1965 Aston Martin DB5
- Engine
- 4.0L inline-six, twin overhead camshafts, triple carburetors, 282 bhp
- Colour
- Silver Birch over red leather
Chassis 2151 is a right-hand-drive Aston Martin DB5 saloon completed in May 1965 and delivered in Silver Birch over Red leather — the model's quintessential colour combination. Supplied through a Gloucestershire dealer to its first owner in North Wales, the car was imported to California in 1974, where it remained for roughly five decades under consistent private ownership. A cosmetic restoration completed in June 2025 returned it to bare-metal standard in its original factory livery, and the matching-numbers engine is confirmed by the factory build sheet.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$500,000
- → 1965-09-24Factory deliveryPlough Motors of Gloucestershirepartial documentation
Gloucestershire-based dealership that acted as the retail conduit for the car's initial sale to its first private owner.
- 1965-09-24 →Private saleFirst owner, residing in Llandudno, North Walesfull documentation
Original UK buyer; the factory build sheet confirms the car was regularly serviced by Aston Martin through at least 1968, and a Webasto sunroof was fitted during this period.
- 1974 → 2024Acquisition unknownEnthusiast owner in Sunnyvale, Californiapartial documentation
Imported the car to the United States and retained it for roughly five decades; had it maintained by Kevin Kay Restorations and installed a Tremec five-speed gearbox for better everyday usability.
- 2024 →Acquisition unknownCurrent consignorfull documentation
Commissioned a full bare-metal cosmetic restoration to the original Silver Birch over Red leather specification, completed in June 2025; work carried out by Kevin Kay Restorations and supported by invoices and photographs.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2024RepairKevin Kay Restorations
Selective repairs commissioned by the new owner following acquisition; specific scope not detailed beyond general remedial work prior to road use.
- 2025MechanicalKevin Kay Restorations
New windshield installed on return to the workshop after paint and interior work were finalised.
- 2025Restoration
Full cosmetic restoration comprising a bare-metal respray in original Silver Birch, a complete new Red leather interior, and re-chroming of all exterior brightwork. Body condition found to be excellent with minimal remediation required. Matching-numbers engine status confirmed against the factory build sheet during the process.
Documented with invoices and photographs; completed June 2025.
- —Modification
A Webasto sunroof, a fashionable period accessory, was fitted to the car and remains installed.
Added sometime during the first owner's tenure, prior to at least 1968 based on service records.
- —ModificationKevin Kay Restorations
A Tremec five-speed manual gearbox was substituted for the original unit to enhance everyday driveability.
Carried out during the California owner's approximately fifty-year stewardship.
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