Wednesday 6th May 2009

AM Works Service Hosts Annual Sale

Tenth Anniversary Aston Martin auction at Newport Pagnell this weekend

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Aston Martin Works Service at Newport Pagnell will host Bonham’s annual auction of the marque’s cars and automobilia on Saturday 9^th May.

A good way to spend a Saturday

The sale - now in its tenth year – is held in the evocative surroundings of the Works Service workshops. Starting at 9am, the 2009 sale will feature more than 200 lots, include more than 40 cars. According to the organisers there’s a mouth-watering selection of Aston Martin's road and race cars from Feltham-era DB cars, through to a 2004 DB7 Zagato - one of only 99 produced.

Other key cars in the sale include a 1962 DB4 convertible, formerly in the collection of film director Bruce Robinson, and a rare Lagonda Rapide Sports Saloon.

There’s also a unique selection of automobilia up for grabs, including – for the first time – material from the archives of Lionel Martin, who co-founded Aston Martin with Robert Bamford in 1914.

[Uncle John]

A very close friend of mine has a special car up for auction, it will be a great but sad day in many ways.

[williamp]

Its a fantastic day out, and a great chance to see some Astons in the car park too!

[Jasper Gilder]

Could be a Sagaris in the car park too!

[Lucozade]

Jasper Gilder said:

Could be a Sagaris in the car park too!

Might have to come in my reliable Tuscan as my Vantage is still with the dealer after going in for a service 2 weeks ago and still awaiting bloomin parts from Aston!

[Pow!]

I take it this is a free entry thing to have a look about or would they like it to be a bit more private?

[V8LM]

It's a great day out. I think entrace is with the catalogue, but you can buy these at the door.

[munk]

Anyone got any problems with not bidding for the Vantage 500 in the background? I've got about 2 grand... think that should swing it...

[G4HKS]

Lucozade said:

Jasper Gilder said:

Could be a Sagaris in the car park too!

Might have to come in my reliable Tuscan as my Vantage is still with the dealer after going in for a service 2 weeks ago and still awaiting bloomin parts from Aston!

Problems with you Vantage? Surely not!

[DickyC]

V8LM said:

It's a great day out. I think entrace is with the catalogue, but you can buy these at the door.

One catalogue gives entrance to two people.

[DickyC]

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/pu...

[atca]

Not being familiar with historic Astons, why do DB5s command such a premium over DB6s?
Surely it's not just the 007 factor?!

[DickyC]

atca said:

Not being familiar with historic Astons, why do DB5s command such a premium over DB6s?
Surely it's not just the 007 factor?!

The DB4, rather than being a development of the previous model, was an incredibly bold step for a small manufacturer with new body, new chassis and new race-bred engine all at the same time. It was very well received and near perfection in line and form, but it was a bit unruly. By Series V however, the DB4 had become sufficiently different and more civilised that the next step was to call it a new model; the DB5. You can prove this to yourself by watching Goldfinger. JB's DB5 is one of the factory prototypes and is actualy a Series V DB4. (The late DB4's and the DB4GTs already had fared-in headlights.) In the interior shots, such as the ejector seat scene, the gear knob shows four gears - the DB4's unloved David Brown 4-speed box.

The DB5 is a DB4 with the bugs removed. It has the engine increased from 3.7 to 4.0 litres, it has the ZF 5-speed and electric windows; it's a lot more civilised.

Then came the DB6 and it all started to go horribly wrong. DB6 aficianados will disagree heartily with this but the shape is all wrong. Seeking further refinement AM stretched the DB5 to give more room in the back, increased the headroom in the back at the expense of the roof-line and ruined the balance of the shape. It's also heavier than the DB5.

The proportions were restored by the DBS which was a DB6 stretched again, both ways this time, to make more room for both passengers and engine with a new body. AM were happy now and versions of the DBS V8 ran until the Virage came along.

So, in answer to your question, in addition to the 007 connection, the DB5 is sublime.

[f328nvl]

atca said:

Not being familiar with historic Astons, why do DB5s command such a premium over DB6s?
Surely it's not just the 007 factor?!

In simple terms, the answer is yes.

[cardigankid]

atca said:

Not being familiar with historic Astons, why do DB5s command such a premium over DB6s?
Surely it's not just the 007 factor?!

I wouldn't discount the 007 factor, it is absolutely intrinsic to the brand for most people. However, though the DB6 is a better car than the 5, it's 'Kamm' tail and extended length lost the elegance of the original Touring design for the DB4 which had been carried forward to the 5. A 6 looks identical from the front, but from the side and rear it looks fugly, except to the besotted of course. The only really beautiful one was the Volante, and you will find that a DB6 Volante is a very expensive car indeed even by DB5 standards. Look at lot 320 for example - a DB6 MkII Volante estimated £320-360k. Bargain of the day seems to me to be Lot 304, a DB4 Series 5 Vantage, similar to the JB car talked about above, estimated £20-30k. OK you would have to give it to Newport Pagnell for a total rebuild but so what, you would have one of the finest cars on the planet.

The DB6 was a classic example of a good old spotted-dick-and-custard British company making a few common sense improvements to as sublime Italian design, God bless them.

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 8th May 09:19

[williamp]

Was a great event, and some unusual prices- £65k hammer price for a V600! Seemed like very good value.

[Jasper Gilder]

I think that one needed a few bits of bodywork which aren't easy to do....

[V8LM]

Good buy for someone. Mechanically sound I understand, and spend 20k on the bodywork and paint and that's a great buy.

[Jasper Gilder]

cardigankid said:

atca said:

Bargain of the day seems to me to be Lot 304, a DB4 Series 5 Vantage, similar to the JB car talked about above, estimated £20-30k.

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 8th May 09:19

Correct - shame it went for about 60K

[tedzwedz]

munk said:

Anyone got any problems with not bidding for the Vantage 500 in the background? I've got about 2 grand... think that should swing it...

Only that they never made a 500 Vantage, it was a 550, or 600bhp in V600 spec

[f328nvl]

Jasper Gilder said:

cardigankid said:

atca said:

Bargain of the day seems to me to be Lot 304, a DB4 Series 5 Vantage, similar to the JB car talked about above, estimated £20-30k.

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 8th May 09:19

Correct - shame it went for about 60K

Actually £84k (inc premium) wierd when lot 331 DB4 Series 5 Vantage went for £122.5k and whilst not perfect, the barn find was a complete wreck (look underneath and it was full of holes)...