• One of only 38 left-hand drive DB5 convertibles
• Delivered new to the USA
• Professionally restored in Italy circa 2009
• Purchased by Bernard Fornas in 2012
• Engine completely rebuilt and enlarged to 4.2 litres in 2019

'More and more cars today reach the magical "ton" but those which can do it with the same ease and rapidity of the Aston can be counted on the fingers of one hand. High-speed stability and safety is not cheap to engineer, and with few people to pay the price, production costs are never reduced by the quantity of the work. The DB5 therefore fills a unique corner of the market, a corner at the top end both in the way it performs and the price one pays for the privilege.' – Autocar, 18th September 1964.

Introduced in 1963, the DB5 was a development of the preceding DB4 that had represented such a giant step forward in Aston Martin's post-war evolution on its arrival in 1958. Classically proportioned, the Touring-designed body established an instantly recognisable look that would stand the marque in good stead until 1970. The DB4's engine was still an all-alloy twin-overhead-camshaft 'six' but the old W O Bentley/Willie Watson-designed 3.0-litre unit had been superseded by a new design by Tadek Marek, newly arrived from Austin. Proven in racing before it entered production in the DB4, the new 3,670cc engine featured 'square' bore and stroke dimensions of 92x92mm and developed its maximum power of 240bhp at 5,500rpm. The David Brown gearbox was a new four-speed all-synchromesh unit. Top speed was claimed to be 141mph; 0-60mph could be covered in 8.5 seconds and, thanks to its four-wheel disc brakes, the DB4 was quicker from 100mph and back to rest than any other production car in the world.

Touring's Superleggera body construction, which employed a lightweight tubular structure to support the aluminium-alloy body panels, was deemed incompatible with the DB2/4-type multi-tubular spaceframe, so engineer Harold Beach drew up an immensely-strong platform-type chassis. Independent front suspension was retained, the DB2/4's trailing links giving way to unequal-length wishbones, while at the rear the DB4 sported a live axle located by a Watts linkage instead of its predecessor's Panhard rod. Five series were built as the model gradually metamorphosed into the DB5. The latter's distinctive cowled headlamps had first appeared on the DB4GT and the newcomer was the same size as the lengthened Series V DB4.

The DB5's 3,995cc engine, first seen in the Lagonda Rapide, produced 282bhp. As Autocar observed in its edition of 21st May 1965: "Racing has played a major part in the development of all Aston Martin engines since Frank Halford designed the original 1.5-litre unit for Bamford & Martin. The 3,995cc 6-cylinder light alloy engine fitted to the DB5 is in all major respects the same as that which powered the 4-litre prototype which ran in the 1962 and 1963 Le Mans 24-Hour races." The newly enlarged engine was mated to a four-speed, overdrive-equipped gearbox, a 'proper' ZF five-speed unit being standardised later. Other improvements made to the DB5 included alternator electrics, Girling disc brakes instead of Dunlops, Sundym glass, electric windows, and an oil pressure gauge as standard equipment.

Like its many predecessors, the DB5 was also offered in convertible form (the 'Volante' name would not be applied to the soft-top Aston until the DB6's arrival) while independent coachbuilder Harold Radford offered a shooting brake conversion. 1,021 DB5s were manufactured between July 1963 and September 1965, a total that included a mere 123 convertibles and 12 shooting brakes.

This rare DB5 convertible was bought by Mr Fornas in November 2012 from Belgian dealer Michel Kruch Sprl having previously been in the ownership of a Belgian national, Mr.Hubert Bonnet. This car had been delivered new in the USA to one Charles E O'Hara, at which time it was finished in Platinum with Red interior. Many years later the Aston was discovered as a complete 'barn find' in the USA. It was bodily restored in Italy (allegedly by Bacchelli & Villa, a company known for their perfect Ferrari restorations). Unfortunately, there is only photographic evidence of the restoration, which was carried out circa 2009. The car was restored in striking 'triple black'.

Since the Aston's acquisition by Bernard Fornas, the engine has been completely overhauled (2019) with new liners and pistons, enlarging the capacity to 4.2 litres. The parts were bought through marque specialist Cecil Cars and the engine was dismantled and reassembled by Mr Fornas' own mechanic. In June 2017, this car was part of a feature article in the French magazine, British Motors (copy of the magazine in the file).

One of the rarest of post-war Aston Matins with 123 built, and only 38 in left-hand drive, the DB5 convertible is only rarely offered for public sale, making this a not-to-be-missed opportunity for the discerning collector.

Please note there is restricted bidding on this lot which requires enhanced bid verification checks. Please contact us at [email protected] or call +33 1 42 61 10 10 as soon as possible if you are planning to bid on this lot to prevent any last-minute delays.