Aston Martin returned to the James Bond franchise in the 2002 film Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan as the ultimate secret agent. The film showcased Aston’s new Vanquish in most of the action sequences and amidst the explosions and machine gunfire the Vanquish not only looked fantastic but seemed capable of epic performance.

No other car since has had the same impact or screen time as that Vanquish, and it is perhaps only Aston Martin that can boast the most screen time of any car maker in over 125 years of film. Fame and gadgets aside, the Vanquish was recognised as one of the ten most beautiful cars ever built by Autocar Magazine in April 2022.

One of just 375 right-hand drive examples, optioned with the rare 2+2 configuration and displaying an odometer reading of some 27,000 miles, this car is for sale with Silverstone Auctions for £85,000 to £95,000.

A pleasing blend of up-to-the-minute technology and traditional materials, the interior was dominated by an imposing aluminium centre console extending from fascia to transmission tunnel. Connolly leather upholstery, Wilton carpeting and quilted Alcantara headlining emphasised its Aston Martin heritage for, despite its advanced specification, the Vanquish was built like all other Astons before it, one at a time and by hand. The Vanquish was built in two versions, a two-seater and what became known as the ‘2+2’ with a couple of child-friendly rear seats filling the space that in the two-seater was occupied by a shelf for a golf bag or other luggage. Aston Martin's first power unit of its type, the original Vanquish had a 6.0-litre, 48-valve, V12 engine developed 460 bhp at 6,800rpm, with 400lb.ft of torque available at 5,500 revs.

The Vanquish S saw its most significant upgrades within the engine bay, with the car producing 520 bhp, an output good enough to whistle the 'S' up to 200 mph, a figure only recently exceeded by the Aston One-77. The previously optional, Sports Dynamic Pack of enhanced steering, suspension and brakes came as standard with the 'S'. It was the last of the line of hand-built Aston Martins, the last model to be produced at the Newport Pagnell factory and, with only 375 built in right-hand drive, is now a very rare car. This very smart example was supplied new by Lancaster Aston Martin on the 1st September 2005 finished in the classic combination of Titanium Grey with Obsidian Black Leather, and optioned, at a cost of £7,000, with the 2+2 seating configuration.

The car joined our vendor’s collection in 2014 and has been stabled alongside historically important Aston Martins and Ferraris from the 1960s and ‘70s. Although serviced less than a couple of hundred miles ago, the car will be freshly serviced for the auction and is supplied with its book-pack, aforementioned service book, two sets of keys, trickle charger, fitted fabric cover, private registration number "C12 JEE" and an MOT valid until November 2022.