NYC EVENT: Register now
19th November 2015 5:00pm EST
A well-regarded English Gentleman
It is undeniable that the DB5, designed by Carrozzeria Touring, was elevated to design icon status largely due to its pivotal role in several James Bond films, starting with “Goldfinger” in 1964. The DB5’s association with James Bond did double Aston Martin’s sales overnight, and has remained an important selling point to this very day. Regardless of any extra attention the affiliation with 007 and the films may have generated for the Aston Martin, it is also irrefutable that the DB5 was, and continues to be, recognized as a splendid, masterful piece of automotive design. While the car was conceived well before “Goldfinger”’s producers ever thought to put it in the film, it is fascinating that the final design turned out to be every bit as unique and enigmatic as 007 himself - a highly-sophisticated and polished gentleman, who conceals his efficiently brutal abilities under his skin.
This DB5 is one of only 886 DB5s and even more rare, being a left-hand drive model. It was delivered new to New York on February 19, 1965 to Oscar Straus II. The car was originally Black Pearl with a contrasting red leather interior. Further specifications included the options of Motorola radio, chrome wire wheels, and a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio. Little of 1990/L’s history is known until around 1990, when it was purchased by collector Kurt DeBene of Medina, Washington. Following his purchase of the car, this DB5 received a complete cosmetic restoration, including a hand-stripped bare-metal repaint to its current Sage Green color, and a complete restoration of the leather and interior in Tan Connolly leather. Additionally, all chrome was replated to concours levels. Feeling that, in his care, the car was not being used to its potential, DeBene sold the car to Connecticut collector, Stefano Bruni, to add to his collection of significant Aston Martins. Proving that the car's restoration was truly exceptional, this DB5 was shown in 2003 at the prestigious Aston Martin Owners Club Concours, at Lime Rock park, where it finished 2nd in class. Following the concours, Bruni had some further restoration work done on the car, drove the car an additional 5,000 miles, and then sold it in order to purchase a DB4 GT. Since Bruni’s ownership, this DB5 has been in the care of knowledgeable Aston Martin collectors, who have continued to work to preserve 1990/L in the way it deserves.
Aston Martin. The name alone conjures up ideas of racing heritage, romance, high style, and adventure. The mythic Aston Martin DB5 is probably the most famous European sports and GT car in the world. Whether that is due to it being featured in the James Bond movie, Goldfinger, or because of its stunning good looks and performance to match, is for you to decide. But the DB5 is for many, the high point of the European touring car. When the DB5 was introduced in 1963, Aston took the lessons learned from the DB4 and applied them to create the best car that Aston could build. It is said that the DB5 was the car that former managing director of Aston Martin, John Wyer, always wanted the DB4 to be. That is called “progress”! From the onset, the DB5 was designed not to be a race car, but to be the world’s greatest road car, and we have to say that we think ‘The Boys at Newport Pagnell’ accomplished their goal.
In many ways the DB5 is the only reason that the Aston Martin brand is still with us today. Before being featured in the James Bond film, Goldfinger, the Aston Martin brand was virtually unknown to the average person. Placement of the car in that film created, literally overnight, excitement for Aston and brought the brand and its products into the public awareness as a symbol of the epitome of high style and sophistication. As a boy, almost every car enthusiast had the Corgi toy of the car and longed for the day when he could have the real, full sized-version. Original versions of the toy Aston Martin have become collectible in themselves, and the presence of the DB5 in the newest Bond film, Spectre, will only further feed the interest in the DB5 for years to come.
The DB5 seems to increase in value at every sale. Over the past 10 years, the DB5 has increased in value by more than 600%. DB5s that cost $275,000 in 2006, now regularly trade for as much as $1,500,000. We feel that this trend is likely to continue, and we think that they will be trading at North of $2 million in the next few years. This trend is due to the Ferrari market’s effect on the high-end car market in general, but has also been driven by the DB5’s continued value as a cultural icon, from being featured repeatedly in the Bond movie franchise.
While 1990/L has received a color change, it received a bare-metal repaint in the period-correct factory color of Sage Green, with correct Tan Connolly leather. The car is concours or rally-ready, whichever use you plan for this truly significant Aston Martin.
Whether you have always wanted a DB5 because of its James Bond connection, or because you want one of the world’s finest 1960’s GT cars, this DB 5 will be sure to satisfy your expectations, no matter how high.