I’m sorry to say, you might have already missed it. I’ve been speaking with Aston Martin aficionado Tim Cottingham from the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT) and there appear to be a few schools of thought on the matter.
Theory one – The first DB5 was prototype DP216/1:
“What you have to remember here is the DB5 was 'almost' the DB4 Series 6. Not long before the car was launched, they decided on 'DB5'. So it had quite a soft launch at the time. Now deciding on the first car is tricky because the 'first' one was a prototype - DP216/1 - a car that became the Bond car. So, it was that car that launched the DB5 as a model - but it was really a reworked DB4 Series 5 Vantage, first seen in June 1963.”
Theory two – DB5/1301/L was the first real DB5:
“The first REAL DB5 was DB5/1301/L, completed by AML on the 3rd of September 1963 for the German market. Purchased new by Swiss-German race driver Peter Lindner. Also, once the property of Nicholas Cage, the actor - so great history too.”
Further notes and key dates:
- “The first UK car wasn't finished until the 9th of October 1963 - DB5/1307/R.”
- “The first 40 saloons (well 39 as one was auto!) had the David Brown 4 speed gearbox (wonderful), then after this, all the rest were either 5-speed ZF or 3 speed auto (not a nice box).”
Which date do you believe should be celebrated as being the sixty-year anniversary of the DB5?
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The stunning 1965 DB5 pictured is DB5/2035/R, which is currently for sale at ROE for the exceptionally low price of £575,000.00.
ROE also have one of the first 5-speed ZF models (DB5/1346/R) available off-market for £460,000. An ideal candidate for restoration.
Please get in touch for more details on either DB5.