One of the quintessential British cars is set to be auctioned at Bonhams in London on December 2. This vehicle is a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, originally bought by the legendary Paul McCartney of The Beatles. Notably, this Aston Martin has also been owned by Chris Harris, a well-known host on the show /DRIVE on NBC Sports.
The Aston Martin DB5 has cemented its reputation as one of the most iconic sports cars in England, largely due to its association with James Bond. It debuted as 007’s vehicle in the 1964 film “Goldfinger” and went on to feature in several subsequent Bond films, establishing itself as a cinematic as well as an automotive legend.
As per the Bonhams listing, McCartney ordered this DB5 shortly after the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show and completed work on the film “A Hard Day’s Night.” Remarkably, he drove the car extensively, accumulating over 40,000 miles before selling it in 1970—an impressive feat considering his hectic schedule during the 1960s.
The car has undergone several restorations, with the latest one commencing in 2012 and concluding this year. The restorer chose to repaint it in Silver Birch, reminiscent of James Bond’s DB5. This restoration also transformed the interior to a striking dark red, featuring stitching on the back seat that pays homage to McCartney’s ownership, along with a notable inscription inside the glove compartment.
Beyond cosmetic updates, the latest restoration included significant mechanical enhancements. The original DOHC inline-six engine was enlarged from 4.0 liters to 4.2 liters and had its compression improved, resulting in a performance increase from 282 horsepower to 315 horsepower, and torque rising from 280 pound-feet to 305 pound-feet.
Although some may argue that the car might be more desirable with its original specifications, Paul McCartney’s DB5 remains an important artifact in both automotive and musical history. Bonhams anticipates the sale will achieve a hammer price between $1.6 million and $2 million. This estimate seems relatively modest, especially given that Hagerty assigns a value of $1.4 million to a well-maintained DB5. Does McCartney’s ownership really only contribute an additional $200,000 to the value of this iconic vehicle?.
