1965 ASTON MARTIN DB5 COUPE
--Caribbean Pearl with Dark Blue leather Interior, Grey carpeting, 5-Speed manual transmission, Factory air conditioning, Original LHD specifications, Uprated to Vantage engine specifications, Concours restored by marque specialist.
This DB5 has an illustrious history, beginning with its first owner, Prince Abdul Ilah Bin Abdulaziz, who was the son of King Abdulaziz, of Saudi Arabia, a notable automobile enthusiast himself. In 1965, H.R.H. Prince Abdul ordered his fully optioned Aston Martin DB5, DB5/2270/L, direct from Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. Upon completion, the delivery address for the DB5 was listed as “Behind the Royal Palace, Jeddah.”
DB5/2270/L is a very late production example that displays the sixth from last DB5 chassis number and having been delivered in 1966, supplied with separate front indicators and running lights, this is likely among the very last DB5’s.
According to the factory build sheet, chassis 2270/L was specified with a full complement of rare factory accessories which exist with the car today, including the following: Normalair air conditioning, a Motorola radio with a power-operated aerial, Marchal fog lamps, Two wing mirrors, Two Britax lap and diagonal safety belts for the front seats, Two Britax belts for the rear seat, A DB5 Continental parts kit, A heated rear screen, Three-ear knock-off’s, Detachable head rests.
Ownership history is well documented and the first known owner after H.R.H. Prince Abdul was William C. Mullins, Esq. of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Mullins sold the car to Joel Stein, of Ft. Lauderdale, in the early 1990s. Dr. Stein had the DB5 mechanically refurbished and serviced by Performance Tuning and Restoration of Pompano Beach, Florida, starting in 1993. This outfit, run by former Aston Martin Vintage Race Services chief Robert Clerk and his son Jon (today an owner of well-known Aston Martin specialists Steel Wings) were commissioned by Dr. Stein to rebuild the engine to the elevated Vantage specification.
Circa 2005, Dr. Stein sold to noted collector George Bunting, of Hunt Valley, Maryland, where it resided with other significant Aston Martins in his museum. Mr. Bunting was 2270’s next enthusiastic owner and in 2013 contracted award-winning marque specialist, Kevin Kay Restorations to complete Concours quality restoration.
The work performed included full body work as necessary and a return to the car’s original color of Caribbean Pearl, and as due course all brightwork finishes and plating were renewed to Concours standards throughout. The lightly scratched original windscreen was replaced with fresh glass, and great attention was given to the engine bay in order to restore it to Concours standards. In addition, a Concours-quality Navy Blue Connolly leather retrimming was completed along with elegant grey Wilton carpeting, piped in Navy. In addition, numerous painstaking details were carried out to return this DB5 to factory new condition or better throughout.
Subsequent to its restoration, 2270/L was sold to a well-known collector from Texas. It was invited to Pebble Beach and shown on the lawn in 2017.
A proper DB5 is as much a pleasure to drive as it is to admire within a serious collection of Blue Chip sports and GT classics. Chassis 2270/L was built to the unique specifications of a connoisseur prince and subsequently within tight private ownership circles for several decades. 2270/L is unquestionably one of the finest DB5’s in existence and represents a singular opportunity to acquire a unique specification example with a history of collector owners, and a fresh restoration by marque experts.
Ready for immediate Concours competition and touring use, this stunning DB5 does not disappoint!
