1965 Aston Martin DB5 Volante Short-Chassis
- Colour
- Dark green over beige leather (originally platinum over blue leather)
The DB Short-Chassis Volante was a limited transitional model produced by Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell using surplus DB5 short-wheelbase chassis, blending DB5 proportions with DB6 styling details including split bumpers and chrome tail-light finishers, and retaining Touring's Superleggera alloy-over-tube construction. Just 37 were built, making this series the rarest Aston Martin convertible ever offered in standard production, and it marked the debut of the Volante nameplate. This particular example is believed to have been the motor show display car at the 1965 British International Motor Show at Earls Court, subsequently delivered new to a London customer in December 1965.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €770,000 (≈ $847K)
- 1965-12-02 →Factory deliveryJoseph S Bathfull documentation
London-based first retail owner; warranty issued on this date per a copy of the factory build record. Factory service logs cover this car's maintenance through April 1974.
- Date unknownUnidentified pre-Kuwait ownerpartial documentation
This custodian had the car repainted dark green with beige leather and converted the steering from right- to left-hand configuration before the car was shipped to Kuwait.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownKuwait-based ownerpartial documentation
Car was imported into Kuwait during this ownership period; no further detail is provided on duration or identity.
Competition
- 19651965 British International Motor ShowFactory display exhibit
This car is strongly believed to have been the stand vehicle at Earls Court; its build specification reportedly included exhibition plates lettered with the model name.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965ServiceAston Martin
Commencement of factory servicing by Aston Martin, forming part of a documented service log that runs from late December 1965 through to April 1974.
Full service log covering this period is on file with the car.
- 1967RepairAston Martin
Accident damage repaired by Aston Martin, recorded within the factory service log.
Recorded in the continuous service history file dating from 1965 to 1974.
- 1974ServiceAston Martin
Final recorded service entry in the Aston Martin factory service log, which closes at this date.
Represents the last entry in the detailed service documentation accompanying the car.
- —Bodywork
Complete exterior refinish from original Platinum to dark green, and interior retrimmed from blue to beige leather, carried out prior to the car being exported to Kuwait.
- —Modification
Steering conversion from right-hand to left-hand drive configuration, performed before the car entered Kuwait. The prose notes this conversion is technically reversible.
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