Left-hand drive 1964 Aston Martin DB5 needs some TLC

A black 1964 Aston Martin DB5 goes on auction at the Bonhams The Zoute Sale in Knokke-Heist Belgium on October 8th 2023.

The vehicle with Chassis no. DB5/1796/L and Engine no. 400/1842 is an original left-hand drive example.

The DB5 was delivered new to the USA and has been in current ownership since 2007.

Built for the North American market, left-hand drive chassis number '1796/L' was retailed by Aston Martin Lagonda Inc and despatched to its first owner, a certain Mr Kupperman of New York City, via R & J Dick Company Inc. The DB5 left the factory finished in black with matching leather interior and was equipped from new with Selectaride dampers; Normalair air conditioning; chrome road wheels; whitewall tyres; Bosch Koln TR radio; heated rear screen; and two detachable headrests. Importantly, the engine number recorded on the built sheet (copy on file) was 400/1842, the same as now, confirming this DB5 as a matching numbers example.

A further owner on the build sheet is noted as a Charles Klein, still in 1965. After that, nothing is known about the Aston's early history in the USA prior to the issue of a State of Illinois Certificate of Title to Kevin and Susan Thompson of Lemont, IL on 13th June 1996 (photocopy on file).

The current vendor purchased the DB5 from German motor dealer Michael Olu Brinkert on 20 September 2007. Since the acquisition '1796/L' has been kept in dry storage as part of the vendor's extensive private collection in the Middle East.

This Aston Martin DB5 not only requires recommissioning, but also a restoration to get it in concours condition.

But if you're just looking to have an original Aston Martin DB5 on display in your man cave, then this one could be yours for an estimated price of €250,000 - €400,000 (which is more affordable than a pristine specimen that can fetch way over €1m). The car is being sold without a reserve.

The auction takes place on October 8th 2023, in Knokke-Heist, Le Zoute in Belgium. Many more Aston Martin's will be on offer including a few V8s from the 1980s and several all-orange modern Astons from the same collection.

Online bidding has started on the Bonhams website.