Aston Martin DB7
1994-1999 (i6) · Aston Martin DB7 — Grand Tourer, Inline-6 Supercharged, designed by Ian Callum.
The Story
The DB7 is the car that saved Aston Martin. Launched in 1994 under Ford ownership and designed by Ian Callum, it gave the cash-strapped marque a beautiful, (relatively) affordable GT – and at 7,000+ built it remains the best-selling Aston ever.
This entry-level DB7 used a 3.2-litre SUPERCHARGED straight-six derived from Jaguar (335 bhp), built at the ex-XJ220 factory in Bloxham on a steel structure with Jaguar DNA. Famously thrifty, its tail-lights came from a Mazda 323F. The V12 DB7 Vantage followed in 1999.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Grand Tourer class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Ian Callum
Scottish designer who penned the DB7 (1994) and V12 Vanquish (2001) before a celebrated 20-year tenure as Jaguar’s design director (F-Type, XK, XF). Now runs his own studio, Callum. Source: Wikipedia.
Studio Motors POV
The most important Aston of the modern era – not the fastest, but the one that kept the lights on. A beautiful, attainable Callum classic that’s quietly appreciating.
The Engine
Aston Martin V12 (NA)
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About DB7
Worth Knowing About the DB7
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. It's the best-selling Aston Martin in history (7,000+) and one of the few cars Aston actually made money on at the time.
- 2. Ian Callum's genesis sketches literally started from a Ford Thunderbird and a Ford Scorpio estate before the XJS-based DB7 emerged.
- 3. To save money, parts were raided from the Ford empire – the tail-lights are from a Mazda 323F.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. 1994-1999 (i6); 7,000+ total DB7s – the best-selling Aston.
- 2. 3.2 supercharged straight-six (Jaguar AJ6-derived): 335 bhp.
- 3. Designed by Ian Callum (+ Keith Helfet); won him the 1995 Jim Clark Award.
- 4. Built at Bloxham, the former Jaguar XJ220 plant; steel Jaguar-derived structure.
- 5. The only Aston with Jaguar unit-construction; the V12 Vantage followed in 1999.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
No specific supercharged-six DB7 owner publicly verified. (Ford’s Jac Nasser bought a DB7, per Ian Callum – a V12-era car, not this model.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The supercharged-six DB7 is the value entry to classic Aston ownership – buy the best, as cheap cars hide big bills. Manuals preferred; check the supercharged six for head-gasket/cooling issues, body corrosion and electrics. The V12 Vantage is the costlier, more celebrated DB7.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Aston Martin DB7
- Class
- Grand Tourer
- Production years
- 1994-1999 (i6)
- Units built
- ~7,000 total DB7 (1994-2004, all variants); supercharged i6 = the 1994-99 cars
- Variants
- DB7 i6 Coupe & Volante (3.2 supercharged straight-six, 335 hp)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- Inline-6 Supercharged
- Engine family
- Aston Martin V12 (NA)
- Displacement
- 3,239 cc (3.2L), Eaton supercharger
- Power
- 335 hp
- Torque
- 361 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 5.7 s
- Top speed
- 165 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 184 hp/tonne · 12 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual (4-speed auto optional)
- Drivetrain
- RWD (front engine) · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 4023 lb
Questions
DB7 FAQ
Who designed the Aston Martin DB7?
The DB7 was designed by Ian Callum (with Keith Helfet) while Callum was at Tom Walkinshaw Racing / TWR. Callum won the 1995 Jim Clark Memorial Award in recognition of the DB7’s styling. He later went on to design the Jaguar XK8, XJ, and F-Type before returning to the Aston Martin world with the Callum Vanquish 25.
Is the Aston Martin DB7 the best-selling Aston Martin in history?
Up to that point, yes — more than 7,000 DB7s were produced between 1994 and 2004, making it Aston Martin’s most-produced model to that date and the car credited with financially saving the company under Ford ownership. (Later high-volume models like the V8 Vantage have since exceeded that figure.)
What engine does the Aston Martin DB7 have?
The original DB7 (1994-1999) uses a 3.2-litre Jaguar-derived AJ6 straight-six with a single Eaton supercharger, producing 335 bhp. From 1999, the DB7 Vantage replaced it with a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 producing 420 bhp.
What is an Aston Martin DB7 worth today?
Original supercharged-six DB7 models (1994-1999) trade for approximately $30,000-$65,000 in 2025, making them one of the most affordable routes into classic Aston Martin ownership. Values are influenced heavily by condition, history, and whether the car has a manual or automatic gearbox.
What is the difference between the Aston Martin DB7 and DB7 Vantage?
The original DB7 uses a 3.2-litre supercharged straight-six (335 bhp, 165 mph) and was produced from 1994 to 1999 — approximately 2,461 cars were built with the six. The DB7 Vantage (1999-2003) replaced it with a 5.9-litre naturally aspirated V12 (420 bhp, 185 mph); the V12/Vantage derivatives account for the larger share of total DB7 production.
The Aston Martin Lineup
Explore every Aston Martin
DB4 GT Zagato ’60DB5 ’63DB6 ’65DBS (1967) ’67V8 ’69
Lagonda ’76V8 Vantage (1977) ’77
V8 Vantage (Supercharged) ’93DB7 ’94DB7 Vantage ’99
V12 Vanquish ’01DB9 ’04V8 Vantage (2005) ’05DBS (2007) ’07V12 Vantage (2009) ’09One-77 ’09
Rapide ’10Vanquish (2012) ’12V12 Zagato ’12V12 Vantage GT12 ’15DB11 ’16Vanquish Zagato ’16Vantage ’18DBS Superleggera ’18
DBX ’20Valkyrie ’21V12 Speedster ’21V12 Vantage (2022) ’22Valour ’23Vanquish (2024) ’24Valiant ’24Valhalla ’25
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