2004 Aston Martin Vanquish
LJ04 RLT
I have owned several Gaydon Vantages over the years and currently have a V12S manual roadster which is something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing being in unobtrusive Hammerhead Silver and pure black leather with no lipstick or any other contrasting paint, and no lightweight wheels or seats. It’s a lovely car to drive.
But for years I admired the Vanquish. It has such an incredibly subtle macho aura to it – no hideous outsized bonnet bulges, no overly bulbous wheel arches, no extravagant alloys. Just a pure restrained and elegant “brute in a suit”, a nomenclature deserved not only for its looks but for the deep growl of its ultra- generous V12.
I hadn’t really been looking to purchase one but when I heard sometime in 2018 that LJ04 RLT was for sale I couldn’t resist. It had won its class at the Compton Verney Concours in 2016, was totally original and Tungsten Silver was my favoured colour.
It is LHD (German spec) which is fine for me with my frequent trips to France where I lived for almost 40 years. It’s the perfect GT for those rarely crowded and perfectly surfaced routes nationales and it has given me the chance to make acquaintance with the French AMOC.
If one day I can only keep one of my cars I’m inclined to think it will probably be the Vanquish – it really is so unique. Ian Callum’s 25 doesn’t turn me on – I prefer the original – but it’s testament to a great car that he has chosen to update his 20 year old creation.
