The Aston Martin DB7 exists, at least in part, due to Jaguar s shortcomings.

When Ford acquired both Jaguar and Aston Martin in the late 1980s, they quickly discovered that while work had begun on a replacement for the ageing XJS, the new car had become heavier than the original.

With overtime costs spiralling out of control, they pulled the plug.But, from the ashes of the XJ41, with the help and guidance of motorsport legend Tom Walkinshaw and design icon Ian Callum, the DB7 was born.

Built in the same Bloxham plant as the XJ220 supercar, the DB7 would go on to become Aston s most produced model.

In 1999, Aston expanded the DB7 range to include a V12 powerplant.

This car is one of those fitted with the 5.9-litre V12.

Ordered as a convertible V12 Vantage, it s finished in Solent silver, with a contrasting navy blue mohair roof.The DB7 is an effortlessly elegant car, especially in drop-top guise, and despite the variety of outsourced parts, it looks classically Aston Martin.

The ...