RM Sotheby’s Monterey Sale Preview
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible

Knotty Nawadhinsukh Words by Knotty Nawadhinsukh
Converted to left-hand-drive once it moved Stateside

Lot #129 of RM Sotheby’s auction during Monterey Car Week on the 24th and the 25th August will be this rather unusual “Peony” Red with tan leather interior Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible.

Everflex top matched the tan interior

What made this a standout is the fact that chassis number DB5/1924/R is one of only seven original DB5 convertibles produced in Vantage specifications. Therefore upon delivery back in the spring of 1965, the car was loaded with upgrades such as triple Weber carburetors, new intake manifolds, bigger cylinder heads and power brakes, making it sharper and faster than standard DB5s.

Unfair Ad-Vantage—uprated motor provides a claimed 40 more horsepower from the 285 bhp on standard

The Aston Martin remained in the U.K. for many years under three ownerships on record and therefore it came out of the box as a right-hand-drive. It crossed the Atlantic to its next owner on the U.S. East Coast where it was then professionally converted to left-hand-drive and comprehensively restored to concours condition.

Creamy leather upholstery came nothing less than from Connolly

So much so that it won a number of prestigious prizes at various shows since moving to America, notably at the 2005 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance where it picked up the Europa Chairman’s Award. This highly desirable British convertible from Newport Pagnell is currently part of a private collection before it goes onto the auction block.

(Estimate: US$1,900,000 – $2,500,000)

The DB5 has entered many shows, including Classic Sports Sunday at Mar-a-Lago where it was a Class Winner

All Photos Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s