1997 Aston Martin DB7 I6 Volante

• First registered on 22/08/1997, supplied by Stratstone London in Solway Grey
• One of just 150 manual gearbox cars out of just 879 DB7 i6 Volantes
• Rare black leather interior complements the Burr Walnut trim
• Showing some 49,700 miles (atoc) with both main dealer and specialist services
• Excellent service history, two sets of keys and the original owner's book pack

Designed by Ian Callum at the same time as he designed the coupé, the Volante looks elegant both hood up or down and underneath the sleek and perfectly proportioned lines of this nineties thoroughbred, lies additional strengthening to offset the lack of the roof. Another invisible change to the Volante was softer suspension settings, more suited to the touring image but also to compensate for the inevitable reduction in rigidity compared to the coupe. Less well known was that the second generation, Series 2 coupé also adopted the softer Volante suspension, an indication that the DB7 was settling into a Grand Touring role as harder, more focussed models were on the way.

As one might expect, the roof is fully tailored and electrically operated once the catches have been manually released with the handbrake up. The classic, 'Gentleman's Club' ambience is achieved by the use of sumptuous Connolly hide, restrained amounts of Burr Walnut veneer and deep pile Wilton carpets. Only 150 Volantes were fitted with a manual transmission out of a total DB7 i6 Volante production of 879 before the model was replaced by the DB7 V12 Vantage Volante.

First registered on 22/08/1997, this lovely example was supplied by Stratstone, London in Solway Grey coachwork with a black leather interior, black mohair roof and with a manual gearbox. The excellent service history is made up of a veritable Who's Who of Aston Main dealer agents and specialists and there are invoices for recent replacement tyres and a brake service. The car has been enjoyed by just four former keepers covering some 49,700 miles at the time of cataloguing and is accompanied by the owner's book pack, an excellent service history and both sets of keys.

Quite a rare car and as DB7s gently slip into the 'Classic Aston' category, could well be a valid addition to an Aston collection, or alternatively, you could just put the top down and use it.