1993 Aston Martin DB7 Photos, engines & full specs

Aston Martin introduced the gorgeous DB7 in 1993 while it was under Ford's umbrella and later on shared its platform with the XK8 from Jaguar.

When Tom Walkinshaw wanted a GT based on the same platform as the Jaguar XJS he drove in the European Touring Car Championship, he tried to find a designer to pen the car. The answer came from a young automotive designer named Ian Callum, who used many off-the-shelf parts to cut production costs. At that time, Ford had already owned 75% of the Aston Martin and green-lighted the project. Thus, in 1993, the British brand unveiled the DB7.

Nobody cared that the front blinkers, door handles, and taillights came from Mazda. The organic shapes of the vehicle seduced the audience at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show, where it was launched. Its clear headlights covered the dual headlamps and flanked the specific Aston Martin grille that was made slimmer than on the Vantage, for instance. From its profile, the DB7 featured a raked windshield and a short roof extended in the back by the sloped rear windscreen.

Inside, the leather-wrapped cabin offered a luxurious experience for DB7's customers. Moreover, the wood trims on the center stack and console amplified that sensation. But, unfortunately, the Ford Fiesta-sourced buttons for adjusting the mirrors and other dials left a bitter taste for those who paid big money for the car.

Under the hood, the carmaker installed a Jaguar 3.2-liter supercharged engine. Its inline-six provided 340 hp, which was considered adequate for those times.