A DB5 for MGB money?
Discussion
I was browsing the classifieds in the September 1979 issue of Motor Sport magazine and was surprised to see an Aston Martin DB5 advertised for less than an MGB V8. I realise that the MG was a newer car at the time of print but still don’t understand the thinking of the time. I’m off to build that time machine!
Mr Tidy said:
I'm not surprised.
That DB5 is a decade older than the MGB, so as well as a time machine you'll need a supply of panels like wings and sills, cutting and welding equipment!
+1. Old cars were just old cars then. Astons were/are more expensive to run (and the e-type shown in the advert below) and if not well maintained can be expesive to rstore. Old car prices took off for the first time in the 80s and it's been up and down ever since. The 80s was the first time that people said: "that old Aston has just sold for more than a new one."That DB5 is a decade older than the MGB, so as well as a time machine you'll need a supply of panels like wings and sills, cutting and welding equipment!
Thinking back I bought a 1973 Rover 3500S in 1979 for £1,650, so the same engine as the MG just not as pretty, and that turned out to have already had rust repairs to a rear inner wing. I found out in 1980 when the top mount for the De Dion rear axle tore out of the rusty inner wing on the other side. 
That DB5 probably had as many holes as a piece of Gouda!
Funnily enough I watched a 2019 episode of Car SOS today when they worked their magic on a 1970/71 Lamborghini Espada the owner had bought in 1977 for £4,000, but had to take off the road in 1979 due to rust.
Cars from that era were doing well if they made it to 10 years.
That DB5 probably had as many holes as a piece of Gouda!
Funnily enough I watched a 2019 episode of Car SOS today when they worked their magic on a 1970/71 Lamborghini Espada the owner had bought in 1977 for £4,000, but had to take off the road in 1979 due to rust.
Cars from that era were doing well if they made it to 10 years.
Mr Tidy said:
Thinking back I bought a 1973 Rover 3500S in 1979 for £1,650, so the same engine as the MG just not as pretty, and that turned out to have already had rust repairs to a rear inner wing. I found out in 1980 when the top mount for the De Dion rear axle tore out of the rusty inner wing on the other side.
That DB5 probably had as many holes as a piece of Gouda!
Funnily enough I watched a 2019 episode of Car SOS today when they worked their magic on a 1970/71 Lamborghini Espada the owner had bought in 1977 for £4,000, but had to take off the road in 1979 due to rust.
Cars from that era were doing well if they made it to 10 years.
It was rare for a three year old 70s car not to have any rust That DB5 probably had as many holes as a piece of Gouda!
Funnily enough I watched a 2019 episode of Car SOS today when they worked their magic on a 1970/71 Lamborghini Espada the owner had bought in 1977 for £4,000, but had to take off the road in 1979 due to rust.
Cars from that era were doing well if they made it to 10 years.
I'm not sure anything's changed, an older prestige car can be worth less than a more everyday newer one:
A 15 year old Aston Martin (V8 Vantage 4.7) for £40k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510016...
A 5 year old Ford Mustang (Mach 1) for £49k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509126...
By your logic, you should be snapping up old Aston Martins now, since they're cheaper than 5 year old Mustangs.
A 15 year old Aston Martin (V8 Vantage 4.7) for £40k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510016...
A 5 year old Ford Mustang (Mach 1) for £49k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509126...
By your logic, you should be snapping up old Aston Martins now, since they're cheaper than 5 year old Mustangs.
DickyC said:
A DB5 with a four speed box and overdrive?
There's a story there. Or a fairly serious mistake.
I do not think so. Early DB5s had a David Brown 4 speed box plus o/d, replaced early in the production run with a ZF 5 speed. I think there may have been a short overlap when you had a choice.There's a story there. Or a fairly serious mistake.
samoht said:
I'm not sure anything's changed, an older prestige car can be worth less than a more everyday newer one:
A 15 year old Aston Martin (V8 Vantage 4.7) for £40k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510016...
A 5 year old Ford Mustang (Mach 1) for £49k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509126...
By your logic, you should be snapping up old Aston Martins now, since they're cheaper than 5 year old Mustangs.
I can’t argue with that. A very good point well made.A 15 year old Aston Martin (V8 Vantage 4.7) for £40k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510016...
A 5 year old Ford Mustang (Mach 1) for £49k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509126...
By your logic, you should be snapping up old Aston Martins now, since they're cheaper than 5 year old Mustangs.
In 1981 I had £5,000 to spend on cars. My choices were a very nice V8 Aston for £5,000 to use as my daily or a Range Rover for £3,000 as my daily and a matching numbers DB4 with a slipping clutch and no MoT for £2,000 as a project. Bought the Range Rover and DB4 and towed the Aston home on a trailer with the Range Rover. Ten years later, during my divorce, I sold the Range Rover as 'quietly biodegrading' for £1,500 (sold over the phone unseen) and the Aston, sold in a million pieces for £10,000 - five times what I paid - to a chap with a DB5. I'm still in touch with him, and the car is still not restored, but he has added one of almost every other DB Aston to his collection.
If I had all the money I've spent over the years on cars, I'd spend it on cars.
If I had all the money I've spent over the years on cars, I'd spend it on cars.
craigjm said:
TA14 said:
It was rare for a three year old 70s car not to have any rust
Was gonna say that. My dad owned a shop like Halfords and used to do a roaring trade in p38, p40, wire mesh and sand paper for use on cars a couple of years old Thefts and insurance costs had massive influences too.
You could buy really good Sierra Sapphire Cosworths for example for silly money at one time but half a years wages to insure it.
The problem with all desirable-long-term vehicles is that only a very few first owners care or even think about about rustproofing and good maintenence, the rest are generally neglected and by the time someone who does care buys them thye damage is already done. Then you have the inevitable damage thanks to people who can't drive for toffee but have the means to buy expensive cars new.
You could buy really good Sierra Sapphire Cosworths for example for silly money at one time but half a years wages to insure it.
The problem with all desirable-long-term vehicles is that only a very few first owners care or even think about about rustproofing and good maintenence, the rest are generally neglected and by the time someone who does care buys them thye damage is already done. Then you have the inevitable damage thanks to people who can't drive for toffee but have the means to buy expensive cars new.
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