1965 Aston Martin Short-Chassis Volante
- Engine
- 4.7L inline-six twin-cam, triple SU carburettors, 330 bhp (converted from original 4.0L unit)
- Colour
- Gunmetal grey
Chassis 2035 is among the earliest examples of the Aston Martin Short-Chassis Volante, a limited run of just 37 cars built on surplus DB5 floorpans but incorporating DB6 refinements — the model that gave the Volante name its debut. Delivered in December 1965 in Sierra Blue, it retains its original matching-numbers engine, now enlarged to 4.7 litres by R.S. Williams, producing approximately 330 bhp. A long and well-documented European ownership history includes nearly three decades with a single Swiss custodian.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,500,000 – US$1,750,000
- 1965-12-29 →Factory deliveryFirst UK owner via H.W. Motorsfull documentation
Car delivered through H.W. Motors in Sierra Blue with grey Everflex roof. Hardtop in matching colour procured via factory return in mid-1966; front-end repair work followed the year after.
- 1971 →Acquisition unknownUnidentified owner from 1971partial documentation
Car showed approximately 28,235 km at time of transfer. Multiple further ownership changes occurred across the decade.
- 1983 → 1987Acquisition unknownRonald H. Keelingpartial documentation
Retained the car for roughly four years before selling it on.
- 1987 → 2013Private saleDr. Galleon Graetzfull documentation
Car was exported to Zurich and repainted Dark Peacock Blue early in his tenure. Annual servicing carried out at Lukas Huni AG throughout his approximately 30-year stewardship.
- 2013 →Private salePrivate collectionpartial documentation
Acquired via R.S. Williams and Lukas Huni. Engine upgrade to 4.7-litre specification and repaint in Gunmetal Grey carried out during this ownership.
- 2018 →Acquisition unknownMost recent owner prior to salepartial documentation
Commissioned a pre-purchase inspection by R.S. Williams in 2018, confirming originality of major mechanical components.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1966MaintenanceAston Martin
Car returned to Aston Martin factory to obtain a colour-matched removable hardtop in Sierra Blue.
- 1967Repair
Front-end repair work carried out, including full dismantling and reassembly of the driver's-side door.
- 1977Bodywork
Full respray carried out, returning the car to its original Sierra Blue colour.
- 1979MechanicalR.S. Williams
Replacement hood, new carpets, and front seats fitted.
- 2014Engine rebuildR.S. Williams
Original matching-numbers 4.0-litre straight-six enlarged to 4.7 litres, raising output to approximately 330 bhp. Brake servo work also completed and fuel system modified for compatibility with unleaded petrol.
Carried out while the car was in the private-collection ownership acquired in 2013.
- 2014Bodywork
Car refinished in its current Gunmetal Grey colour.
Completed during the same ownership period as the engine upgrade.
- 2018InspectionR.S. Williams
Pre-purchase inspection confirmed the chassis, engine, and gearbox to be original per the factory build sheet; overall condition assessed as sound with well-preserved original interior.
Described at inspection as a mechanically restored vehicle retaining much of its original character.
- —Bodywork
Car resprayed in Dark Peacock Blue shortly after Dr. Graetz took ownership.
Carried out early in Dr. Graetz's tenure, which began in 1987.
- —ServiceLukas Huni AG
Annual maintenance and tuning checks performed on a regular basis throughout Dr. Graetz's ownership.
Repeated yearly during the roughly 26-year ownership period ending in 2013.
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