One to Buy: 1 of 19 in left-hand drive 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible
Introduced during July 1963, Aston Martin’s DB5 was the ultimate British-built Grand Tourer of its day.
Offered in Coupe and Convertible trim with a choice of manual or automatic transmission, the fixehd head DB5 was a better looking alternative to Ferrari’s 330 GT and the ageing Maserati 3500 GTi, but in open top form the handsome 2+2 Aston had no true rivals.
Despite this, the DB5’s prodigious list price meant it remained an ultra exclusive and rarely seen model with just over 1000 built by the time production came to an end in September 1965.
Of these, just 123 were constructed with the Convertible body style and today these low volume iterations of aguably Aston Martin’s most iconic model rank among the most sought after motor cars of their era.
Currently on offer at The Houtkamp Collection in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, the Netherlands, is one of just 19 DB5 Convertibles built to left-hand drive specification: chassis DB5C/1918/L.
Completed on March 19th 1965 and dispatched to the USA ten days later, it was configured in the sensational and highly evocative colour scheme of Primrose Yellow with Black leather upholstery and a matching Black roof. DB5C/1918/L also departed Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell factory with the rarely seen option of air-conditioning plus chrome wheels and a Bosch Cologne radio with electric antenna.
Presented in excellent restored condition following a restoration by marque experts, this matching numbers example represents a rare opportunity to purchase a left-hand drive manual transmission DB5 Convertible in such a fabulous configuration.
Reprinted below is The Houtkamp Collection’s description:
One of the rarest Aston Martin road cars of its era
One of only 19 Left Hand Drive DB5 Convertibles built
One of 123 DB5 Convertibles built
High quality restoration at marque specialist
Rare original factory colour scheme
In August 2021 an Aston Martin DB5 Convertible was sold at auction in Monterey, California for $3.195.000.
Factory build sheet confirms this car to be in original delivery specification and matching numbers
The Aston Martin DB5 coupé is one of the most iconic cars ever built. Often seen in Silver Birch as the personal car of super-spy James Bond.
For customers who wanted to have something which was even a bit more special than a “standard” coupe, Aston Martin built the convertible version.
Nearly a thousand coupé DB5’S were built but only 123 customers were able to drive away in the convertible version of one of the most iconic cars.
Due to the low production number, the DB5 convertible is one of the rarest Aston Martins ever built
The DB5 convertible was priced at £4,490,- which was far above the price of an average house at the time, assuring that only a privileged people were able to afford an example
British elegance and class bought examples of the DB5 convertible such as Peter Sellers, Beryl Reid, and even HRH Princess Margaret.
Only 19 of the open-top versions were produced in left hand drive specification, making a DB5 Convertible in factory original left-hand drive, as seen on the car offered here, extremely rare.
Due to the fact that most countries drive on the left the demand for original left hand drive versions is much higher then right hand drive versions resulting in the most recent auction result for an original left hand drive Aston Martin DB5 convertible of $3.195.000.
ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
The history of this Aston Martin DB5 starts on the 19th. of March 1965 when this rare DB5 was completed and delivered to its first owner.
The car was originally delivered in it’s current specification. Colorwise the car was carefully chosen in Pale Primrose Yellow with a Black interior and matching hood. A superb color combination for this car which was of course intended to drive on nice weather days. Therefore the convertible was even delivered with air conditioning. The air conditioning is still in working order.
This DB5 ticks all the boxes.
The DB5 is a very rare original left hand drive example.
It still shows it’s original color scheme.
The engine shows it’s matching number
The car is fitted since new with air conditioning and the Aston is professional restored by a marque specialist retaining it’s original details.
The car is impressively correct with the correct numbers on the correct places.
Marque specialists Aston Workshop and later Trinity Engineering in the United Kingdom, completed a comprehensive overhaul of the car.
Works undertaken included rebuilding and unleaded of the engine, full body restoration, full suspension rebuilt, full brake rebuild, overhauling the carburettors and fitting a new convertible hood.
Service records from the mid-2000s to today document the usual engine, brake, suspension, and transmission work one would expect to be performed.
CONDITION EXTERIOR
The body of the Aston Martin is in a nice condition. The fittings of the doors, bonnet and boot are very nice.
This is a car in a condition which we personally adore. It’s certainly not over the top restored. The car is in a very correct and honest condition as an Aston Martin DB5 belongs to be. Not too shiny but very very nice.
The paint has a beautiful deep and nice shine and the color fits extremely well on the car. It’s a difficult color to get nicely photographed but trust us that this is a wonderful color for a DB5 convertible.
The condition of the chrome parts can be best described as in absolute beautiful condition. The bumpers, light surrounding and wheels are in excellent condition.
The glasses of the windows are all in a nice condition without scratches or stonechips.
CONDITION INTERIOR
The interior has proven it wasn’t just a showcase of period luxury, it was also very stylish and timeless.
The interior of the Aston is very attracting and in our opinion the colour suits the exterior color of the car very well.
Period correct Connolly leather seems to be used during the restoration.
Amongst the leather seats, the hood as well as the carpets are all in period correct materials and in a beautiful condition.
The dashboard is nicely shining and shows the correct grey color.
All meters, gauges and knobs are in perfect working order.
The wood rimmed steering wheel is in a nice order as well. It shows that the car has been used over the years, it has a beautiful patina.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Driving an Aston Martin DB 5 is extremely special. Everybody knows the model because of James Bond and everybody seems to love the brand.
An Aston Martin is always accepted and people enjoy seeing an Aston life on the street.
For the continent it is of course a huge advantage that this Aston is a left hand drive example. But amongst this advantage, the amount of left hand drive cars made by Aston Martin is rather low which results in a huge demand for these cars.
Factory-delivered left-hand-drive Aston Martin DB5s are extremely rare cars indeed.
If James Bond’s DB5 was just a standard saloon model, one of nearly a thousand, only 123 lucky customers were able to drive away in the convertible version and only 19 customers get delivered an original left hand drive version.
This is 1 of these cars which is extremely rare to be on the market.
