OT: Aston DB5

gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Sat May 01, 2010 4:02 pm

Sorry not porsche, but does anyone here know about the market for the above? A good friend of mine is looking to buy a fully restored Db5 that's on the bramley cars' webby (335k) as an investment.

Now that looks mad to me, but anyone have any view on the classic Astom market?

Graham

pmjt · Post by **pmjt** » Sat May 01, 2010 5:51 pm

5's are commanding more money than 6s and 4's are catching up a bit - four years ago you'd have bought a '5 for £150k and a '6 for £75k (I actually remember SERIOUSLY considering swapping my '85 'B' reg BMW 323i for an auto 6 vantage in 1989

)

As with all 'prime tin' they've moved up - Aston Workshop in the North East (http://www.aston.co.uk/) have been setting the benchmark - they have a left hooker for £389k here: http://www.aston.co.uk/carsales_index/p ... Martin/DB5)

Bramley will only sell a 'good car' but not necessarily a 'special' car. For £300k plus, it should be a 'special' (highly original, provenance etc.) car.

Nick Mee has always talked sense to me (http://www.nicholasmee.co.uk/)

As for the money, well £300 does seem on the mark for a good '5 - just as a good RS's are no longer £65k

P

pmjt · Post by **pmjt** » Sat May 01, 2010 5:53 pm

5's are commanding more money than 6s - four years ago you'd have bought a '5 for £150k and a '6 for £75k (I actually remember SERIOUSLY considering swapping my '85 'B' reg BMW 323i for a DB6 in 1989

)

As with all 'prime tin' they've moved up - Aston Workshop in the North East (http://www.aston.co.uk/) have been setting the benchmark - they have a left hooker for £389k here: http://www.aston.co.uk/carsales_index/p ... Martin/DB5)

Bramley will only sell a 'good car' but not necessarily a 'special' car. For £300k plus, it should be a 'special' (highly original, provenance etc.) car.

Nick Mee has always talked sense to me (http://www.nicholasmee.co.uk/)

As for the money, well £300 does seem on the mark for a good '5 - just as a good RS's are no longer £65k

P

gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Sat May 01, 2010 6:09 pm

Here's the car in question:

http://www.bramleyweb.co.uk/details/Ast ... n/1301.htm

Looks good, but how risky as an investment?

Graham

pmjt · Post by **pmjt** » Sat May 01, 2010 7:12 pm

ouch - that's impossible to say. If I understand it it's not a 5 but a 4 being rebuilt to gt spec? Fun plaything yes, investment - I personally don't think so. Now, i've never understood the classic Aston market as they seem to value a standard car being built in the manner we in Porsche circles would refer to as a rep

Personally? I'd tread bloody carefully - engine's being built by the right guy but who's doing the build? I forgot to suggest Post Vintage (http://www.postvintage.co.uk/) they are known for building 'specials' and their work is without equal - their DB4GT Zagato reps are amazing, as are their DB4GT's.

I digress, your question was about an investment. All I can offer is the question: would you / he consider a 904 rep an investment? Perhaps that's unfair - ok a 356a turned into a 356a Carrera rep?

I've never bought a car as an investment - I've always just bought a) the very best I can afford (see my posts on how I went through eight 993RS's to get to my 2.7

) and b) that which made my heart sing. That way, as values go up and down, who cares?

But in a troubled market, value will always remain with originality, patina and provenance. And forgive me, but I don't see any of those three in this car

HTH

P

richkaz · Post by **richkaz** » Sat May 01, 2010 7:23 pm

Is your friend interested in cars , investments or both ?
Old Astons look great but are heavy and a bit agricultural to drive.
I seem to remember an old Top Gear classics test where I think a DB6 proved to be the slowest car ever round the test track. I would have thought they were already at the top of thier 'investment' curve.
If I had the cash and it just had to be an Aston I would tread warily and give the nod to the even sweeter DB4 and pocket the £ 200,000 difference. If prices went ballistic the DB4 would probably rise at the same rate.
This looks a nice car.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C147130/

pmjt · Post by **pmjt** » Sat May 01, 2010 8:29 pm

richkaz wrote:If I had the cash and it just had to be an Aston I would tread warily and give the nod to the even sweeter DB4 and pocket the £ 200,000 difference. If prices went ballistic the DB4 would probably rise at the same rate.
This looks a nice car.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C147130/

Couldn't agree more

jb · Post by jb » Sat May 01, 2010 8:47 pm

To me the DB4 looks so much nicer too!

pmjt · Post by **pmjt** » Sat May 01, 2010 8:54 pm

The DB4GT is prettier still though

more purposeful:

Will Grant · Post by **Will Grant** » Sat May 01, 2010 9:23 pm

A friend of our had some work done by 'Aston Workshop' done on his DB6's, wasn't exactly ecstatic about the quality / service - now uses RS Williams who he says is a top lad, and knows his stuff.

Look at the AMOC DB forum, plenty of knowledgeable folks on there.

left4dead · Post by **left4dead** » Sat May 01, 2010 9:26 pm

DB4GT without a doubt. The most original one I've seen for years is pictured on the home page of Cars International although it's recently disappeared from the stock list so maybe just sold, shame. The interior was to-die-for:

http://www.carsinternational.com/

Fiskens have an original LHD DB4GT with great history & patina:

http://www.fiskens.com/pages/shop/item_ ... px?pid=419

The Zagato, along with 250SWB's, is probably my favourite GT of all time but with only 25 ever made they are millions. Repros are beautiful but I'd rather take an original DB4GT. Aston Workshop always have a Zagato rep on the go:

http://www.aston.co.uk/carsales_index/p ... -GT-Zagato

http://www.aston.co.uk/carsales_index/p ... Recreation

Beautiful things but if you're use to a 'drivers' car' then you might be a tad disappointed.....

left4dead · Post by **left4dead** » Sat May 01, 2010 9:45 pm

pmjt wrote:I forgot to suggest Post Vintage (http://www.postvintage.co.uk/)

Whoever bought this got an AMAZING car for the price. Originality in spades, if that's what does it for you (clearly it does for me!):

http://www.postvintage.co.uk/sales/recently-sold/35/

gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Sat May 01, 2010 11:19 pm

eeek, got my linkies mixed.

The car in question is really this one...
http://www.bramleyweb.co.uk/details/Ast ... on/614.htm

He is interested in Astons and wants somewhere to spend some money safely!

The 4's do look good.

Graham

pmjt · Post by **pmjt** » Sun May 02, 2010 11:17 am

Yep, that's a 5

Lots of money. As has been said here - the '4 for £145k is almost as much car for a third the money - I know which I'd buy....

P