Bonhams holds annual Aston auction
Highlights include untouched 1961 DB4
Untouched Aston Martin DB4
Highlights include a classic barn discovery, a 1961 DB4 Series 3, estimated at £20,000. Chassis number 641 retains its original 3.7-litre engine and Dubonnet livery. Its late owner used the car up until 1974 (around the time of his daughter's wedding) and then bricked it up in the family dairy. Untouched since then and in very good nick, it'll need restoration -- this looks like a gorgeous car. Could it be the last ever original DB4?
There's a 1965 DB5, registration DWM 750C, in need of restoration. The car was acquired by the current owner as a restoration project in 1989. However, like so many, the project didn't happen and the car remained in storage, at Four Ashes Garage, for many years. Bonham's estimates it'll go for some £25,000 - and then the new owner will need to dig deep for the restoration.
Also up is an early 4-litre Vantage, one of only 70 six-cylinder Vantages were produced between May 1972 and July 1973 with the more powerful SVC engine. This one is a 1973 model.
The auction is on 13 May.
More here.
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story
When this was interred it would have been of very limited interest to most people. Classics were then just seen as the playthings of crackpots and mild eccentrics. I remember in the late 70s as a lad seeing a DB4 turn up at an agricultural show (the property of a "gentleman farmer" complete with 2 dollybirds) with a rear wiper bolted through the aluminium coach work :-[ Nobody gave a stuff then. Even when I passed my test you could still sniff a DB5 for 5 grand. Oh for that crystal ball.
I know of a DB6 which was done, as much as possible at his house, with only the essentuials carried out elsewhere. The cost was about £25K, over a few years. Won concourse afterwards.
At the opposite end, a full restoration of a DB5 (usually in boring silver birch) can easily cost £200K, and will win the same concourse. I know someoen who has spent £80K on the restoration of his V8. And that didnt include the interior, just the bodywork, paint, engine and engine bay...
If you're interested, this sunay there is the annual concourse at Blenham palace. Free entry for AMOC members. I will be there (but not in mine as the weathers not going to be good)
(No idea about spelling concorse...)
Will
billyb said:
Just out of interest, what does the restoration of a '60s Aston tend to cost? £50k?
More like £150k for a nut and bolt resoration. A freshen up to 'usability' would be £50k. Best buy in there is the DB5 for restoration, although for cheap Aston motoring that Dark red V8 looks to be in very good nick.
William
Seemed very cheap. Stanrge DB5 prices as well: why buy a shell of a DB5 for £50K when you could have one which runs and drives for a few £K more?
And £650K for a DB4Gt which has been rebodied into a Zagato? Well, there goes all those lovely Touring bodied DB4Gt's, then...
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