When it comes to owning a vintage European classic, there is plenty of evidence that in the U.S., finding a desirable car in left hand drive configuration is a significant driver of value. While limited production models are generally sought after regardless of the placement of the steering wheel, there’s little doubt that a model for sale in the states will inevitably fare better with the steering wheel on the left. This 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III drophead is believed to be one of just 85 cars ever built and it even retains its numbers-matching drivetrain. Find it here on eBay with an asking price of $349,500.
Though I love this seafoam green color, this is not how the Aston left the factory. The listing notes the original paint was Moonbeam Gray complimented by a tan interior with a black convertible top. Of the 85 cars produced, the seller’s listing indicates that it is believed less than half of them were left-hand drive. This would make sense, given Aston likely sold far more cars in its home country with right-hand drive steering, making the LHD cars export only and thus less likely to show up for sale today. In this photo, we can see it does have some rust issues with the passenger side sill quite rotten. The knock-off wheels look to be in restorable condition, and the chrome bumpers appear largely straight.
The interior is more of a mixed bag, and the red carpeting is a bit of a curveball considering the original configuration details. While it’s obvious it will need a full restoration, you sometimes hold out hope that the interior is serviceable. Not in this case, as bringing it back to original specs will require new door panels, carpeting, seat upholstery, and more, along with replacing the missing gauge in the cluster and possibly even the glove box door (unless it’s an optical illusion that it’s missing). I’m sure the dash pad is cracked, too, so there’s a laundry list of fixes to make in addition to repairing the rotten bodywork.
This MKIII was supplied new to a customer in France with front disc brakes. The Aston has been with its most recent owner for 30 years, but the listing doesn’t clarify whether it was found in Europe or in the states. The market for vintage Astons seems to be one that isn’t affected by the shifting demographics of the collector car community; these are prized machines regardless of your age and are still capable of delivering stirring performance even by modern standards. This looks like a worthwhile restoration project, even if there’s more rust hiding underneath. Would you repaint it back to its original colors?
How did I know this was one of two dealers before
checking/confirming it on the eBay listing?
LMAO! I call them the East and West Coast Pirates.
I’m so used to both companies photographs, I can usually tell just from the foliage in the background if it’s BHCC or Gullwing.
Yep, Beverly Hills or Gullwing. For Peter Kumar to put this price on it, knowing it will take the same amount to put it into pristine condition, he must think it’s worth well north of $1M. Astons get some crazy numbers at auction. Watching the recent R-B and Mecum ones on TV, the numbers are beyond belief.
Angligt, yes me too. Where do they find them?
It’s going to cost the asking price to rebuild this one. To me, that makes the asking price way past any sensible number. After looking at it it’s not the best looking car on the block designwise either.
Another guaranteed classic to restore, but at the asking price you’re in the hole before you start. If it were more reasonable it would leave room for restoration costs. As it is, it’s cost prohibitive.
Oops, typo: should be $3495.00
Your going to need an expert metal fabricator to create new sheet metal for that area under the doors. As well as anything else you might find. This thing will need a total resto. Yet you have a complete more or less car to start with. The seats look a lot like Triumph seats, Perhaps some of the gauges are the same as well. Be a lot cheaper to buy Triumph parts if they will fit.
$675,479.53 if it didn’t have a huge hole below the waterline. “Abandon ship, and take the seat cushions with you, lads!!”
I think I’ll buy 3 brand new corvettes instead
The price was going to be an even $350,000 but they knocked $500 off, so the buyer could get a TIG welder to fix all the rust.
If you thought that recent barn find Facel-Vega HK500 was going to take a lot of cash to restore, just wait until you try to restore an A-M DB Mk III.
This guy is out of his mind putting that high a price on a scrap metal car. For the price he is asking this car should be in factory showroom condition. Hope he has to either keep it or put a reasonable price like $1k for a car that will need a frame off rebuild. I will say he has high hopes for a junk yard special.
“That guy” has been in business a long time.
Not a scrap metal car, but highly desirable to a significant number of people in the world who have the money not to blink. Either they want it or they don’t.
In the Volkswagon community some people go to a lot of expense and trouble to convert there VWs to right hand drive. Makes no sense to me. I guess it’s for the novelty factor.
If you argue about the price you can’t afford it! Restored to pristine this is an forever investment!
It looks very deprecated. For the huge price tag i agree it should
be in perfect condition. Remember, the market is flooded with
such old cars so prices should be down.
When people have such rarities in their garage why the spend
not more money into a restoration and sell the sparkling car
afterwards for a much better price?
Aston itself can rebuild this one as they have all the factory
draws and frame gauges. Sure, it want be a bargain but it
will be a high standard. And finish.
I watched with wonder at Goodwood auction at least 10 years ago, when a couple underbid on a barnfind DB5, worse than this one. About 30 minutes later, an immaculate DB4 as knocked down for rather less than their final bid on the DB5.
But they’d gone by then anyway……i still don’t really understand this psychology, but some people prefer to satrt with an “unmolested original” and control the build. Same people often find that the car was compromised anyway and the build runs out of control…..
I’d paint the original colour, anyone with an eye on investment would do the same.
I can remember one that languished on a used car lot for more than a year back in the day. I had just bought a new E-type and found this car, but could not afford both of them on my poor salary. It was bought by a local man, and I would see it from time to time on the road and in drive-ins. He kept it for years and I often wondered what happened to the car.