Bonhams' Aston Martin auction: the highlights

British classics make a fortune at Reading sale

How many Aston Martins does it take to hold an auction? If you’re Bonhams, the answer is 35.

That’s because Saturday saw that very number of Aston Martin classics – plus a David Brown tractor and a host of related automobilia – go to auction at Englefield House, near Reading.

Despite the plethora of one-marque machines on sale, bidders didn’t seem to struggle one bit with spending: in total, the auction brought in a staggering £4,474,499. Yes, that's nearly £4.5m. Not bad for a weekend's work.

Which were the biggest and best sellers? We’ve picked out 10 of the top lots for your viewing pleasure.

1964 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-litre

Estimate: £600,000 – 700,000
Sold for: £628,700

The first owners of this DB5 obviously got the message about long-term investments: the iconic GT stayed in the possession of a single family from 1964 until 2005 – a remarkable 41 year custodianship of arguably the most iconic Aston Martin model.

Eventually, the Hortons sold their DB5/1614/R on and the new owner had it mechanically overhauled, including an engine enlargement to 4.2-litres and the fitting of air conditioning.

Running smoothly and in original interior spec, there’s little wonder this ‘64 coupe fetched £628k.

1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk1 Volante

Estimate: £500,000 – 600,000
Sold for: £494,300

A delightful DB6, this car used to belong to jazz legend Jools Holland, who bought it because he, as most teenagers, had lusted after the British tourer as a child.

According to Holland, once he’d bought the drop-top Aston and had it repainted in ‘Deep Purple’, he drove it back to his childhood home to imagine how his younger self would have enjoyed the DB6.

It’s subsequently been restored and re-sprayed in metallic green, and carries a DB5 engine.

1951 Aston Martin DB2

Estimate: £40,000 – 60,000
Sold for: £66,460

Not every lot that went under the hammer on Saturday was a shining example of preservation: this sorry DB2 spent the last 50 years in a garage – and not the sort that’s kind to vintage metalwork.

An early model carrying a ‘Washboard’ front end, to say this Aston will need a thorough restoration is an exercise in understatement. Corroded, worn and bent, that £66k sale price belies the true potential in this rare and rusty DB2. Mint examples have sold for upwards of £300,000, so the fact that it comfortably exceeded its pre-sale estimate is no surprise.

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4

Estimate: £140,000 – 180,000
Sold for: £147,100

Upgraded and ready to race, this lovely ‘54 DB2/4 might not be all-original but it’s perfectly placed to tackle period events and classic rallies. Wearing an arresting grey paint job – complete with Regency Red stripe, of course – it’s been restored from the ground up, including a 2.6-litre engine freshly built by Wren Classics, alongside a new gearbox and upgraded rear axle – though the original dashboard remains.

1968 Aston Martin DBS

Estimate: £60,000 – 80,000
Sold for: £37,833

Another one that’s ripe for restoration, this DBS is an example of how Aston Martin was ready for its first V8 before the engine was even finished. Designed for that motor, the Newport Pagnell lot made do with the existing 4-litre number from the DB6 until the DBS V8 arrived in ‘69. Alas, this white-on-black example lost that engine somewhere along the road, gaining a 4.2-litre Jaguar unit instead. It’s definitely due for an overhaul but, bought for £37k – a fair way below its estimate – there’s plenty of potential for return on investment.

1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II 3.7-litre

Estimate: £250,00 – 300,000
Sold for: £281,500

Continuing the auction’s trend of rarity, this ‘56 DB2/4 is one of just 34 Mark II fixed-head coupes ever made. Left-hand drive, it was first delivered to France before heading back to the UK and, in 2014, being sold at the Goodwood Festival of Speed auction. Subsequently, it was returned to Aston Martin Works for restoration, at which point it regained its original, two-tone green livery, leaving it a fine and handsome machine today.

1958 Aston Martin DB MkIII Drophead Coupe

Estimate: £300,000 – 350,000
Sold for: £393,500

Dropping the DB2/3 part for the MkIII, the DB launched in 1957 and simultaneously established the now-iconic Aston Martin grille. With a top speed of 120mph, the Mk III was also the fastest Aston to date. This ‘58 example is one of 85 drophead coupe variants built, and one of a mere 14 to carry the more powerful DBD ‘Special Series’ engine. Used by HRH Prince Michael of Kent to drive to the 2010 British Grand Prix, it’s been restored more than once and featured in print several times – making it quite the storied motor. No surprise, then, that it made such a tidy amount at the auction on Saturday.

1959 Aston Martin DB4 Series 1

Estimate: £380,000 – 440,000
Sold for: £371,100

Next up is a simply stunning Series 1 DB4 – the 26th to be produced and a matching-numbers example of Aston’s very British tourer.

Styled by Touring, derivations of its good looks and classic lines would grace Astons until 1970 – while its 3.7-litre 240bhp motor meant it was both show and go.

This particular DB4 is notable for its early model features, including frameless windows and a rear-hinged bonnet. A well-documented history paired with an extensive restoration some six years ago surely helped it achieve that £370k sale price.

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II

Estimate: £200,000 – 250,000
Sold for: £225,500

No one knows quite how many of the Mark II DB2/4 were built, but it certainly wasn’t many – and this road-weary example is one of the few.

One of the first production convertibles to carry Tickford bodywork, a mere six of the rare machine were designated for export, including this one. Chassis 300/1266 shipped to the USA to be stabled with various owners, the last of which was a missile guidance engineer who performed maintenance himself before he consigned it to storage in 1977.

Unrestored after 40 years in a garage, this all-original DB2/4 Mark II is evidently as desirable as ever, judging by the sale price.

1965 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-litre Convertible

Estimate: £850,000 – 900,000
Sold for: £886,300

Finally, a true showstopper: this DB5 is one of only 85 right-hand-drive models and went to auction in fantastic condition, thanks to a lifetime of excellent maintenance (as proven by the reams of documents it sold with).

Stabled with just three owners from new, it was upgraded to a 4.2-litre engine capacity a decade ago. It still carries its desirable ZF 5-speed gearbox and original red leather interior and has a trifling 50,000 miles on the clock. Glorious.

It was clearly in favour with the Englefield House crowd, exceeding its £850k lower estimate and finishing the auction as the biggest seller.