I’m having a bit of déjà vu – I feel like we’ve written about this 1969 Aston Martin DBS found in Florida in the past, but haven’t found the post. Regardless, the photos are at least different and provide a better sense of how complete (or incomplete) this project is. The DBS is said to be a warehouse find and an original left-hand drive / manual transmission example. The seller is only responding to offers sent via email that come close to his preferred selling price, so have fun with that. Find it here on craigslist or go here if the ad disappears; thanks to Barn Finds reader Doug T. for the find.
Following in the footsteps of DB6, forever immortalized by James Bond, could not have been easy. The DBS sought to create a more modern design while retaining the same inline-six powerplant of the previous model. The car saw some action on screen as the new Bond vehicle, but it hasn’t ever achieved that same status as a motoring icon like the DB6. The seller says this car has been disassembled carefully, with the doors and engine professionally crated, ready for export. The original color combo was red with black interior, and it’s noted to be an A/C car.
While it does appear the major components have been professionally packaged for international sale, the seller is seemingly looking for anyone to take this off his hands if the price is right. I can’t imagine he’s going to have much success with the approach described in the listing, which amounts to sending him an offer via craigslist, and then he’ll respond if it’s in the ballpark with a phone number to call. Perhaps this has worked for him in the past, but I feel pretty confident most potential buyers won’t even waste their time. The seller says this is the only example for sale in the U.S. – but he is incorrect.
Aston Martin of New England has a 1970 model for sale at the sum of $195,000; DriverSource in Houston has a 1969 model for sale for slightly less at $189,500. I assume the seller’s magic number is less than both of those, but if you’ve got the scratch to restore one of these four-seater Astons, chances are you’d rather work with a seller not afraid to put a price out there rather than hope your emailed offer gets a response. But hey – at least the seller can tell his wife he is really trying to sell his projects; there’s just no one who wants to buy.
IMO one of the best 4 seat car ever to come from the Brits. I agree with comment about the seller, if the ad doesn’t include the selling price or it asks you to inquire I don’t bother!
I hate the “inquire” part also. I’m an expert (I like to think) on a certain obscure MC company. I look for bikes/parts and know how much stuff is going for on the open market. I ran across an ad for a bike that was a 70% complete, semi rusting project that stated “call for price”. I call the guy up and he’s giving me a blow-hardy explanation of what it is and how valuable these bikes are. Funny thing is that he’s cherry picking information off my own website on this MC company to make him sound like an expert, getting a lot of info backwards. I didn’t correct him. He asks me what I think it’s worth and I tell him probably $800. The bike was really a run of the mill, bread and butter commuter bike that the company made and not one of the more rare sport models. He laughed and said he was looking to get at least $7,000 for it. A few months after the call, he e-mails my website asking about a price for this “rare” bike. I tell him it’s worth about $800-1,000 as is. Never heard back from him. A year later, I get an e-mail from a guy that bought the bike now looking for parts and info. He paid $4,000 for it based on the seller’s “expertise” on these bikes. (facepalm/headshake)
Now that’s a sad but true story that probably happens a lot these days, given the increase in genuine, intact, running/driving classic vehicle values lately.
@Bmac.
I have always had the policy that if the price is not quoted, or advertised on the windscreen, then I don’t even bother looking at the car. The same goes for cars advertised in the Classic Car magazines that have a P.O.A. I look at the photo, then look for the price. If the price says P.O.A. then I don’t even waste time reading the advert. Another quirk of mine. If I go to check out a potential buy and the battery is flat, then I walk away, no matter what the car/bike is. If the seller can’t be bothered to charge the battery, or fit a new one then he can’t be a serious seller. By the way. James Bond’s Aston Martin was a DB 5, not a DB 6.
I would gladly offer 35 cents and an old skateboard. Think that’s in the ballpark?
Sealed Bid? like with tape??
No, silly. Like a trained seal in a circus.
I thought we weren’t bidding on the whole car… only the seals.
Low ball! The door seals look shot.
What caliber?
I’ve never seen one of these in person, but would sure love to. Unfortunately I don’t have the expertise nor the $$$ he’s (probably) asking, but even if I did…I wouldn’t buy this from him because he’s a donkey…and by donkey I mean, well you should know…
Cops
You are 100% correct. Let him keep it!
