1965 Aston Martin DB5
- Engine
- Twin-cam aluminum inline-six, fully rebuilt
- Colour
- 'Silver Birch'
Chassis DB5/2202/L is a 1965-built Aston Martin DB5 coupé that was shipped to the United States in June 1965 and registered in California from 1966. Featuring the marque's twin-cam aluminium engine and Superleggera coachwork, the car spent its entire documented life in California. A comprehensive restoration was begun in 1996, during which the engine was fully rebuilt, the bodywork repainted, and the interior retrimmed; the project was left incomplete following the death of one owner. After roughly two decades in storage, the car was fully recommissioned in 2025 by Kevin Kay Restorations.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$731,000
- 1966-02-01 → 1977Acquisition unknownH. C. Burgrafffull documentation
Based in Newport Beach, California; original registration document from February 1966 accompanies the vehicle.
- 1977 →Private saleJames and Rosalie Sterlingfull documentation
Car had roughly 65,000 miles at time of purchase; owners undertook a significant restoration beginning in 1996, including engine rebuild, repainting, and interior renewal, though James Sterling passed before the work was fully completed, after which the car sat in storage for approximately two decades.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1996Restoration
Comprehensive restoration commenced: original engine fully rebuilt (driven approximately 300 miles since), carburettors overhauled, new exhaust manifolds and fuel tanks fitted, transmission and clutch rebuilt, oil cooler flushed, and fuel pump cleaned and rebuilt. Bodywork repainted from Fiesta Red to Silver Birch. Interior retrimmed with new seat foam, black leather upholstery, re-trimmed door panels, and replacement window seals and wiper blades.
Project was begun by the Sterling family but left incomplete following the death of James Sterling; car subsequently entered long-term storage.
- —ServiceKevin Kay Restorations
Full recommissioning following approximately twenty years in storage, totalling over 260 labour hours. Work included carburettor strip and rebuild, new starter motor, engine tuning, clutch and brake servicing, new window lift mechanisms, resolution of various electrical faults, and tidying of engine bay, boot, and package shelf.
Detailed invoices covering all work carried out are included with the car. The recommissioning took place in February of the catalogue year.
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