SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED
A rare Aston Martin Rapide in Almond Green just one of four made.
EQUIPMENT
Extruded aluminium bonded VH body structure, Bi-Xenon headlamps, LED running lights, indicators and rear lamps, flush door handles, Bilstein continuously adaptive damping system with Normal and Sport modes, front and rear parking sensors, Electronic Park Brake, eight airbags, Door-Mounted Inflatable Curtains (DMIC), glass starter module, dual-zone heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, folding rear seats, ISOFIX fittings, LED map lamps, ambient lighting, auto dimming mirror, cruise control, Bluetooth telephone, HDD navigation, 1000-watt Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system, boot mounted umbrella, Factory Options; Front and rear seat cooling, Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) consists of two 6.5-inch LCD screens, six DVD Changer and wireless headphones, embroidered Rapide seat logo, personalised sill plaques, matching wood door trim, Tracker, Aston Martin boot charger.
EXTERIOR
The Rapide was Aston Martin’s first four-door production sports car designed to look breathtakingly beautiful from every angle. The elegant bodywork is swathed in gorgeous and ultra-rare, Almond Green, (Code AST1339D). A letter from Steve Waddinham, Senior Product Specialist at Aston Martin Lagonda, confirms in writing this example is one of four Rapides made in Almond Green. A low roofline and glass-to-glass connection between the front and rear doors, with no exterior B-pillars helps give the car an uninterrupted, two-door coupe-like profile. Garaged and pampered, only a few stone chips are visible, barely worthy of a mention. Attention to detail is evident throughout from the classic Aston Martin grille to the finer extruded aluminium winged Aston Martin bonnet badge rendered in pewter and enamel, all in excellent condition. From the obvious Rapide’s voluptuous flanks to the discreet aluminium made bonnet, roof and door skins, this really is the ultimate sporting family car and above all, pure Aston Martin.
INTERIOR
Opening any of the four doors using Aston Martin’s trademark ‘swan wing’ mechanism, reveals an exquisitely finished interior. The Parliament Green/Moon Shadow Leather is pristine and the seats alone are trimmed using 10 hides of the finest leather by dedicated craftsmen. Luxury and opulence will surround each of the four occupants thanks to the one piece ‘cabin’ that incorporates the entire volume of the car. Dark zirconium dials on a black surround and Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays face the driver while those in the rear are treated to the optional Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) consisting of two 6.5-inch LCD screens. Traditional rotary controls are fashioned from turned, solid aluminium and modern touches such as twin acoustic lens Bang & Olufsen speakers rise silently from the dashboard. A tripling of the available load space is possible thanks to each individual rear seats being able to each be folded flat at the touch of a button. The embroidered Rapide logo on the seat headrest and owners personalised sill plates show the willingness to specify every single option. This really is the Savile Row of sports cars!
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
The Rapide is powered by Aston Martin’s iconic, 6.0-litre V12 engine. The all-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve engine produces 470bhp with massive reserves of power and torque. 0-62mph is despatched in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 184mph is quoted. The throaty, evocative sound of the V12 engine through the exhaust is sublime especially is ‘Sport’ mode when the bypass valve has been activated. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a rear mid-mounted Touchtronic 2 automatic gearbox, a six-speed unit that is precisely calibrated with the engine to provide broad flexibility in ‘Drive’ mode, as well as having a highly responsive character in ‘Sport’ Touchtronic mode, when shifts can be activated using the cast aluminium, leather-covered paddles sited behind the steering wheel. ‘Sport’ Touchtronic mode sharpens and shortens gearshifts for a more dynamic driving experience.
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Optional 20-inch unmarked wheels in Graphite finish are made from forged aluminium and shod in Aston Martin recommended Bridgestone Potenza tyres measuring 245/40 ZR20 upfront and 295/35 ZR20 at the rear with ample tread. The Rapide was the first Aston Martin to feature dual-cast floating brake discs, which combine cast aluminium with cast iron to maintain high levels of heat resistance so combined with six-piston calipers at the front and four to the rear, stopping power is immense. The crystal clear Aston Martin inscription on the calipers a reminder of the power.
HISTORY FILE
Remarkable. Confirmed in writing by Aston Martin Lagonda as one of just four made in Almond Green, of which two are RHD, exclusivity is assured! Maintained solely by Aston Martin a total of ten stamps are evidenced in the leather-bound manual. The 10th annual service was carried out by Aston Martin Nottingham in January 2020 at 31,852 miles. The corresponding invoice totals £2,403.00 and the vehicle has now covered 32,144 miles . Costing in excess of £150,000 new, the current long-term custodian is an Aston Martin Owners Club AMOC Member and this car has exceptional provenance. A fabulous opportunity to indulge in Aston Martin sports car ownership with a touch of practicality?!
HPI Clear.