe what a special experience this car is.
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