2002 Aston Martin Vanquish 2+2 - ex-Hugh Grant

An entirely new Aston Martin for the 21st Century, the V12-engined Vanquish Coupé debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2001. Aston Martin's first power unit of its type, the 5.9-litre, 48-valve V12 engine (first seen in the DB7 V12 Vantage) developed 460bhp at 6,800rpm, with 400lb/ft of torque available at 5,500 revs. The 6-speed gearbox was controlled by F1-style paddles and could be operated in either of two modes: fully manual or computer-controlled automatic, with a Sport setting available on both.

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. The inventory of standard equipment included almost everything the discerning connoisseur could wish for, while the performance - 190mph and 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds – placed the Vanquish firmly in supercar territory. Dominated by an imposing aluminium centre console, the interior featured Connolly leather upholstery and Wilton carpeting, emphasising Aston's heritage, for despite its advanced specification, the Vanquish was built like all other Astons before it - one at a time and by hand. Production ceased in 2007, by which time the UK list price had risen to over £185,000.

Perhaps feeling rather 'flush' after the arrival of an undoubtedly substantial pay cheque for his part in the 2001 Chris and Paul Weitz directed, Oscar-nominated About a Boy, topping up rewards for recent successes in Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill, Hugh Grant, the much loved English actor often portrayed as a charming and vulnerable romantic leading man, decided that a new sports car was on the cards. Presumably the on-screen friendship between Will Freeman (Hugh Grant) and co-star Nicholas Hoult, who played the young boy Marcus in the film, was echoed between takes as young Nicholas, who was a keen car enthusiast and really enthusiastic about Aston Martin's new Vanquish, managed to talk Hugh into buying one.

We are pleased to be able to offer that very Vanquish here. It was ordered by Hugh in 2+2 configuration finished in Solway Grey with Charcoal Leather interior and was originally registered on his well known plate, APE V12. Other notable features include a built-in phone system, satellite navigation, a stereo system with CD player, air-conditioning, and a tracker. We understand that the original umbrella may still be found in the boot, an important piece of provenance perhaps as there is a certain cachet about arriving at the pub on a drizzly Sunday morning sheltering under what was once Hugh Grant's umbrella.

Hugh Grant's name appears in the owner's guide/service book, the latter boasting 13 stamps from Aston Martin main dealers. The car was serviced by Aston Martin Works in 2019 after a period of storage, and subsequently by Harwoods Aston Martin in Chichester. New suspension arms and associated components were fitted front and rear in 2020, whilst the coolant was changed and new coolant hoses fitted that same year. Aston Martin-approved Yokohama tyres are fitted all round. The car was serviced and MOT'd on 22nd March 2022 at Harwoods and annually since, the most recent being in April 2025.

Since its acquisition by our vendor in April 2022, the Vanquish has covered fewer than 1,500 miles and been stored under cover (the current odometer reading is 39,738 miles). Described by him as 'a great car which has given 1,500 miles of trouble-free and exhilarating motoring', the car is offered with the aforementioned full service history, many invoices/bills, its current and previous MOT certificates, the V5C, and both sets of keys.

A low-mileage V12 Vanquish in gleaming Solway Grey is undoubtedly a very desirable motor car and, for many, its ownership by the nation's favourite floppy-haired romantic hero will simply add to that.