1965 Aston Martin DB5
- Engine
- 4.0L inline six-cylinder, dual overhead camshaft, all-aluminium, triple SU carburettors
- Colour
- 'Fiesta' over black leather interior
Chassis 2197/R is a late-production 1965 Aston Martin DB5 finished in the factory-correct Fiesta colour over black Connolly leather, retaining its matching-numbers 4.0-litre inline-six engine. One of the last DB5s built, it was supplied new through Eton Motors to a prominent Sussex tobacco wholesaler and passed through five recorded owners. During the 1970s and 1980s it was exhibited at several British concours events, accumulating a number of class awards. Since 2007 it has been in dry storage in Kuwait and requires recommissioning.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £376,250 (≈ $470K)
- —Auction saleEstimate £525,000 – £575,000
- 1965 →Factory deliveryC. Baker & Co.partial documentation
Wholesale tobacco firm based in Portslade, Sussex; the purchase is believed to have been made personally by Alec Baker, then chairman and managing director. A 10,000-mile service was recorded in June 1969.
- → 1983-11-05Acquisition unknownP. Russelpartial documentation
Registered ownership with the Aston Martin Owner's Register in the early 1970s; brake work recorded in February 1972 at roughly 43,500 miles. Entered the car in several concours events through the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- 1983-11-05 → 1999Private saleJ. R. Bleachpartial documentation
Actively campaigned the car in concours events throughout his ownership, receiving various class awards between 1987 and 1989.
- 1999-12-08 → 2007Acquisition unknownFourth ownerpartial documentation
Vehicle was registered in this owner's name on 8 December 1999 and retained for approximately eight years.
- 2007 →Private saleFifth and current ownerpartial documentation
Shortly after acquisition the car was shipped to Kuwait, where it has remained in climate-controlled dry storage ever since.
Competition
- 1976Knebworth Concours2nd place
Entered by P. Russel; one of two appearances at this event in the late 1970s.
- 1978Knebworth Concours3rd place
Second appearance by Russel at this concours, again earning a placed award.
- 1980Greenwich Concours
Exhibited by Russel; no specific award recorded in the prose.
- 1981Goodwood Concours
Final concours appearance under Russel's ownership; no result stated.
- 1987Stanway Concours2nd in Newcomer category
First recorded concours entry under J. R. Bleach's ownership.
- 1988Silverstone Concours5th in Elite Class
One of two concours appearances by Bleach in 1988.
- 1988British Classic Sports Car Show Concours2nd place
Second concours outing for Bleach in 1988; the same event was attended again the following year.
- 1989British Classic Sports Car Show Concours3rd place
Repeat appearance at the same show as the prior year, still under Bleach's custodianship.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1969Service
10,000-mile service carried out, with a replacement cylinder head gasket and new fuel pump fitted.
Recorded on the build sheet; odometer reading implied at approximately 10,000 miles.
- 1972Mechanical
Brake pads replaced; odometer recorded at 43,582 miles at time of work.
Noted on the service record during P. Russel's ownership.
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