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HomeMediaBonhams annual Aston Works auction sets record

Bonhams annual Aston Works auction sets record

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All-original but project-car Aston Martin sells for $468,415 at Bonhams sale | Bonhams photos
All-original but project-car Aston Martin sells for $468,415 at Bonhams sale | Bonhams photos

The 16th annual Aston Martin Works Sale by Bonhams was the largest yet with a record $15,875,314 in transactions Saturday, with two cars selling for more than $2 million each. Those were a 1966 DB5 convertible in Vantage specification that brought $2,350,090 and a 1962 DB4 Series IV Vantage convertible that sold for $2,332,827 (prices include buyer’s fees.)

Peter Ustinov in his Aston Martin
Peter Ustinov in his Aston Martin

The ’62 DB4 Vantage convertible originally was owned by actor Peter Ustinov and was one of some dozen cars in the sale built with left-hand drive.

“As pioneers of the single-marque sale, we’ve returned to the Works Service here in Newport Pagnell for another great auction, exceeding all previous years’ totals,” Tim Schofield, head of Bonhams UK motor cars department, said in a news release.

The Ustinov car as it was sold Saturday
The Ustinov car as it was sold Saturday

“The quintessentially British marque of Aston Martin attracts interest from enthusiasts across the world, a fact demonstrated here today as we took bids from all corners of the globe,” he added. “This year’s sale attracted a larger and more cosmopolitan than ever before, achieving an excellent result.

“The market demonstrated that there is a ready appetite for exceptional examples, even for models that had previously been regarded as not particularly fashionable. The result we achieved for a Virage Coupe illustrated this with £74,300 ($114,522) for the stunning 1990 model.”

Also impressive were the prices paid for barn-found, project-car Astons. A dilapidated but all-original 1962 DB4 “Series III’ sports saloon went for $468,415, a 1959 DB Mark III sports saloon brought $178,395, and a Tickford-bodied 1958 DB Mark III sports saloon doubled its top estimate and sold for $161,132.

“Despite the mixed weather there was a superbly sociable ‘garden party’ atmosphere among the 2,000 or so Bonhams guests who joined us here today – enjoying the sale and helping us to celebrate our 60 years in fine style,”
said Paul Spires, commercial director at Aston Martin Works.

“Today’s Aston Martin Sale has been another hugely memorable occasion with keen bidding, strong sales, and rare and collectable Aston Martin sports cars going to buyers around the world.”

Top-10 sales, Bonhams Aston Martin Works sale:

  1. 1966 Aston Martin DB5 convertible Vantage specification, $2,350,090
  2. 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Vantage convertible, $2,332,827
  3. 1962 Aston Martin DB4 4.0-liter Series IV convertible, $1,279,317
  4. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-liter sports saloon, $917,255
  5. 1968 Aston Martin DB6 Mark 1 Volante, $865,464
  6. 1960 Aston Martin DB4 ‘Series I’ sports saloon, $761,887
  7. 1961 Aston Martin DB4 ‘Series II’ sports saloon, $761,887
  8. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 sports saloon, $744,624
  9. 1959 Aston martin DB4 Series I 4.2-liter to DB4 GT spec, $623,782
  10. 1969 Aston martin DB6 ‘Mark 1’ Vantage sports saloon, $575,446

(Prices include buyer’s fees.)

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Larry Edsall
Larry Edsall
A former daily newspaper sports editor, Larry Edsall spent a dozen years as an editor at AutoWeek magazine before making the transition to writing for the web and becoming the author of more than 15 automotive books. In addition to being founding editor at ClassicCars.com, Larry has written for The New York Times and The Detroit News and was an adjunct honors professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
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