Desmond J. Smail DB5 takes auction record – but it's short-lived as Aston values continue to soar

12 Dec 2011

Back in September the seemingly inexorable rise of classic Aston Martins was amply demonstrated when a 1964 DB5, beautifully restored by marque specialist Desmond J. Smail and once owned by Shane Filan of pop group Westlife, sold for a record auction price of £348,000 – against an estimate of £250,000-£300,000.

Notwithstanding that the Silver Birch example, which went under the gavel at Bonham’s Goodwood Revival Meeting sale on September the 16th, was in truly exceptional condition, figures such as this continue to favourably reflect on any classic Aston Martin – pre-war or post-war – whether it be in fine condition or in need of total restoration. Add to all this the undoubted ‘James Bond Effect’ and that Aston Martin was in 2011 voted the UK’s Coolest Brand for the fifth time in six years, plus the added boost of worldwide TV coverage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leaving their Buckingham Palace wedding reception in His Royal Highness Prince Charles DB6 Mark 2 Volante, and the combination suggests that overall current Aston Martin values will remain buoyant for some considerable time yet. Some would argue that this is not before time, Aston Martin values having trailed those of Ferrari, for example, until relatively recently.

A few days after the Bonhams sale at Goodwood, H&H’s September the 21st auction at RAF Duxford’s Imperial War Museum saw a brace of 1970 DB6 Mark 2 Vantages sell way above their estimates; one in average condition sold for £143,000, estimate £50,000-£65,000, while the other a fine, well maintained example, realised £209,000 against an estimate of £120,000-£140,000. A nice 1953 DB2, restored in the early 1990s, sold for £118,000, estimate £85,000-£100,000, at the same venue, and a 1937 15/98 Tourer, estimate £65,000-£75,000 and restored in the late 1990s, went for £66,000. A DB5 originally owned by Beatle Paul McCartney, however, restored 12 months earlier and with an estimate of £350,000-£420,000, failed to find a buyer. At H&H’s following auction at The Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, a V8 Series 3 made £46,200 against an estimate of £30,000-£35,000, and a 1967 DB6 in fair condition £121,000, estimate £60,000-£70,000.

Ten days later the record-breaking DB5 at Bonhams Goodwood sale was eclipsed by another excellent example, restored in the 1990s, estimate £300,000-£360,000, which sold at RM Auctions’ November the 1st sale for £375,200. The Battersea Park, London, event included a wealth of Aston Martins. While an original condition but refurbished 1961 DB4GT failed to sell at £780,000, estimate £780,000-£880,000, another DB5, a 1964 model, restored several years ago, made £224,000, estimate £220,000-£260,000, and an extensively refurbished 1955 DB2/4 Mark I £78,400, estimate £75,000-£95,000. Restored in 2007, a 1952 DB2 Vantage, at £101,920, sold below the estimate of £110,000-£130,000, but a 1953 DB2 Vantage Drop-head Coupe, also restored in 2007, garnered £196,000 against a £150,000-£180,000 estimate, while £235,200 for a finely restored 1962 DB4 Vantage Series V, estimate £200,000-£260,000, was bang on the money.

Only one pre-war car was among the R&M lots, a 1938 15/98 2/4 Seater with Abbey coachwork, recently restored by Ecurie Bertelli, which sold for £110,000, against a rather optimistic estimate of £125,000-£150,000. Of the mechanically non-original Astons on offer was a 1968 DBS, fitted by the Factory with a prototype 5,340cc V8 engine in 1974, and modified to DBS V8 specification, at £61,600 against an estimate of £50,000-£60,000; a 1989 V8 Series 5 with 7.0 litre engine, up-rated brakes and suspension, for £134,400, estimate £80,000-£110,000; and a competition prepared 1963 DB4 Vantage Series V, estimate £180,000-£220,000, which failed to sell at £150,000.

Next up on the auction calendar were two sales both on December the 7th. At London’s Royal Horticultural Halls, Coys offered a DB5 – estimate £225,000-£260,000 – originally owned by another Beatle, George Harrison, in good un-restored, original condition and housed in collections for the past 30 years, which sold for £342,500. At the same sale a part-restored DB Mark III, estimate £60,000-£75,000, failed to sell at £67,000, while a fine DB2 made £125,800 against an estimate of £70,000-£80,000. Meanwhile H&H’s sale, again at The Pavilion Gardens, included a bevy of Aston Martins. A fully restored 1960 DB4 Series 2, estimate, £180,000-£220,000 remained unsold, as did a good condition 1965 DB5 Vantage, equipped for occasional competition use, with an estimate of £190-250,000; it was sold, however, post sale for an unknown figure.

A trio of DB6s was next, the first, a very good condition Mark 1 Vantage model restored in the late 1980s, making £121,000 against a £90,000-£120,000 estimate; a 1968 Mark 1, in good condition, fared less well at £74,166, estimate £80,000-£120,000, while a 1967 Mark 1, restored in the late 1970s and also in good condition, with a £90,000-£120,000 estimate, was unsold. Also failing to achieve a successful bid was a 1974 V8 Series 3, in nice condition but cosmetically updated with V8 Vantage bodywork, with an estimate of £38,000-£45,000, while a very nice condition 1973 Vantage, estimate £39,000-£45,000, made £38,500.

What next year brings in the way of rising classic Aston Martin prices remains to be seen, but at least for those with less deep pockets, relative bargains can still be had at the right auction on the right day.