To be sold at the Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction on March 8, 2013. For further details please visit www.goodingco.com or contact a vehicle specialist at 001.310.899.1960 or specialist@goodingco.com.
Engine Specifications:
3,995 CC DOHC Alloy Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Three SU HD8 Side-Draft Carburetors
282 BHP at 5,500 RPM
5-Speed ZF Manual Gearbox, Fully Synchronized
4-Wheel Servo-Assisted Girling Disc Brakes
Independent Coil-Spring Front Suspension
Live Rear Axle with Trailing Links, Watts Linkage, and Coil Springs
About this Car:
Introduced in September 1963 as a successor to the DB4 Series V, the DB5 was constructed on a strong tube/subframe chassis with a 98" wheelbase, 54" front track, and 53.5" rear track. Bumper to bumper, the body length was 180" and body height was 53". The body shell itself was crafted in the superleggera fashion – sheets of thin duraluminum alloy hammered to shape over a lattice of small-diameter steel tubing – by the Italian firm of Carrozzeria Touring in Milan. Interiors were fit for royalty, using the finest hides and thick Wilton wool carpeting. With their hand-crafted quality becoming a rarity in the automotive world, Aston Martin DB5s were a scarce commodity and highly sought after.
The DB5 was propelled by a Tadek Marek- designed, all-alloy, four-liter DOHC inline six breathing through a trio of big SU side-draft carburetors. This package produced 282 hp at 5,500 rpm and a healthy 288 lbs./ft of torque at 3,850 rpm. Precise steering was provided by a rack and pinion through a large mahogany-rimmed steering wheel with black- painted spokes. Tipping the scale at a modest 3,310 lbs., a DB5 could attain 60 mph from a standstill in just eight seconds, not running out of breath until its speedometer touched 143 mph. At more modest velocities, the car was capable of returning 14 mpg, and its twin fuel tanks allowed a range in excess of 300 miles. Massive Girling multi-piston disc brakes on all four wheels – previously offered only on the exotic and lightweight DB4 GT – could haul the Aston Martin down to a stop in an amazingly short distance. When new, this luxurious high-speed grand touring coupe carried an impressive base list price of $12,995.
This elegant right-hand-drive DB5 is finished in a dashing Sierra Blue metallic with dark blue leather interior and matching Wilton wool carpeting, all believed to be the original color scheme and providing a handsome contrast to its chromed 72-spoke wire wheels. It is equipped with electric window lifts and seats with adjustable backrests, but without the factory-optional air-conditioning and radio.
This example’s early ownership history is unknown. The car has been repainted once, about 10 years ago, and the front seating surfaces and carpeting are also believed to have been replaced. The car’s recorded mileage read 66,447 at the time of cataloguing, which may be original but cannot be documented. All dashboard instruments are in working order; the speedometer registers in mph, while both the water temperature and oil temperature gauges are measured in Celsius.
Chassis 2098/R is believed to have been brought to the US around 1980 and apparently found its way to the Northwest. The consignor reports that numerous stickers in the luggage compartment indicate this car’s prior participation in the Oregon Columbia Gorge Classic vintage rallies of 2001, 2002, and 2003, and appearances in the All-British Field Meets in Portland, Oregon, in 2001 and 2003. Since acquiring the DB5, the consignor has garaged the car at his home in Carmel, California, and proudly displayed it at the 2008 Carmel Concours on the Avenue during Monterey Car Week. The consignor has entrusted regular maintenance to Randy and Ricky Reed of Antique Auto Restorations in nearby Seaside, California, where they have duly serviced the vehicle for the duration of his ownership. Included with this handsome DB5 are a spare wire wheel and tire, correct lead/leather knock-off hammer, and all maintenance records accrued during the consignor’s time of ownership. A true classic, this Aston Martin would be a fine addition to any serious collector’s stable.
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