‘971 KY’ was fist registered in May 1964 to Messrs. B Hirst & Sons, Halifax, engineers and principal UK manufacturers of sports and children’s playground equipment. It left the factory in its original colour of Platinum with Dark Blue Connolly with added extras of Motorola Radio with power aerial, heated rear screen and 2 Britax safety belts. A letter in the history file confirms that regular servicing was carried out by Aston Dealer Arnold G Wilson in Leeds under Hirst’s ownership up to 1976. Although, according to factory records, it did return to Newport Pagnell in 1968 for some engine work and to be re-painted in Aqua Marine. It was purchased in 1976 by a Mr Wadham-Smith from London who kept the car until 1979 when it was sold by Aston Martin (Sales) Ltd to Christopher Warren-Green, also from London, the Retail Order Form in the history file is signed by one N S Mee! Warren Green was a talented violinist who has gone on to have an illustrious career including personal musical conductor to the Royal Family! He had the DB5 maintained by Ian Mason during his short tenure before selling it to a Mr Rodney Jones from Surbiton in 1980 in order to purchase a violin! Mr Jones was no stranger to Aston Martin having previously worked for Roy Salvadori at his multi franchise dealership. He was re-united with the car with a surprise visit arranged by his son to our showrooms in Olney in 2019. As well as his many memories about his DB5 he also recounts being on the Aston Martin stand at various Motor Shows along with travelling by train to Newport Pagnell to collect new cars and delivering the first new DB4 GT to a titled gentleman in London! During his ownership Mr Jones had the car maintained by Martinac Engineering in Bedfont Middlesex and was recorded as competing in AMOC events at Goodwood and Wiscombe Park before selling the car in 1985. It was acquired by dealer Alexander White of Autodrome London who subsequently sold it to a Mr Adrian Davie-Thornhill from Matlock, Derbyshire. Mr Davie-Thornhill has also been to visit his old car and confirms he used the DB5 as more or less a daily driver having it maintained locally with the exception of some engine work which was carried out by Stratton Motor Company, Norfolk. However, the DB5 was still in more or less original condition and after many years of use, including several European road trips, Mr Davie-Thornhill eventually embarked on a course of mechanical restoration in 2006 with marque specialist Chris Shenton Engineering. This included chassis and suspension work along with a full engine re-build to 4.2 unleaded spec, at a total cost of over £40,000. The intention was to complete the restoration with paint and trim at a later date but circumstances dictated that the DB5 was sold in the 2011 Aston Martin Sale when it came into the hands of a Mr Parry from York who kept it until Desmond arranged the sale to the previous keeper in 2013. A full restoration was commenced in 2014 with specialists Aston Service London, to finish off and complement what had already been done to bring it up to the superb standard you see today.  This included chassis, suspension and body work, gearbox and axle re-builds, along with a bare metal re-paint and re-trimming throughout with a total cost in excess of £140,000. Completed in 2015 the car has since had minimal use, initially residing in conditioned storage in Monaco, although still UK registered under the same registration number it left the factory with, in 1964! It has latterly returned to the UK, with continued minimal use and regular maintenance by DJ Smail Ltd.

This beautiful DB5 is in exceptional condition, is ready to go and comes with original factory build sheet, Heritage Certificate and a very comprehensive history file which includes many service, maintenance and restoration invoices, MOT’s, correspondence and pictorial records of both restorations.