When you ask most car people, even Aston Martin fans, the car that they identify as James Bond’s first Aston Martin, they almost always say it is the DB5 used in the film Goldfinger. While that may be correct for the films, in the Ian Fleming books things are a bit different. While the book Goldfinger is also the first time Bond would drive an Aston, it was not the DB5. When the book was published in 1958 the DB5 did not even exist. Instead it the same model as my Pick of the Day, a 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark III.
The Aston Mk III, as they are known by most Aston aficionados, is an interesting transition car for the company that I believe offers the best of everything. They are the last car to use the Lagonda based twin-cam 6-engine that was developed by none other than W.O. Bentley. This is a legendary engine and was a great design.
The body of the Mk III was basically a modified version of the old 2/4 but modified in a way that to me perfects the original DB2/4 design. What they did was change the grill to the shape originally used in the DB3 racecar which became the same grill shape that every other Aston Martin car has used since. People seem to overlook that the Mk III was the first road going model to use this grill and that small change make the design somehow look much more modern and elegant.
The Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, seller offering this car describes it as a car that was delivered new in 1958 by the Aston Martin dealership in Pasadena, California. The buyer owned the car until 1983 when he sold it to its second owner, who kept the car for more than 39 years. In 2007 this Aston Mk III underwent a complete mechanical restoration totaling more than $85,000 and happily still retains its original numbers-matching drivetrain, has all original body panels, interior, and glass. The paintwork shows signs of age through cracking and blemishes while the interior and glass are extremely nice.
The quality of the paint makes me wonder if it is original to the car and something I might ask the seller if I was a buyer. If it is original, this Aston Mk III would be a nice entry for the preservation class at an event like Pebble Beach. It is also a car that you could easily drive and not have to worry about the stray stone chip or two you might acquire on tours like the Colorado Grand, a tour that this car would be perfect for.
Bond’s Mk III, according to the book Goldfinger, was painted in a color called Whisper Grey. This is not a real factory color, but this one is painted in Ivory and carries an Oxblood leather interior. To me that would easily be close enough.
If you had not figured it out yet, I love this specific car. If I would not have to sell a bunch of stuff that my wife would object to me selling, think a lot of IRA money, I would have already bought it and be on the phone with Camille at Passport to arrange shipping to me for pick up in Monterey in a few weeks. While not as elegant or as popular as the DB5, the Bond connection is a big deal to me. On top of that the Mk III has more headroom and interior space than any other DB Aston Martin, making it the perfect car for my 6’4″ height. Yes the steering and handling is also a bit more primitive than the DB4 and later cars, but it is a very advanced car for one built in the 1950s and I would not mind those minor drawbacks.
This 1958 DB 2/4 Mk III is being offered for a market correct price of $280,000, which is a lot less than you would have to spend on a DB4 or 5. It is even less expensive than a DB6, and also more rare than any of the above cars being one of only 83 total Mk III cars built in left hand drive.
If you are looking for a blue chip GT car and the DB4-6 are too expensive, this car would be a perfect substitute. For me it would not be a substitute at all but a car I would likely keep forever.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
A great review