The DB5 never stops being excellent, does it?
Indeed, it does not. This, dear friends, is a rather special one too. It is a fully restored Aston Martin DB5, with a rebuilt engine and some serious, heavyweight provenance: it was formerly owned by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan.
A DB5 fit for a Prince?
Yep. It was originally bought by a Mr D Levey of Levey’s Wallpaper Stores in 1964, who owned the Goodwood Green DB5 right up until 1986. Then in 1986, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan bought it for his own personal use in Switzerland. We’re told that before it was exported, His Highness commissioned a very detailed restoration.
Cool story. How long did he own it for?
Um, a mere two years. In February 1988 he sold it off to another Geneva resident who kept the car for 16 years, until Hexagon Classics (the dealer that’s selling it now), acquired it.
Fully restored, I think you said…
Yup. Prince Sadruddin commissioned that detailed restoration way back in 1986, but since 2015, it has benefitted from a full repaint in the original Goodwood Green, had its interior completely retrimmed in the Connolly leather, and gained period-correct Wilton carpeting.
Does it still have a proper DB5 engine?
Oh yes. This one comes with a 4.0-litre straight six, which too has been completely overhauled, or “mechanically refurbished”, according to Hexagon. Quite what this refurbishment entails hasn’t been detailed, but we are assured that it is now capable of running on unleaded fuel (how modern!), and it also gets a new clutch, some new tyres, and new 15in wire wheels.
Which means it’s probably got somewhere close to the 282bhp and 280lb ft of torque Aston claimed it had in 1964. So equipped, it could deal with the 0-60mph sprint in 7.1secs, and rock on to a top speed of 142mph. But it’d be rude to do it in a car of such grandeur.
Does it have INFORMATIONS?
Many informations. There is a ‘comprehensive’ service history, including the factory build sheet, plus all the invoices pertaining to Prince Sadruddin’s restoration, and the more recent rebuild. You even get an owner’s manual, a factory brochure, the original factory jack, and a full MOT and 12-month warranty.
SOLD. How much?
Erm, quite a bit. Sorry. But let us preface this price with a few points. 1: it’s an Aston Martin DB5, which means you only ever really need to wear one suit and have one playlist (basically, any James Bond-related songs, on repeat, for the rest of time) and bingo, you’re 007. 2: it’s still achingly pretty, and has been meticulously cared for.
So, that price… £799,995. Or five brand new Aston Martin DB11s and a bit of change. Or a brand new DB11, a brand new V12 Vantage, a brand new V8 Vantage, a brand new Rapide S, and a brand new Aston Martin Vanquish S. With a considerable amount of change left over.
So, pretty much Aston’s complete road-going line-up, or a very, very special, achingly cool (and rare) classic Aston DB5: the choice is yours…
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