Lot details
Registration No: AJW646B
Chassis No: DB5/1614/R

- In single family ownership from 1964 - 2005

- Matching chassis and engine numbers, factory-fitted limited slip differential and heated rear screen

- Extensively improved by renowned marque specialist Post Vintage Engineering

- Refinished in its original livery of Sierra Blue with Fawn leather upholstery

- Sympathetically upgraded with power assisted steering, air-conditioning and sat-nav

Being an Aston Martin concessionaire in the early 1960s was no cake walk. As well as a marked reluctance to help its dealers with warranty claims, the cash-strapped manufacturer also pursued a decidedly evolutionary product strategy. Introduced in 1963, the DB5 may have boasted such niceties as an alternator, tinted glass, four exhaust silencers, electric windows and more efficient Girling disc brakes but sharing the exact same sheetmetal as the outgoing DB4 Series 5 Vantage must have caused certain customers to look askance at its £4,125 list price (a twenty percent increase). Although some of the extra expense was down to the newcomer featuring an enlarged 3995cc version of the marque's proven Tadek Marek-designed DOHC straight-six engine (up from 3670cc). Nevertheless, one can imagine the impact that the DB5's starring role in the 1964 James Bond film 'Goldfinger' had on saleroom traffic. Indeed, the svelte four-seater has been the stuff of dreams for boys of all ages ever since! With a quoted 282bhp and 288lbft of torque on tap, the super spy's preferred method of transport was reputedly capable of 0-60mph in 8 seconds and 148mph. If ordinary customers had to do without an ejector seat they did at least get the benefit of an improved five-speed ZF manual transmission (albeit the earliest models came with a more antiquated four-speed plus overdrive gearbox). Only in production from 1963-1965, a mere 898 DB5 fixed-heads were ever made. Today, survivors are justly regarded as some of the world's most desirable cars with the DVLA currently being able to account for 355 of them.

According to its accompanying British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, this particular example - chassis DB5/1614/R - was completed on 11th June 1964. Originally finished in Sierra Blue metallic with Fawn Connolly leather upholstery, its factory specification included a heated rear window, Powr-Lok limited slip differential, Dunlop RS5 tyres, triple SU HD8 carburettors and Select-a-ride shock absorbers. Road registered as 'AJW 646B', the Aston Martin was supplied new via Cyril Williams Motors Ltd to Philip Horton Esq. of William Sharp (Birmingham) Ltd. Remarkably, the DB5 remained part of Mr Horton's family until twelve years ago. Maintained by Andy Chapman of marque specialist Chapman Spooner for much of that time, the four-seater had been entered for Aston Martin Owners' Club concours events as early as 1966 and was refinished in its initial Sierra Blue livery not long before noted photographer David Campbell brought the Horton family's thirty-one-year-long custodianship to an end. Prior to his purchase in May 2005, Mr Campbell had the car thoroughly inspected by Colin Thew, Aston Martin's former factory service manager. The latter's extensive report deemed the DB5 to be in generally very good condition with regard to its bodywork and chromework save for some corrosion to the front passenger footwell.

On Mr Thew's recommendation, Mr Campbell entrusted chassis DB5/1614/R to renowned marque specialist Post Vintage Engineering for various mechanical improvements including the fitment of a high capacity radiator core, stainless steel exhaust, replacement differential seal, new oil cooler and fresh gearbox mountings plus an unleaded fuel conversion for the original 'matching numbers' engine etc. The DB5's next keeper, Peter Mimpriss Esq., acquired it from Post Vintage Engineering during July / August 2009. A solicitor by profession who has owned some exceptional motorcars over the years, Mr Mimpriss made the sale conditional upon the four-seater being provided with (a) 'a guarantee to replace or repair at your expense any failure or malfunction of any component that may happen within twelve months of purchase' and (b) written assurances as to 'both the body and chassis being free of corrosion' and the car 'having suffered no accident damage'. He further stipulated that the engine should be overhauled 'to the highest standard' and the four-seater upgraded with air-conditioning and a Becker stereo / sat-nav system. The Managing Director of Post Vintage Engineering, Adrian Johnson Esq., sent a letter in reply stating: 'I am quite sure we will achieve a car that gives you many hours of pleasure and will be very reliable too'. The latter was no idle claim with Mr Mimpriss subsequently writing to Post Vintage Engineering on several occasions in praise of their craftsmanship and the car itself: 'We have just returned from the AMOC Tour of Spain. This was a great success for us due to the fact that the DB5 performed faultlessly for the entire 1,750 miles that we travelled in Spain . . . We have just returned from the NATO Tour of Northern England and Scotland. In the course of this we covered close to 2,000 miles and I am delighted to report that the DB5 performed faultlessly. I know that this is due to the wonderful way in which it has been looked after by Post Vintage and I would like to thank you, Trevor Hill and his other colleagues for their skill and dedication in maintaining the car in such excellent condition. We really appreciate everything that you have all done for us. It is a lovely car to drive and once again thank you for recommending it to me'.

Mr Mimpriss's successor, Michael Wilson Esq., continued to have chassis DB5/1614/R serviced and improved by Post Vintage Engineering. As well as new glass all round, he had the Aston Martin treated to 'a retrim in Connolly VM3234 to original specification' and sundry re-chroming during April 2015 at a cost of £22,602.08. Last sent to the West Yorkshire-based marque specialist for servicing on March 23rd 2016 (some 600 miles ago), the Aston Martin started readily upon inspection and ran without complaint during our lengthy photography session. Uprated with power assisted steering by Aston Engineering Ltd in April 2014 at a cost of £3,616.29, the four-seater was an award winner at the following year's AMOC Spring Concours Woburn Abbey. A decidedly handsome, sympathetically enhanced, 'matching numbers' DB5 that due to its long-term single-family ownership has never been allowed to deteriorate to the point of needing extensive restoration, chassis DB5/1614/R passed its last MOT test on April 21st 2017 with no advisories.

Offered for sale with history file, instruction book, original tool kit and jack.