The Aston Martin DB5, the only car on the planet that is capable of playing a subconscious Bond soundtrack on the back of your head, now commands over £1 million in the pre-owned car market, depending on certain variables. Welsh welder John Williams bought his DB5 Vantage new for £900 (equivalent of around £15,000 in today’s money) back in 1973 with his hard-earned savings. He was only 19 at the time.
He was able to daily-drive his beloved DB5 for about 4 years before he had to move to the Middle East in 1977, since he had secured a new job there. Apparently, he had no choice but to leave the DB5 on his driveway, since his wife, Sue Williams, suggested that if he sells the car, he’ll never be able to get another one.
I’d had offers to buy her (DB5), and times when I could have done with the money, but I resisted and, as Sue said, “you’ll never get another one”. – John Williams
Besides battling the natural elements outside, the lonely DB5 faced the wrath of the neighborhood kids. Sue says that the neighbors’ kids would come and bounce on the bonnet of the car, while one kid snapped the tailpipe off by trying to balance on it. It is unclear if Sue also went along with Mr. Williams to the Middle East or stayed back in the UK.
But anyway, it appears that Mr. Williams, when he returned from the Middle East, decided to restore his barely-surviving DB5, and the work began at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell in late 2022.
After more than 2,500 hours of work by the wonderful folks at Newport Pagnell, Mr.William’s DB5 has been returned to its original glory. I’ve absolutely no clue how they turned crumbly, rusted metal bits into a spanking new car, but it is indeed mind-blowing.
Mr. Williams may have bought his DB5 for “only £900” at that time, but it is now worth over £1 million. How much did it cost him to restore, you ask? Well, according to reports, around £400,000.
The DB5 Vantage was a top-spec high-performance model. Only 65 units were built. Its 4.0L straight-six engine pumped out 243 kW (330 metric hp/325 bhp) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). The regular DB5 made 210 kW (286 metric hp/282 bhp) and 390 Nm (288 lb-ft). A ZF 5-speed manual transmission was a standard affair, while the regular DB5 had an option of a BorgWarner 3-speed torque-converter automatic.
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