2011 ASTON MARTIN CYGNET

This Aston Martin Cygnet is a smart example of the marque’s unusual hand-trimmed city car, presented in a bright factory colour scheme and with low mileage from new. Under the bonnet is the 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, which drives the front wheels via a CVT automatic gearbox. The odometer shows just 12,909 miles from new.

Created partially to help Aston Martin reach new fleet emissions targets introduced in 2012, as well as to give its existing customers a more city-friendly vehicle, the Cygnet is based around the Toyota IQ, sharing its platform and drivetrain. Aston Martin then completely reworked the body, fitting a unique bonnet, door skins, wings, light units and bumpers. The interior was also totally retrimmed, using the same high-grade leather that the marque features in their other vehicles. Differing slightly from normal Aston Martin designs, the Cygnet’s bodywork nonetheless features some of the marque’s signature touches, including their trademark grille design and bonnet vents.

First registered on 29 July 2011, this Cygnet is now one of the UK’s rarest city cars, with only 82 CVT examples currently registered for the road. The logbook shows just one previous keeper, and the car is now being sold by its second owner.

Overall, the bodywork is in great shape, with even panel gaps and flush shut lines. Its white paintwork — which is accented by white stripes from nose to tail — is in good condition; although, there are a few blemishes, including a mark on the rear bumper, a few use-related stone chips, paint peeling on the driver’s side door grille and a paint chip on the right-hand side of the rear bumper.

The car rides on its original 16-inch diamond-cut white alloy wheels, which are in respectable condition, with only minor kerb damage to the rear right unit and deterioration to its centre cap, plus corrosion on the front left wheel. Its wheels are shod with Bridgestone B250 tyres in size 175/60 R16 all round, which appear to be in good order with no signs of damage or cracking to their sidewalls.

In the cabin, white leather covers most of the interior surfaces, with Aston Martin claiming to use the same number of hides to trim a Cygnet as they did in a DB9 or Virage. The interior is in largely excellent condition with only minor marks, including some discoloration to the driver seat’s side bolster and slight staining to the driver’s and rear seats. The seats’ patterned black fabric centres are in great shape, with no clear signs of wear, and the rare original Cygnet-branded floor mats are still present.

Currently requiring a fresh MOT test, the car was last tested on 19 July 2016 at 11,941 miles, achieving a first time pass without a single advisory notice. Accompanying this Cygnet are its original black leather-covered owner’s guide and service booklet.

This Aston Martin Cygnet is an incredibly rare and idiosyncratic city car brought to market by one the world’s best-known makers of luxury GTs. Presented in smart condition and with extremely low mileage from new, it would make a great addition to a varied collection, adding the finishing touch to any Aston Martin collector’s garage.

All cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.