Presented by Private Seller – This 1966 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe, vehicle identification number DB5 2269L, is the Amelia Award Winner from the 2015 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. This is an extremely low mileage example of this iconic make with only a true 32,830 miles on the odometer from new. According to Aston Martin Lagonda in Warwickshire, England, this car was only one of six produced in 1966 with a BorgWarner automatic transmission and is the last of its breed retaining such transmission. It also has the unique feature of factory-installed air conditioning, as well as electric windows. This British luxury sporting car and grand tourer were designed and the body constructed by the famed Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera of Milan, which shipped the completed bodies from Italy to Aston Martin in the U.K. Superleggera, Italian for superlight, is a custom tube and alloy panel coachwork construction method, developed for strength and weight saving.
The car was purchased by the father of the current owner on February 13, 1970, and has been continuously owned by this family since its date of purchase. The father of the current owner used the car as a regular driver, chauffeuring his son to school each day. Over two years across 2009 and 2010, the car underwent a body-off restoration with a complete rebuild of all drivetrain components, all suspension components, brakes, interior, instrumentation, and exterior. Every nut and bolt which could be saved was cleaned and replated, then reused in its original location. Hundreds of photos of the restoration as well as receipts pertinent thereto will be provided on a flash drive with the car. Bodywork and major assembly were performed by Tim Thatcher of That’s Autobody in Richmond, Illinois; engine rebuilding was performed by Barry Sale of PHP Racengines in Wauconda, Illinois; other mechanical work was performed by Dave Schaid of Imports Unlimited in Highland Park, Illinois; chrome work was done by The Finishing Touch in Chicago, Illinois; and interior restoration was done by Johann Merkhofer of Coachtrim in Danbury, Connecticut. Barry Sale’s engines have competed at Goodwood, The Finishing Touch has done chrome work on multiple Amelia Island and Pebble Beach winners, and Coachtrim was recommended by Wayne Carini of F40 Motorsports and Chasing Classic Cars.
The Aston’s exterior was originally red in color, but during the restoration was changed to silver birch, the iconic color popularized by the James Bond film Goldfinger from the eponymous Ian Fleming novel. The black leather interior remains as original. The engine, completely rebuilt and dynamometer tested with a brake horsepower reading of 270 hp at 5600 rpm, is the original inline six-cylinder motor displacing 3,996 cc with three SU HD8 carburetors, which have also been rebuilt. The dynamometer sheet also will be provided with the car.
The BorgWarner automatic transmission has been entirely rebuilt, as have the differential and all other drivetrain components, with all functioning as new. The brakes and suspension components have been restored to like-new condition as well. The Aston is shod in Borrani wire wheels, which were a period upgrade option offered by Aston and priced above the standard Dunlop wire wheels, on which are mounted 15″ – 185 VR15 Pirelli Cinturato tires.
All instruments, gauges, and other dashboard components have been rebuilt and function properly, including not only the speedometer and tachometer but also the radio and the clock. The air conditioning system, which remains on R12, has been checked and pressure tested within the past several weeks and blows quite cold air.
With the car will come the driver’s manual, parts manual, tool roll and workshop manual.
The car was invited by Bill Warner, founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, to be an entrant in the 2015 Concours. The Aston was honored there by winning the Amelia Award and the 2015 Trophy is, of course, included with the car. During the days of the Concours, the Aston flawlessly completed the Eight Flags Road Tour and has been driven only sparingly since that event. The DB5 remains in the identical condition in which it was presented on the fairways at the Ritz-Carlton golf course during the 2015 Amelia Island Concours.
