Rifle through a selection of archetypal poster-adorning supercars and you’ll doubtless find one prominent commonality: a V12 engine. From the Lamborghini Miura to the McLaren F1, and to modern machines such as the Aston Martin Valkyrie and GMA T.50, it remains the cylinder count of the gods – despite a few significant efforts to woo us with fantastical 16-cylinder behemoths. Twelve it seems, be they banked at 60 or 180 degrees, remains the magic number.
And as we progress up the automotive ladder, the unchecked box with V12 written next to it is one many will be keen to fill. It’s not an impossible ask, even if you don’t want to spend a fortune: the likes of the Jaguar XJ-S, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S600, Toyota Century, and others all offer an accessible route to that 12-pot hit. But cost-effective does not always mean convincing. You wanted a V12, you got a V12, but not one delivering the enthralling motivation, theatre and aural gratification of those poster cars past.
But if you are willing to be bold, one comparatively accessible alternative will readily supply the dozen-derived cachet and cool you’re seeking: the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage. All 12 cylinders, 5.9 litres, and 414bhp of classic two-door GT, for as little as £12,000. And we’re not talking about over 400 silken horses neutered by a few-speed torque-converter auto from the darkest days of Detroit: for that money, you can opt for a six-speed Tremec manual or a five-speed ZF automatic with optional Touchtronic wheel-mounted shift buttons.
