LOT 120 Ω

1958 Aston Martin DB MkIII Saloon Chassis no. AM300/3/1304 Engine no. DBA/956

Sold for CHF158,700 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

Previous Lot

Next Lot

Lot 120^Ω

1958 Aston Martin DB MkIII Saloon

The Gstaad Sale - Collector's Motor Cars|3 July 2022, 14:00 CEST|Gstaad Palace

1958 Aston Martin DB MkIII Saloon
Chassis no. AM300/3/1304
Engine no. DBA/956

• One of only 551 DB MkIIIs made
• Delivered new to Los Angeles, California, USA
• Present ownership since 2007
• Matching numbers chassis and engine

Footnotes

"The latest models – the DB Mk IIIs – have a number of important improvements and, in addition, a subtle crispness and refinement, as compared with the DB2/4, not easily attributed to any one modification." – The Autocar, 4th October 1957.

Two years after the introduction of the DB2/4 Mark II came the DB Mark III, 551 of which, mainly saloons, were made between March 1957 and July 1959. According to the factory's advertising, the DB Mark III afforded: "All the exhilaration that a really fast car can offer – elegance to satisfy the connoisseur – performance that is literally breathtaking – these are the elements which set the Aston Martin DB Mark III in a class apart." All of which pretty much sums up the appeal of every Aston Martin before or since.

Externally the most obvious change was the adoption of a DB3S-style grille, establishing the 'hallmark' look of subsequent Aston Martins. This restyled nose give the car a more imposing look, while the interior boasted a redesigned dashboard with instruments grouped in a cowled panel ahead of the driver.

The 3.0-litre engine benefited from an extensive redesign by Tadek Marek and featured, among other improvements, a stiffer block, stronger crankshaft, and a new cylinder head with bigger valves. The DB Mark III was faster than any of its predecessors with a top speed of 120mph (193km/h) and is also notable as the first Aston Martin to feature in one of Ian Fleming's 'James Bond' novels, being driven by '007' in Goldfinger. And it was also the last Aston Martin produced with the W O Bentley-era six-cylinder engine.

Its accompanying copy guarantee form reveals that left-hand drive chassis number '1304' was delivered to its first owner, one William Robert Plunkett of Los Angeles, California, on 5th July 1958. The car left the Newport Pagnell factory finished in Peony with brown Connolly hide interior trim. Only two subsequent owners are listed, both in France.

The current owner purchased the DB MkIII from dealer Michael Olu Brinkert on 19th June 2007. A copy of the purchase invoice is on file and the car also comes with copies of its former Belgian registration document and AMOC Register pages. Kept in storage since acquisition, the Aston will require re-commissioning before returning to the road.

Please note that if this vehicle is to be imported into Switzerland, Swiss Customs charges (Duty, Car Tax and VAT) will apply at roughly 12.5% of the Purchase Price. Included in this is the Swiss Duty which is calculated on the weight of the vehicle and shall be CHF 15 per 100 kg. Also included is Swiss Car Tax at 4% and this is calculated on the total Purchase Price (Hammer + Buyers Premium). Swiss VAT will then be applicable on the aggregated amount of the Hammer Price, Buyer's Premium, Swiss Duty and Swiss Car Tax at a rate of 7.7%.
Please note that customs rates to other countries shall vary. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department or our recommended shippers.

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import Licence or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such Licence or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancellation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
Like the vast majority of auctioneers Bonhams charge a Buyer's Premium on the Hammer Price of each Lot purchased and this is subject to VAT. Some lots may also be subject to VAT on the Hammer Price and these lots will be clearly marked with a symbol (†, Ω, *) printed beside the lot number.
For Automobilia the Buyer's Premium is 28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price; 27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,001 up to and including £800,000; 21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,001 up to and including £4,500,000 and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,001.
For Motor Cars and Vehicle Registration Numbers the Buyer's Premium will be 15% on the first £500,000 of the hammer price of each Lot, and 12% on the balance thereafter.
A 3rd party bidding platform fee of 4% + VAT of the Hammer Price for Buyers using the following bidding platforms will be added to the invoices of successful Buyers for auctions starting on or after 6th July 2024 – Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
VAT at the standard rate is payable on the Buyers Premium by all Buyers, unless otherwise stated.
Collection Notices
Purchases will only be released when cleared funds are received or on presentation of a bank letter irrevocably guaranteeing payment of the bank transfer order made by the holder of the account (name of the buyer) up to the amount of (amount of the purchase invoice) and debited from the account whose number will be specified (See letter's template at the end of the catalogue)
All vehicles must be collected from Gstaad by 6pm Monday 4 July 2022.
Customers must notify Tara Lawrence of Bonhams no later than 10pm on the day of the Sale if they will be collecting their vehicle on Monday 4 July 2022, no later than 6pm.
Tara Lawrence must be contacted by email only: [email protected]
In the absence of customer instructions, all vehicles will be removed to a temporary storage facility near Studen (CH2557) by the logistics company CAR Logistics Ltd at your expense and risk. The uplift and storage charges are outlined below:
Administration and uplift from Gstaad
CHF 550 + TVA per motor car
Storage charges from Monday 4 July 2022
CHF 30 + TVA per motor car per day
It is strongly advisable that you make contingency arrangements regarding collection in advance of the Sale. All storage and removal charges must be paid in full prior to the vehicle's collection or onward transportation. The pick-up can ONLY be made by appointment, arranged at least 24h in advance. Buyers wishing to pick-up their car at the storage near Studen (CH2557) will need to contact CAR Logistics first, pay the fees, and ensure that CAR Logistics has received from Bonhams, before their arrival, the authorisation to deliver the car.
Buyers should satisfy themselves that they have collected all relevant registration and logbooks, documents and keys relating to their Lot(s) at the time of collection.
Important Notice
The storage facility will remain operational until Tuesday 2 August 2022.
Any vehicle not collected by this time will be removed and transported to CAR Logistics for storage at the client's expense: CHF 950 + TVA per car
CAR Logistics Ltd.
Brunnmattstrasse 5
3174 Thörishaus-Bern
Melanie Daepp
+41 (0)58 356 12 12
[email protected]
www.car-logistics.com
Customs
Please note that for lots which are subject to the normal local duty/import tax on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium: as Bonhams is the guarantor of the customs duties and taxes clearance, these motor cars cannot be released to the buyer or his transporter immediately after the sale.
For these cars, collection by the buyer or a third party is only possible if import taxes are paid. Please keep in mind that it takes a couple of days to clear customs.
For all enquiries relating to Customs, be they administrative or legal, please contact CAR Logistics.
Car Logistics Ltd.
Brunnmattstrasse 5
3174 Thörishaus-Bern
Melanie Daepp
+41 (0)58 356 12 12
[email protected]
www.car-logistics.com
Insurance after sale
Buyers are reminded that their vehicles are their responsibility from the fall of the auction hammer. It is your responsibility to have adequate insurance cover in place.
Neither Bonhams, nor their agents, will be liable for any damage or loss that the lot may suffer from the fall of the auction hammer.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.

- Automobilia
- Cars

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Auction Viewings

1 July 2022, 13:00 - 19:00 CEST
2 July 2022, 10:00 - 19:00 CEST
3 July 2022, 10:00 - 13:00 CEST

Lot symbols

Ω	Import high rate
	VAT on imported items at the prevailing rate on hammer price and buyer's premium, if the object remains in the EU. TVA sur les objets importés au taux en vigueur prelevable sur le prix d'adjudication ainsi que sur la prime d'achat dans le cas où la voiture reste dans l'Union Européenne.