1963 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible
- Colour
- Caribbean Pearl over dark blue leather
Chassis DB5C/1255/R is the fifth DB5 Convertible built and one of only 123 examples produced. Delivered in Caribbean Pearl over Dark Blue Connolly leather, it served initially as an Aston Martin Works demonstrator and is believed to have been exhibited at the 1963 Earls Court Motor Show alongside actress Honor Blackman. After passing through several private owners, it spent nearly 25 years with one careful custodian before receiving a full body-off restoration by Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell to original October 1963 factory specification, earning Best of Show at the 2019 Techno Classica Essen.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,325,000
- 1963 →Factory deliveryAston Martin Worksfull documentation
Served as an official factory demonstrator, displayed at the 1963 Earls Court Motor Show and used at Silverstone in 1964 for demonstration. Fully reconditioned before being sold to first private owner.
- → 1983Multiple unidentified ownersnone documentation
Car passed through several hands during the early 1970s, each reportedly using it sparingly.
- 1983-06-01 → 2007Private saleMr. Greavesfull documentation
Kept the car for roughly 25 years, accumulating fewer than 20,000 miles. Believed to have compiled the detailed ownership and history file that accompanies the vehicle.
- 2007 →Private saleCurrent ownerfull documentation
Commissioned a comprehensive body-off restoration at the Aston Martin Newport Pagnell facility, returning the car to its original October 1963 factory specification. Restoration documented in a photographic record.
- Date unknownPrivate saleG.B.R. Graypartial documentation
First private owner, based in East Lothian. Returned the car to the factory in late 1965 after modest mileage for an engine replacement.
Competition
- 19631963 Earls Court Motor Show
Car displayed as a factory show exhibit; period photographs show it alongside models Barbara Roscoe and Honor Blackman.
- 1964Silverstone demonstration
Vehicle appeared at Silverstone in a factory demonstration capacity.
- 20192019 Techno Classica EssenBest of Show
Award recognized the exceptional quality of the body-off restoration completed during current ownership.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965Engine rebuildAston Martin Works
The car was returned to the Aston Martin factory for a replacement engine after covering approximately 21,400 miles.
- —ServiceAston Martin Works
Following its use as a Works demonstrator the car was fully reconditioned prior to sale to its first private owner.
- —RestorationAston Martin Works
A comprehensive body-off restoration was carried out at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, returning the car to its original October 1963 factory specification in every respect.
The restoration is documented in a dedicated photographic file held with the car.
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