The Aston Martin DB5 has long been considered one of the world’s most seminal sports cars, owing to its 282 brake horsepower race-developed aluminium alloy engine, advanced chassis, and distinctive Touring Superleggera-licenced coachwork. It achieved legendary worldwide fame thanks to the James Bond film Goldfinger, and proved itself as the ultimate combination of beauty, brains, and brawn. Aston Martin built 899 saloon examples, but only 193 of these cars were configured in left-hand drive, making them considerably rarer than their right-hand-drive siblings.

During 1964, Aston Martin began offering an improved version of the standard 4.0-litre engine, which in the David Brown-era tradition of such motors was dubbed the “Vantage”. These engines retained the same displacement as the standard DB5 motor but utilised a revised camshaft profile and triple-Weber carburettors to raise output to a robust 325 horsepower, a dividend of 43 extra horses. This advancement not only improved top speed but also provided bottom-end torque to launch the DB5 from standstill to 100 km/h in around six seconds. According to records of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust, only 60 closed examples of the DB5 were originally equipped with a Vantage engine, of which just 21 cars were configured in left-hand drive, including this beautifully presented example.

According to the Aston Martin build sheet on file, chassis number 2228/L was issued a guarantee in August 1965. Finished in Silver Birch paint over an interior of Dark Blue vaumol leather by Connolly, the DB5 was desirably equipped with a Vantage engine, a five-speed manual gearbox, Marchal fog lamps, and triple-eared chrome wheels shod with Avon Turbospeed GT tyres. The interior was appointed with Normalair air conditioning, a Blaupunkt Koln TR radio with powered aerial, and Fiamm horns with changeover switch.

The DB5 was specified for the European market and sold new to Captain Panos A Tsagaris, then residing in Hamburg, Germany. Factory records reflect that the Vantage returned to Aston Martin for servicing a handful of times through April 1966.

Although the Aston Martin’s intermediate history is currently unknown, by the early 1980s the car was acquired by Adrian Heineger, an enthusiast based in Winterthur, Switzerland, and he retained possession throughout most of the decade. By 1991 the DB5 passed to another Swiss resident, who eventually commissioned a comprehensive restoration by factory affiliate Roos Engineering in Bern, including a cosmetic change to midnight blue paint over a beige interior. This work was conducted between November 1999 and September 2006. By this time the original engine had been substituted with a correct DB5 mill, engine number 400/1352, which was restamped with the car’s original engine number, 2337/V.

In November 2017 the Aston Martin was acquired by the consigning owner, another dedicated enthusiast based in Switzerland. Intent on returning the DB5 to its original factory appearance and mechanical specifications, the owner entrusted the car to Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell for a complete restoration with costs exceeding £400,000. This refurbishment included a factory-supervised renewal of all mechanical elements and systems, as well as a new finish in correct Silver Birch paint over a Dark Blue leather interior.

The restoration was documented with a series of explanatory reports and photos, copies of which are included in the car’s file. The restamped replacement engine was rebuilt to Vantage specifications, including Weber 45 DCOE/1 carburettors, while the factory additionally provided a new Vantage continuation engine that accompanies the sale (stamped 400/2337/V/C, in a nod to the car’s original engine number). Never used since it was built by Aston Martin, this continuation engine has been preserved and stored in a shipping crate and is included with the car as a spare engine. Completed in June 2021, the Aston Martin Works restoration has resulted in a gorgeous, highly authentic state of presentation. Since then, the car has been tended to by Emil Frey Classics in Safenwil, Switzerland.

As one of only 21 Vantage-powered saloons configured in left-hand drive, this Aston Martin claims an unusual degree of rarity, and it is desirably accompanied by a set of blue colour-matched luggage. The next caretaker may look forward to enjoying the DB5 on the open road or presenting it at marque gatherings and local concours d’elegance. In any event, this special DB5 Vantage would make a benchmark addition to any sporting collection, sure to thrill both driver and admirer alike.