ASTON MARTIN DB5 AJW 646B

1964 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-Litre Sports Saloon Registration no. AJW 646B

It’s difficult to imagine how the Aston Martin DB5 would be perceived today if it hadn’t been immortalized by its association with the James Bond franchise. This iconic connection instantly elevated the DB5 from being a highly-desirable, hand-crafted GT car to one of the most coveted motorcars of all time. Adding to its allure is its rarity – with fewer than 900 coupe versions produced during its production period, and only 388 currently accounted for by the DVLA. Consequently, well-maintained examples like this one retain their value and continue to be sought after by aficionados of the model, making it likely that this particularly well-presented, low-owner, low-mileage, matching-numbers example will generate strong interest.

According to its accompanying documentation, chassis DB5/1614/R rolled off the assembly line at Newport Pagnell in the spring of 1964. Finished in Sierra blue paintwork matched with fawn-colored Connolly leather upholstery, the same attractive livery adorns the car 59 years later. Its factory-fitted equipment includes triple SU HD8 carburetors, Armstrong Selectaride dampers, Powr-Lok limited-slip differential, Dunlop RS5 tires, and a heated rear screen.

The DB5 was originally delivered to Cyril Williams Motors Ltd and first registered in Wolverhampton on June 11, 1964, for the benefit of Philip Horton, under the care of whose family it remained for the ensuing 41 years. Maintained for much of that time by Andy Chapman of marque specialist Chapman Spooner, the car is recorded as successfully participating in AMOC concours events as early as 1966. After passing a thorough inspection by former factory service manager Colin Thew, the Aston was acquired by noted photographer David Campbell in the spring of 2005. Throughout his ownership, it was maintained by Post Vintage Engineers (PVE), who made various improvements including installing a high-capacity radiator, stainless steel exhaust system, and unleaded cylinder head conversion. PVE also increased the engine capacity from 4.0 to 4.2 liters, and added an air conditioning system, Becker radio, and boot-mounted CD multi-changer. Subsequently, the DB5 changed hands to solicitor Peter Mimpriss of Nayland, Suffolk in 2009, who, before taking delivery, saw PVE completely rebuild the engine and retrim the car in Connolly VM3234 to its original specification. During the tenure of the fourth owner, Michael Wilson, ‘AJW 646B’ underwent further restoration work, including renewal of all glass, re-chroming of much of the brightwork, and installation of power steering by Aston Engineering Ltd.

The previous keeper purchased the Aston from the Bonhams auction of 2 June June 2018, https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24875/lot/218/1964-aston-martin-db5-42-litre-sports-saloon-chassis-no-db51614r/ and has recently treated it to a comprehensive service courtesy of a renowned Aston Martin marque specialist. The vendor presently has no hesitation in describing the enlarged twin-cam engine, five-speed manual ZF gearbox, bodywork, paintwork and interior trim as all being in ‘excellent’ order, and is now offering this splendid example of a much treasured model complete with a comprehensive history file that includes: Heritage Certificate, the original manufacturer’s guarantee, numerous items of correspondence, a copy of the log book from the car’s spell on the Isle of Man (during which it was registered ‘1964 MN’), plus sundry invoices for work caried out over the years.

The last keeper purchased from Hampson Auction 1st October 2023 at the The Bolesworth Castle October 2023 Classic & Performance Car Auction, https://auctions.hampsonauctions.com/auction/lot/60-1964-aston-martin-db5/?lot=1357&sd=1

The renowned DB5 evolved directly from the Aston Martin DB4 Series V model. The key enhancements included an increase in engine capacity from 3.7 to 4.0 liters and, with only a few exceptions in early production, an upgrade from the David Brown four-speed manual transmission to a five-speed ZF unit. Production spanned from 1963 to 1965, yielding a total of 1,059 coupes, convertibles, and shooting brakes. Powered by a DOHC engine delivering 282bhp, the ‘Superleggera’-bodied four-seaters could accelerate to 60mph in approximately 8.0 seconds and achieve a top speed of around 145mph.

In summary:

A pristine example with five owners, boasting 57,399 miles on the odometer and matching numbers.
Features include LSD, power steering, and UB air-conditioning.
Engine underwent a thorough rebuild and enlargement to 4.2 liters in 2009.