News: "World's cheapest" DB5 for sale, if you ignore £420k restoration cost

JAMES BOND would have struggled to shake off his pursuers in this Aston Martin DB5. The car, built in 1964, has no engine, gearbox or seats.

As such it could be the world’s cheapest DB5. It is being auctioned by Bonhams without reserve, which means it could sell for £200, although the company estimates it is more likely to sell for between £10,000 and £20,000.

However, before you flourish your debit card, it’s as well to know that according to one Aston Martin restoration company, returning the DB5 to its former glory will cost considerably more.

Gary Williams, works manager at Aston Engineering, Derby, said: “A complete car would cost around £192,000 to restore, but this one is little more than a shell. It requires a new engine (£60,000) and five-speed ZF gearbox (£18,000). And then there’s the interior to restore, which is where costs begin to mount up and things are less certain. For example, a handmade, metal fascia panel alone, without switches and dials, and completely undressed, would be £1,800. Finishing and mounting it would cost an awful lot more.

“Seat frames are extremely rare now and will cost a fortune either to find and restore, or to make from scratch. Many parts, such as the window latches, are no longer made and need to be handcrafted individually. It’s these items, and the interior linings and labour required to craft the cabin, that cost so much money. With all these things in mind, I could see this particular DB5 costing around £420,000 to restore.”

If that sounds like your debit card, you can bid for the car at the Bonhams Aston Martin sale being held at the car maker’s restoration works in Newport Pagnell on May 17.