2007 Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate Edition

The very last of the hand-built Aston Martins, this Vanquish S Ultimate Edition is one of just twenty right-hand drive cars (another 30 were built to left-hand drive specification) made to commemorate the end of production at Newport Pagnell – and for the doubters among you, ‘LF56 WKL’ comes with an Aston Martin Heritage Trust certificate to prove it.

Built in July 2007 and exported to Japan, number 14 in the run returned to the UK in 2018, when the seller became its second owner. As regular watchers know, we love cars from Japan as they’ve generally been pampered to an extent that’s almost unknown anywhere else. That they haven’t had to contend with road salt further adds to their desirability.

Offered with a comprehensive Aston Martin service history to support the 12,700 miles it’s covered, it is finished in Ultimate Black on the outside and Obsidian Black inside plus, of course, a 520bhp V12 engine under the bonnet – but then it is the Ultimate, after all. 

Ultimate Black is a helluva colour for a car like the Vanquish. Described by Aston Martin as being black with a hint of red and blue, it is as utterly ruthless in highlighting flaws as every other black car.

But that’s fine in this instance because there aren’t any. The previous owner curated his car with the fastidiousness we’ve come to expect. As the paperwork shows, part of the way it looks is due to the application of a protective coating, but the bulk of the credit must go to the way he clearly treasured it over the years.

And this careful conservation is a tradition the seller has maintained. As you can see, he’s covered fewer than a thousand miles in it since buying it in 2018, keeping it carefully dry-stored throughout. His diligence has paid off and we defy you to find anything to complain about with regard to the paintwork.

Or the panels, which are straight and true with aligned with the sort of mm-perfection any Company Sergeant Major would be pleased to see in their barracks.

The light lenses, badges, and window glazing is all to the same high standard as the rest of the coachwork.

As are the alloy wheels. Fully 19-inches in diameter and comprising eleven slim spokes, they are not only free of scuffs and scrapes but are fitted with matching Bridgestone Potenza tyres with 255/40R19 on the front and a whopping 285/40R19 on the rear. All have good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Of course, being an Ultimate Edition there is a dusting of carbon fibre trim including on the boot. There’s a front splitter too, plus side strakes, a fuel filler flap (with an alloy cap underneath), and a strut brace under the bonnet. It’s all wonderfully subtle but if you know, you know. 

As for work to do, the tyres are now 11 years old and are showing signs of perishing and are due for replacement.

The Obsidian Black leather used for the interior is nothing short of glorious and it extends to the dashboard, door cards, headlining, and even the sleeves around the seatbelt sockets and the flappy paddle gear selectors. 

The soft leather, which is stitched in white, is supported by chrome and brushed alloy and the resulting ambience is high-tech while still being reassuringly luxurious.

It’s comfortable too, and supportive thanks to the figure-hugging front seats. Both are in an excellent condition as well as being electrically adjustable and heated. Obviously.

The 2+2 interior might not offer the most rear space in its class but we’re pretty sure your children and grandchildren will forgive any lack of legroom when they experience the famed Vanquish chassis and exhaust note. 

(If you’re wondering whether to bid or not, why not call ‘em in, scroll to five minutes and 10 seconds in, turn the volume up to 11, and ask them what they think about the prospect of growing up with a James Bond car in their lives?)

Being the Ultimate Edition there’s a sprinkling of carbon fibre inside too, with door and grab handles benefitting in addition to the centre console.

It has been retrofitted with Apple CarPlay, which neatly addresses one of the Vanquish’s few weaknesses, the somewhat period sound system. 

The boot not only contains an umbrella, a battery conditioner, first aid kit, tyre sealant, and a warning triangle, it also holds three Japanese road flares, which is pretty cool.

As for work to do, we note the digital display is in Japanese. This might just be a case of finding the appropriate menu and switching it over to English or it may be more involved. 

Cosmetically, there are some light scratches to the outside of the driver’s seat near the hinge, a plastic handle has snapped off, the offside door card has some marks to the lower section, and the mat in the driver’s footwell has a hole in it.

The 5.9-litre V12 fires into life nicely and idles with the sort of calm and civility we’ve come to expect from a V12 engine. Prod the throttle though and it wakes up, snarling through the twin exhaust pipes in a very attractive way.

The engine bay is mildly grubby but no worse, and if you were to ask your favourite valeter to give it the once-over that would be money well spent given how clean and beautifully presented everything else on the car is.

As for the underside, the front valence shows the usual scuffs and scrapes they almost all do. You can’t see it from above, so it’s probably not worth sorting out just yet because you will inevitably add to it.

The Vanquish’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2025, and it was gained, like every year bar one, with no advisories.

Mind you, that’s not a surprise given its exclusively main dealer service history:

• 19.08.2008 and 136kms – pre-delivery inspection by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 1,531kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 3,425kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 4,405kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 5,666kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 8,262kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 13,993kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 17,202kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 17,832kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 18,718kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 19,151kms – service by Aston Martin Akasaka
• 23.11.2018 and 19,472kms – service by Aston Martin Reading
• 19.10.2022 and 20,134kms – service by Aston Martin Edinburgh

The Vanquish comes with an Aston Martin Heritage Trust certificate as well as further paperwork from its time in Japan. 

If you’re looking for the last of the handbuilt Vanquishes then this is it. Fittingly called the Ultimate Edition (and what a moniker that is!) this one benefits from only having had two owners, both of whom have lavished money and love on it despite not driving it much. 

Its condition and rarity is inevitably going to be reflected in our guide price, which is between £130,000 and £150,000.

Yes, that’s a lot of money but this is a lot of car and when we’re all consigned to using communal electric transport pods, you’re going to look back at cars like this and wish you’d had the courage of your convictions and bought one when you still could. This vehicle is subject to a finance agreement, details of which will be provided to the winning bidder.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.