VIN: the George Harrison Aston Martin DB5 chassis DB5/1896/R
History of chassis DB5/1896/R
Chassis DB5/1896/R was among the first of around 20 high end motor cars purchased by lead guitarist of The Beatles, George Harrison.
Harrison ordered the DB5 during the latter part of 1964. That year, The Beatles completed a successful world tour and were in the midst of an unprecedented run of hit records.
Harrison’s DB5 was originally configured with Platinum Silver paint, black leather upholstery and matching carpet. Optional extras included chrome wire wheels, Avon tyres, a heated rear windscreen, Britax seatbelts and a detachable passenger seat headrest.
Harrison was the second member of The Beatles to acquire a DB5; band-mate Paul McCartney had taken delivery of a Sierra Blue example earlier in the year and Harrison was so impressed that he went and ordered his own.
In addition, Harrison also purchased a Jaguar E-type 3.8 FHC around the same time.
The DB5 was supplied by Brydor Cars on January 1st 1965 and registered KMT 499C. The Brydor Cars showroom was located in Brooklands, Surrey, around five miles from Harrison’s Kinfauns estate in Esher.
A couple of years after delivery, Harrison had the car repainted white to match his much-loved Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman. By this time, Harrison had also purchased a Ferrari 275 GTB and been gifted a metallic black Mini Cooper S that was customised by coachbuilder Harold Radford and then famously re-painted with Tantra Art.
Precisely how long George Harrison retained his DB5 is unclear.
In 1985 the car was sold by Sotheby’s in London. It has since gone through the hands of several private collectors.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
