Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, 1964
Aston Martin DB5
Aston Martin DB5•
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Chassis No.: DB5C/1275/R
Engine No.: 400/1770
Registration: HGP 3C
DB5C/1275/R was built on 14th February 1964 and despatched to St Helier garages on 17th February, finished in platinum (white) coachwork with red hide, white gold piping and a red hood. Factory extras noted on the heritage certificate are chrome road wheels and a detachable hardtop in Fiesta (red).
Acquired by its first owner on 7th April 1965, DB5C/1275/R was registered HGP 3C and delivered to a Mr B.J.Howard of Altrincham, Cheshire, who also owned a DB5 saloon. In a letter written by Mr Howard, he remembers the car, ' I used it for a few years in conjunction with my fixed head DB5, I then used the drop head solely and put about 66,000 miles on it by 1975. It was regularly serviced by Joseph Cockshoots (now Lex Meade) and I knew the works manager very well.'
The original engine 400/1407 was replaced by the factory in April 1965 following a servicing error and a new engine was fitted 400/1770. Mr Howard states 'I bought it in 1965 when there were a few months of the works guarantee left to run. I sent it to Newport Pagnell to be checked over and they didn't notice it had soft plugs fitted. On driving it home the engine failed near Watford Gap and Aston Martin collected the car and changed the engine free of charge. '
Invoices in the history file show the car was maintained by SF Motor Company during the 1970's and works included stripping down the engine, cleaning all parts, carrying out any remedial work and engine reassembly, new clutch and flywheel assembly, replacement brake callipers and regularly servicing. Mr Howard refers to this 'In 1975 S.F Motor Company did quite a bit of work, as per the invoices and painted it green. From here on in the car was little used, about 1000-2000 miles per year as per the MoT certificates.' Indeed a complete run of MoT road test certificates from 1975 are included within the history file which verify its mileage.
Mr Howard entrusted Donaldson and Evans, Aston Martin agents, to maintain the car in the 1980's. An invoice from Donaldson and Evans in October 1986 detailed the removal and refit of the engine, replacement clutch, new rear brake callipers and draining of the fuel tanks. 'The engine was overhauled by my company in 1986. I can't remember why except the clutch was being replaced and I thought I might as well do it, Donaldson and Evans took it out.' The engine was completely stripped and rebuilt by Mr Howards garage with c79,000 miles and was then returned to Donaldson and Evans and refitted in the car.
Mr Howard clearly enjoyed driving the car and it should be noted that the original speedometer was changed in the late 1960's. A replacement speedometer was fitted (which accompanies the car) however after the vendor acquired the car in 1994 the original speedometer was repaired and re-fitted, as such the actual mileage to date is c105,679 miles at the time of print.
The decision was made in 1989 to have the chassis overhauled with the work carried out by Donaldson and Evans once more. An invoice in the history file from February of that year details 'cutting away outer sill aluminium sections and replacing inner steel members as necessary, removing and replacing extensively corroded areas of B posts fabricating and replacing as necessary, applying wax protection to all box sections, replacing outer aluminium sill members, preparation and paint' The total cost of this work amounted to £8666.09
In 1994 after some 29 years of ownership, Mr Howard decided to pass the car on to the vendor, a friend of his for over 50 years and who had been keen to purchase the car for many years beforehand. In 1997 HGP 3C was sent to Aston Martin Works Service at Newport Pagnell for a bare metal re-spray, returning the car from its green livery to its original colour combination of white coachwork and red hide. At that time a new red mohair hood was also fitted and a full tonneau cover was made in the same material.
HGP 3C has been serviced in recent times by agents HWM and marque specialists Davron, Runnymede Motor Company and Rikki Cann. In May 2001 Rikki Cann conducted a 5000 mile service and in November 2003 main agents HWM fitted a new clutch and flywheel assembly and replaced a broken half shaft. Marque specialists Davron carried out a service in July 2004 and again in March 2006 at which time new rear silencers and end pipes were fitted.
In 2007 an EPAC power steering unit was discreetly fitted and the steering rack was rebuilt by GTC Engineering . Runnymede Motor Company serviced the car in October 2008 and in 2009 a new set of red wilton carpets were crafted and fitted. In June 2010 the carburettors were rebuilt and HGP 3C was serviced.
The vendor has driven and enjoyed the car in good weather and the chassis has been regularly wax oiled, the engine sounds healthy and holds good oil pressure, indeed the engine was only rebuilt c27,000 miles ago, the coachwork presents well and the interior has a lovely patina to it
Presented in fine original order throughout and importantly retaining its original detachable hard top as fitted by the factory in 1964, a buff log book is contained in the comprehensive history file as are various invoices documenting the cars service history, parts bills, a heritage certificate and full UK V5 registration. A complete set of MoT certificates from 1975-2010 are supplied including the current MoT certificate valid to April 2011 as are a number of old tax discs. In addition, the original 12 piece toolkit accompanies the car as does the original jack.
DB5C/1275/R is a highly original example and is one of the first batch of DB5's constructed by Aston Martin, offered for auction with just two owners from new and an original hardtop making it extremely rare and desirable, quite possibly unique. Indeed those with an eye for detail will note this car even retains both the original speedometer and rev counter which have the Aston insignia painted on them and the seat belts are period Aston Martin items.
Unquestionably one of the most iconic and elegant Aston Martin drophead's ever produced, and with excellent provenance, makes DB5C/1275/R a must for any serious car collection.
