Unveiled at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, the Aston Martin Vanquish was hailed as a technological tour de force, and still ranks among the most desirable GTs of the past 20 years.

Developed from the 1998 Project Vantage concept, the car featured a sophisticated extruded-aluminium and carbon fibre tub, cutting-edge electronics and an awe-inspiring 460 horsepower V-12. Clad in hand-finished “Superformed” alloy panels designed by Ian Callum, the Aston boasted the latest six-speed paddle-shift transmission. There was also electronic traction control, while a flat underside with rear venturi helped glue the Vanquish to the road at its phenomenal 305 km/h top speed. The technological showcase even extended to sensors that monitored the pressure and temperature of the specially commissioned Yokohama 255/40 ZR 19 front and 285/40 ZR 19 rear tyres. Given such pedigree, it’s no surprise the Aston Martin was chosen to star alongside James Bond in the 2002 hit, Die Another Day.

Magnificent though the original was, the marque unveiled an even faster variant at the 2004 Paris Motor Show—the truly sublime Vanquish S. With 520 horsepower and an astonishing 425 lb ft of torque from the all-alloy quad-cam 5,935 cc V-12, more than 322 km/h was within reach of those lucky enough to own one. Other improvements included new F1-inspired paddle-shift gearbox and axle ratios, stiffer springs and dampers, plus revised steering geometry that provided quicker responses to driver input. The bigger brakes with six-pot callipers, meanwhile, benefited from enhanced feel thanks to a redesigned pedal assembly. Externally, a subtly updated aero package enhanced the already outstanding high-speed dynamics. At launch, Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez described the Vanquish S as “the ultimate high-performance” model, an epithet that has without doubt stood the test of time.

In total, some 2,589 examples of the Vanquish were constructed by the time the model was withdrawn in July 2007. Of those, 1,100 were to the desirable “S” specification. As the final new Aston Martin built at the historic Newport Pagnell works, the Vanquish’s place in history is guaranteed, making well-presented examples highly covetable today. The black over black leather, left-hand-drive car offered is just such a machine. Supplied new via Aston Martin Dusseldorf, Germany, it was acquired by the vendor in 2008 and remains as brutishly elegant as the day it left the factory. Showing just 32,440 kilometres, this Vanquish “S” would make an excellent addition to any collection, or a magnificent grand tourer for regular use.