In July 1963 Aston Martin->ke13 unveiled the DB5. The convertible version was limited to only 23 units, but only nine of them featured the more powerful Vantage engine which was a 282bhp engine mated to a four-speed/overdrive gearbox. One of these fantastic automobiles was auctioned during this past weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed for an impressive £551,500 (or $830,000 at the current exchange rates).
The Aston Martin wasn't the only vehicle with a price tag to bid on at that auction. Other extravagant vehicles were sold and included a 1937 Bentley->ke15 41/4-Litre Drophead Coupe (which was featured in the 007 James Bond film 'Never Say Never Again'), a 1999 Mercedes-Benz->ke187 SLK230, and a 1976 Jensen Interceptor Series III Coupe. In total, the auction raised an impressive £3,707,687.
Group Head of Bonhams Motoring Department, James Knight, comments: "There was extraordinary strength of bidding in all areas of the market and we were exceptionally pleased to establish yet another world record Aston Martin price with the sale of the DB5 convertible."
Press release after the jump.
Press release
A 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible, one of only nine produced, sold for a remarkable £551,500 today (2 July) at Bonhams annual Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia auction at Goodwood Festival of Speed. The sale fetched a magnificent £3,707,687 in total with a 75% sale rate.
Top prices were paid for a 1937 Bentley 41/4-Litre Drophead Coupe, which featured in the 007 James Bond film 'Never Say Never Again' and starred at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2003, which sold for £221,500, and the ex-Yoshiyuki Hayashi 1958 model/1980s assembled Lister-Jaguar (also known as 'Knobbly'), which fetched £232,500.
A black 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230, bought new by Dannii Minogue, and subsequently passed onto her sister, Kylie, attracted much pre-sale publicity. It finally sold to a 'lucky, lucky, lucky' buyer for £14,950 who fought off competition from several other interested bidders. Part of the proceeds from the sale are being donated to a breast cancer charity.
A 1976 Jensen Interceptor Series III Coupe proved hugely popular selling for an impressive £54,300 against an estimate of £7,000 - 10,000.
Leading lots in the automobilia section of the sale included Sir Malcolm Campbell's traveller's wallet, inherited by his son Donald, which made £4,715, and the World Waterspeed commemorative silver trophy presented to Sir Malcolm Campbell by Lord Wakefield in 1937, which fetched £24,250.
Today Goodwood Festival of Speed attracts over 250,000 visitors compared to 25,000 at its inaugural event in 1993.
Group Head of Bonhams Motoring Department, James Knight, comments: "There was extraordinary strength of bidding in all areas of the market and we were exceptionally pleased to establish yet another world record Aston Martin price with the sale of the DB5 convertible."