I know what the DB stands for, was the thought that came to my head…I understand that he sees the dollar signs, but I’m sure there is a better way to go about it…
@Copps.
Yep, the rear end!
Actually Jeff, the car immortalized by James Bond was the DB5, not the DB6 which is neither here nor there as regards this particular car The DBS being sold here is actually a transition car resembling the first V8s but still retaining the old W.O.Bentley designed twin overhead cam six, sort of a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
Astons are one of my all time favorite cars, especially the David Brown (DB series) cars and I would take one over a Ferrari or Maserati anytime, but maybe not this one although it does apparently have LHD and ZF five speed going for it, a pretty big plus as many of them were RHD and automatic like many of the DB6s. I think the seller is not doing himself any favors in his sales approach, he might just as well say he’s looking for a buyer with more money than brains. That said, I suppose I should also say that there is no shortage of those out there.
Remember that George Lazenby drove the DBS in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Dirk;
Actually the DB 5(which recently I heard was actually a 1962 DB4 GT badged as a DB 5, because the DB 5 models were not ready at the time of filming) was used in Goldfinger, Thunderball, Goldeneye, Tommorrow Never Dies, Skyfall, and the Skyfall blown up/restoration remains in Spectre.
As Doyler says, In 1969, George Lazenby drove a 1968 DBS in the opening teaser of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Before anybody fires back, the re-badged DB 4GT was the original gadget car in Goldfinger. The filming schedule was 20 January-21 July 1964, the DB 5 model release date was Septmber 1963, so the ” DB 5 model not available yet statement” part is bogus. They probably didn’t want to waste a new model, so they used an un sold car from the previous year. This car was stolen from an aircraft hanger in Boca Raton airport in Florida in 1997.
Ref:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/aston-martin/8075321/James-Bond-Aston-Martin-DB5-history.html
The Aston used in Goldfinger was previously used in an episode of The Saint tv series, starring Roger Moore. It was in its original maroon colour then and, although not driven by Moore, it’s interesting to think he laid eyes on it before Connery.
Just might be me but does this person sound like a j e r k? I have exotics also and have and would not act like that. I am looking for a 57 T-Bird for my wife as a gift and am running into crap attitude like that with them. People on cl often show their true side both buyers and sellers where beaters are just dreamers!
Once in a while something decent shows up on Craig’s list, but my experience with classic cars is that is is now overrun with dealers and cheapskates that want to sell garbage for huge money because they incorrectly think that is what it is worth.
Bought my better half a 56 T-Bird for her birthday last year, best gift I every gave her, except the 71 Mustang convt. I got her instead of an engagement ring 35 yrs ago. A match made in heaven!
Concidering bonds aston was a DB5 not a DB6 tut tut
“The seller says this is the only example for sale in the U.S. – but he is incorrect.”
Probably the only one in this sorry condition.
This whole approach on the part of the Seller is absurd. The restoration is North of $125,000, and who knows what else it needs.
I should send him a bid…after a long, detailed yarn about putting a Corvette suspension, an LSX motor, and Recaro seats in it. Then offer him $2,500
yes this is like someone putting a car out there to “test the waters”…Cut the crap, is it for sale or isn’t it? Sealed bid? How do you know if you want it if there’s no price?
I try to stay upbeat and positive, but with crap like this and the exorbitant prices of junk, its difficult.
Off the soapbox, and cutting back on the Caffeine now…
I found he original listing from November of 2015. Exact same car. Exact same condition. Called a british frightpig! Ha!
https://barnfinds.com/british-frightpig-1969-aston-martin-dbs/
Question: Is the engine pictured in the crate a V-6? V-8? It looks oddly long.
@Skip. It’s neither a V6 or V8. It’s a straight 6 with O.H.C’s. Check the plug leads and the distributor.
From the ad: I WILL NOT CALL ANYONE. IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO MY SELLING PRICE……. THEN I WILL CONTACT YOU……… BY CL EMAIL AND CALL YOU.
What an AW!
This ad is a scam, don’t deal with him!
Something rarer and cheaper…