Even if you’re not a fan of European sports cars, you can’t help but dream of being the individual who discovered this 1964 Aston Martin DB5. The previous owner purchased it back in 1972, drove it sparingly for a couple years and then parked it in their barn, where it has remained until just recently. The owner recently passed away and now their estate is being auctioned off. Given the high profile status of the DB5, Bonhams will be auctioning it off at the Aston Martin Works Sale on May, 18th.
The DB5 was made a true automotive icon after its appearance in the James Bond movie Goldfinger. It has since become a staple of the James Bond Franchise and has made several appearances with Mr. Bond at its wheel. While this one isn’t wearing Silver-Birch paint or decked out with secret agent weapons and gadgets, it is a beautiful and very original car.
Bonhams describes this car as a barn find, but it looks more like a garage find to us. Either way, it is in impressive condition for having been parked for some 30 years. When it was discovered it had a rat’s nest in the engine bay and the motor wasn’t running, but after some work the 282 hp 4.0 liter straight six is now running.
The interior is still in immaculate condition and needs nothing more than a good cleaning. The odometer currently read 48,000 miles and given how little wear the inside shows, we believe it. When the previous owner, David Ettridge, purchased this DB5 he paid £1,500 or about $22,000 in today’s money. Bonhams estimates this could sell for as much as $300,000 or more, which seems like a good return on the Ettridge family’s investment.
While this car is definitely out of our price range, it is amazing to see that finds like this are still out there. If you keep searching then maybe someday you will find your dream car parked in someone’s old barn or garage. Special thanks to Edward W for sharing this amazing find with us!
More images can be found at The Telegraph.
YES, IN A HEART BEAT!
This is a VERY nice DB5 although I think its beyond my buying power, it will make a very nice purchase for someone and as is said wont need more than a polish to restore the inside, I think I would however repaint the outside in an nice light metallic blue that should compliment the interior nicely.
I have always dreamt about owning one but I think a Aston Martin V8 is more in my price bracket.
Amazingly immaculate interior. Would love to own that baby…
What a find. A little cleaning up on the exterior, the interior is in incredibly good shape for a “barn” find. The seats have great age marks, I bet it will go for more given the originality, survivor appearance. that will be some hot bidding!
DROOLLLLLL
Uh… like.. WOW.. o_o….and in an awesome colour too… the interior is like BRAND NEW O_O I’ve..just had a Crisis…..
~ clean it up and drive it. …and repeat the story anyone who will listen.
all I ever find in barns is mouse droppings…………
Since they blew up the silver Bond car in Skyfall……….the price will be up on this as there is one less……… :)
The car destroyed in Skyfall was a scale model.
I’m mostly in to american cars of the 50’s through 70’s. But I wouldn’t mind owning this one at all!
Looks like the turbo clamp is loose and the mud flaps cracked, not sure if this one would be worth it
Pity it hasnt been run for all that time , a total mechanical re-build is now needed as all seals are shot , the oistins would be welded in the bore etc…..
Nice though!
well if it needs all that I’ll just have to buy it for a grand.
Hey Les clearly the pistons aren’t welded in the bore if they said it is running now!
Beautiful car. Color, lines, style…everything. Just gorgeous.
I’m with Aston Martin Idiot. It will bring more than estimated $300k because of its purity and history. It’s been a good auction year.
This car would be a find of a lifetime for me ’cause I’d see it in the barn and fall over dead in surprise!!
1,500 pounds is $2,200.
When I was 16 years old (1976) there was a light blue DB5 parked outside of Poppo’s Garage in Summitville, NY. It was all there but needed paint and an interior to be really nice. I’m not sure if it ran. It was for sale— $6,000
They wouldn’t take my 1974 Subaru DL on a trade…. Memories.
the good old days.
Some polishing compound, after a good wash , then drive away.
Well worth a good look, if you had the green backs.
B O ND ………..James Bond
This will easily blow past the $300K estimate I predict. Mid $400’s won’t surprise me! Wish I had the $$$$!
The barn this one was in must have had a water tight roof and a solid, dry floor because it looks amazingly good after 30 years in there—and that was in rainy England. But I’m with Les…I think the mechanicals will need attention if the car is going to be reliable. Then there is the paint, but it looks like it might be saveable with a careful polishing. If it’s the original it would certainly be worth trying. The interior looks amazingly good, maybe because it has had a good cleaning and leather treatment. It’s hard to believe this car sat in a barn for 30 years.
For all the interest and publicity the DB5 gets, AM made only 886 of these coupes, which helps to explain why the latest SCM Price Guide has these valued at between $390K-$725K. That’s for a #2 condition car, but while this car is probably a 3 minus or a 4, these DB5s are hot, and I’ll be surprised if this car doesn’t approach or even exceed the low range for a #2 car.
i’d like to ‘time travel ‘ back in 72, with a bit of today’s money…and make a deal on one of these……..
WHEN I WAS 17YRS OLD A GUY BOUGHT ONE OF THESE TO THE FIRESTONE STORE I WORKED AT FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT.HE SAID WE WERE THE ONLY PLACE THAT WOULD TAKE HIM. OUR SALESMAN WOULD TAKE ANYTHING IN BUT KNEW NOTHING ABOUT CARS.WHEN IT SHOWED UP I WAS AFRAID TO PULL IT ON THE PIT.WHEN I WAS DONE THE GUY SAID LET’S GO FOR A RIDE AND SAID YOU DRIVE.I WENT DOWN THE ROAD AND GOT ON RT 84 IN NEWBURGH NY AND WENT THRU THE GEARS AND WAS QUICKLY GOING WAY OVER THE SPEED LIMIT.BY THE TIME I HIT THE NEXT EXIT I HAD TWO NYS TROOPERS PULLING US OVER.AFTER SHOWING THEM MY DRIVERS LICENSE AND STATE INSPECTORS LICENSE THEY SAID YES I WAS SPEEDING BUT THEY PULLED ME OVER JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR.THE BEST RIDE I EVER HAD BAR NONE.THIS IS AN AWESOME RIDE FOR SOMEONE WITH VERY DEEP POCKETS.
Fred I have know doubt & these are a bit steep but who wouldn’t kill for one or have the chance to drive it you were lucky to get the chance.
Original is the new restored! Clean it, fix it, and drive it as is. They are original only once!!!
if my lottery ticket ever comes up the first thing I am looking for is an immaculate Aston Martin DB5