1964 ASTON MARTIN DB5
1964 ASTON MARTIN DB5

Details
1964 ASTON MARTIN DB5

Registration No. French registered
Chassis No. DB5/1619R
Engine No. 400/1608
Silver with black leather interior.

Engine: Six cylinders, twin overhead camshafts, 3995cc, 282bhp; Gearbox: five speed manual with synchromesh; Suspension: independent front by double wishbone and coil spring, live rear axle with parallel radius arms and Watts linkage; Brakes: four wheel dual servo-assisted disc. Right hand drive.

Through the 1960's Aston Martin meticulously refined and developed their high performance DB series of coupes and convertibles to place them amongst the world's most desirable and exclusive automobiles. Their pedigree was impeccable. For the DB5, announced late in 1963, the silken straight six powerplant, originally designed by the legendary W.O. Bentley, was now very much in the big-bore form in which it had competed in two Le Mans 24 hour endurance races. It was installed in Aston's well tried, capable chassis and clad with an exquisitely finished all-aluminium body designed by Touring, the noted Italian styling house. The DB5 was luxurious and practical, with improved ventilation, tinted glass in windscreen, powered windows and optional air conditioning. In this new model Aston continued their policy of offering, as standard equipment, items that had been extras on earlier versions.

The DB5 Aston Martin rapidly became the very essence of the handbuilt English classic car. Very expensive, built in tiny numbers by dedicated craftsmen, it was also an apt choice of mount for the suave secret agent James Bond so memorably played by Sean Connery in the now cherished 1960's adventures. In those days it was kitted out with rockets, an ejector seat, wheel scythes and other aids to a spy's survival unknown to the car's original designers. Equally deft was the director's decision in 1995 to hark back 30 years, nostalgically providing a DB5 for Bond's use in Goldeneye, a movie of which the Sunday Times observed, "At last!...A Bond film as it should be made nowadays: a period drama." No less than three different Aston Martins were employed during filming and this fourth example was used by renowned French special effects man Remy Julienne during the preparation of the high speed car chases and stunts in Goldeneye. In these the DB5 driven by Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, was pitted against a modern Ferrari 355 piloted by arch-criminal Famke Janssen. M.Julienne has stated of this car, "To make this performance credible, it was necessary to make the performance of two very different cars the same." It is understood that the suspension, brakes and tyres were all modified to make this possible. "The Aston Martin served as a guinea pig to test the solutions that we then had to adapt to the (identical) vehicles used during the filming." After filming the DB5 retired from the heady world of the filmmaker to be used as a normal road car.

Existing documentation also shows that between 1990 and 1996 it was maintained by respected Midlands Aston Martin specialists, Four Ashes Garage. During this period all rusted sills, box sections, outriggers, bumper mountings, rear radius arm locating point and jacking points were replaced with new metal. Corroded aluminium panels were also replaced, after which the body was stripped to the bare metal and refinished. All body seals and weather strips were renewed and a new windscreen was fitted. Mechanical work included replacing the engine's timing chains, overhaul of the water pump, reconditioning the suspension dampers and fitting a new clutch. New wheel centrelock spinners were fitted. The interior was given new Wilton carpets, the leather upholstery refurbished and much other interior trim recovered. The external chrome fittings were replated and polished.

As now presented, this pristine and well-maintained Aston Martin, with its interesting provenance and appealing history, should be ready to provide a successful new owner with many miles of enjoyable use and will be an immediate focus of interest at any event attended by Aston Martin or film people alike.
Sale room notice
Please note the electric window on the driver's side is not working.

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