Looking to invigorate its product line-up under the tutelage of parent company Ford, Aston Martin bosses unveiled the Vanquish at the 1998 North American International Auto Show. The V-12 powered Vanquish was positioned as the marque’s flagship model and offered a more advanced, modern, and sharply styled alternative to the contemporary DB7 V12 Vantage. The first-generation Vanquish quickly gained praise, utilising a tuned version of the 5.9-litre powerplant that made its debut in the DB7. Boasting a 460 horsepower return, the Vanquish was hailed as “the ultimate grand tourer” in an early road test by Road & Track magazine.

The Vanquish would be the last all-new model made at Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell factory. Ultimately,1,492 examples of the first-generation car were built in a production run spanning from 2001 to 2007. Designed by Ian Callum and inspired by the revered DB4 GT Zagato, the Vanquish combined cutting-edge styling with advanced construction techniques, including an aluminium composite and carbon backbone chassis created in partnership with Lotus. Continuing Aston Martin’s close connection to spy thrillers on the silver screen, James Bond drove a Vanquish in the 2002 film Die Another Day.

This Aston Martin was registered for the road in June 2003 by its first and only owner, who has retained the car in Monaco ever since. Finished in 2+2 configuration, the Vanquish presents in grey with a grey leather interior. The example is specified with the optional six-speed automated manual gearbox. Offered with an impressive service history overseen by its long-term owner, the Vanquish has been maintained by Aston Martin Monaco for much of its life. At separate points in 2023, the Vanquish was fitted with a new battery, brake pads, and boot-lid switch, further to the fitment of four replacement tyres by Tecno Gomma Ventimiglia. In February 2024, the Vanquish was serviced by Aston Martin Monaco, with the invoice (available to view on file) totalling €1,526.59. Factory data confirms that this car retains its matching-numbers engine, while the car’s odometer read 39,903 kilometres at the time of cataloguing.

A landmark model from a fascinating era of Aston Martin history, the first-generation Vanquish is a stylish, sophisticated, and supremely capable grand tourer that can hold its own even in the most illustrious company.