VIN: the David Brown Aston Martin DB5 Convertible chassis DB5C/1273/R
History of chassis DB5C/ 1273/ R
Chassis DB5C/1273/R was an early example of the 123 DB5s built to Convertible specification.
It was ordered by the owner of Aston Martin Lagonda, David Brown.
Brown began his career working for the family firm, David Brown & Sons, which specialised in transmission components. He was a talented engineer and quickly rose through the ranks. After spells studying business practices in the USA, Africa and Europe, Brown returned to Britain. He was appointed joint managing director of David Brown & Sons in 1932 and rapidly expanded the firm’s operations and profitability.
In 1939, David Brown & Sons acquired a factory in Huddersfield and started the Ferguson-Brown Company building tractors with Harry Ferguson.
In early 1947, Brown acquired Aston Martin and then added Lagonda to his portfolio a year later.
Lagonda was purchased principally for the dual overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine it had under development. Designed by the team of WO Bentley, this state-of-the-art dual overhead camshaft straight six would be ready for use in spring 1949. The engine subsequently found its way into the first true David Brown Aston: the DB2.
David Brown liked to own and test all his company’s products. His DB5 was configured in Caribbean Pearl with Navy Blue upholstery, a matching hood, a manual gearbox, a Power Lock rear axle, chrome wire wheels and a Motorola radio.
It was dispatched from the factory on January 20th 1964 and registered EMG 3B.
David Brown retained his handsome DB5 Convertible for around three years, at which point it was sold to garage proprietor, John Wilkinson of Wrexham, Wales.
Wilkinson had previously owned a DB4 GT (chassis DB4GT/0127/R) which he ordered new from the factory.
During his time with the DB5, Wilkinson continued to have it maintained by Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell. In 1969, the factory fitted a replacement engine and a newly stamped VIN plate.
Since John Wilkinson, the car car has been through the hands of several private collectors and undergone a restoration to original condition.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Nicholas Mee Co. - https://www.nicholasmee.co.uk/
