For Sale at Auction: 1965 Aston Martin DB5 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Chassis No. DB5/2136/L
Engine No. 400/2131/V

Produced between 1963 and 1965 with coachwork penned by Federico Formenti at Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, the DB5 combined Italian styling finesse with Aston Martin's engineering pedigree. An evolution of the already-successful DB4, the DB5's key difference from its predecessor lay beneath its aluminum skin. The DB5 featured a new, enlarged 4.0-liter inline-six paired with either a ZF five-speed manual or Borg-Warner three-speed automatic, delivering smooth, effortless power. Standard appointments were lavish for the era: a full Connolly leather interior, reclining seats, Wilton wool pile carpets, twin fuel tanks, Girling disc brakes, and 15-inch chrome wire wheels. Blending such a fine combination of performance and comfort, it is no wonder Autocar's September 1964 road test of the DB5 called it "a car which cries out to be driven, to be driven well, and to be driven far."

While the DB5 is perhaps best known for its leading role in the James Bond franchise, it was far more than a mere film star. The DB5's rise to fame wasn't just confined to the silver screen; its appeal extended to the era's cultural icons. Rock legends such as Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Mick Jagger, and Robert Plant counted themselves among its distinguished owners. Fittingly, the DB5 became a symbol of England's prominence during the Swinging Sixties, in which the David Brown Era of Aston Martin would reach its zenith.

Aston Martin introduced the top-of-the-line DB5 Vantage variant in 1964, which was made in very small quantities and featured an upgraded motor with a significant horsepower increase plus additional torque lower in the rev range. Displacement remained the same, but new triple Weber carburetors that replaced the stock SU units and a revised camshaft profile boosted power output to an astonishing 321 horsepower. This unlocked a new ceiling of performance for the DB5, allowing the car to reach a top speed of 150 mph and accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds. At the time, the DB5 Vantage was one of the fastest four-seater grand touring cars on the road.

This 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage is one of just 21 left-hand-drive examples out of a total of 60 DB5 Vantage Coupes produced. It is finished in quintessential Silver Birch over a Blue Connolly leather interior and equipped with the desirable ZF five-speed manual transmission as delivered from the factory. Factory options included triple-eared chrome wire wheels, desirable Normalair air conditioning, Bosch K�ln TR radio, and a heated rear window-plus mph gauges as a U.S. market example.

The DB5 Vantage was completed at Aston Martin's esteemed Newport Pagnell facility on 30 April 1965 and was delivered new to a noted Aston Martin enthusiast Mr. Joseph C. Cline, originally finished in striking Sierra Blue over a Dark Blue interior. Since the car was originally issued with London registration DGY 159C plates under the Home Delivery Export Scheme, it is likely Cline and the DB5 embarked on a journey across Britain, savoring the open road and experiencing the grand tourer precisely in the manner it was envisioned before shipping it home to Ohio.

The DB5 Vantage is believed to have remained in the US since delivery to Mr. Cline and was at one point registered to a G. Tolaram according to the Aston Martin Owners Club Registry. It was purchased by a collector in New York in 2012 and was sold to a prominent vintage car dealership in Connecticut the following year. Another private collector acquired the DB5 in 2019 and commissioned a restoration, which included a repaint to its current finish.

Today the car is offered from a prominent Southern California based collection, who during his ownership entrusted the car to further restoration work by the noted specialists at Fast Cars of Redondo Beach, California, of which receipts are on file. Upon close inspection today, the Aston Martin displays a high level of authenticity, with many original finishes still intact. Chrome and brightwork have a nice shine, and Cibie driving lights are appropriately fitted out front. Its Bosch K�ln TR radio has been replaced with a period Motorola unit. It is furnished with a copy of its build sheet as well as Heritage Certificate from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, which confirms its matching numbers engine and original transmission.

Equally at home on vintage road rallies or cross-country tours, it embodies the grand touring spirit the DB5 and other luxury GT cars were built around. Being one of just 21 factory left hand drive top-of-the-line Vantage examples made, with desirable factory options such as air conditioning plus documented provenances and the quintessential specification approved by Bond and Beatle alike, it remains firmly in the upper echelon of David Brown-era Aston Martin collectability.