A rare 1964 Aston Martin DB5 with fewer than 48,000 miles (77,000km) on the clock has been found in a barn after spending more than 30 years cocooned in the UK.
The car was last purchased in 1972 for pound 1500 ($2262) and after some initial use in the 1970s it has remained parked in a garage since 1980. The engine had not been started since that date, but after careful preparation, the DB5 was fired up after 30 years of silence.
With fully restored examples of the classic ‘Bond’ Aston Martin selling for upwards of pound 320,000 ($482,000), this latest barn find is expected to realise between pound 150,000 ($180,000) and pound 200,000 ($300,000), when it goes under the hammer at the Bonhams sale at Newport Pagnell in the UK in May.
The DB5 was designed by the Italian coachbuilder Carozzeria Touring Suprleggera and built by Aston Martin in the UK between 1963 and 1965.
The DB5 is famous for its role as James Bond’s car in the 1964 film Goldfinger, while another DB5 appeared in the most recent 23rd Bond film, Skyfall.
The DB5’s all-aluminium 4.0-litre Tadec Marek I6 engine produced 210kW, which could propel the car to a top speed of 233km/h. Apart from some early four-speed versions the standard transmission was a ZF five-speed manual unit. An optional three-speed auto by Borg-Warner was also available.
All DB5s were a 2+2 configuration with features including wool pile carpets, electric windows, twin fuel tanks, chrome wire wheels, full leather trim and even a fire extinguisher.
The body was magnesium-alloy built to superleggera patent technique.
