One to Buy: 1 of 1 Vantage-engined 1966 Aston Martin DB5 Shooting-break
Thanks to an advanced specification and Rolls-Royce standard of luxury, the Aston Martin DB5 was already among the most expensive cars available during the mid 1960s.
However, the list price of a standard DB5 could be increased by around 50% should a buyer wish to have his or her car built to Shooting-break configuration at Harold Radford Coachbuilders in London.
Radford’s Shooting-break conversion came about as Aston Martin company owner, David Brown, wanted a car that could accommodate his gun dog, Candy. Having turned to Radford to create something suitable, Brown took delivery of his handsome new machine in April 1965.
Inevitably, some customers who saw Brown’s personalised DB5 in the press and at the factory requested their own example. Radford subsequently created a further eleven DB5 Shooting-breaks followed by another four on the DB6 platform.
One of those supremely rare DB5 Shooting-breaks is currently on offer at the Nicholas Mee showroom in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
Chassis DB5/2047/R was configured with a California Sage exterior, Red upholstery, manual transmission and right-hand drive steering. Like all the Radford Shooting-breaks, it started life as a complete new car prior to conversion which went some way to explaining the enormous list price.
Following the completion of Radford’s work, DB5/2047/R returned to the factory where it was treated to a Vantage specification engine. None of the other eleven DB5 Shooting-breaks were equipped with this desirable option making DB5/2047/R unique among an already exclusive group.
Today the car is presented in beautiful restored condition having covered a little over 59,000 miles from new.
Reprinted below is Nicholas Mee’s description for this exceptional coachbuilt Aston Martin:
This exquisite DB5 Shooting Brake is one of just 12 examples, converted by renowned coach builders, Harold Radford & Sons. Chassis DB5/2047/R was manufactured at the Newport Pagnell factory in 1965 as a saloon and finished in California Sage over Red hides, the livery it wears today, prior to delivery to Harold Radford for the factory commissioned shooting brake conversion.
Returning to the factory following the conversion works, this car was then fitted with a Vantage specification engine, the only one of the twelve cars built to have been delivered in such specifications.
Registered on the 19th July 1966 to Cyril Williams (Motors) Ltd of Wolverhampton and following a few changes of hands in its early life, the car was acquired by an Aston Martin enthusiast in Kingston upon Thames in 1972 who then retained the car in family ownership for an astonishing 39 years, cherishing the car dearly and maintaining meticulous records of its maintenance (including the fitment of a ZF-five speed manual gearbox in 1992) and limited ‘high days and holidays’ use.
Acquired by its current, UK based Aston Martin collector owner in 2011 who subsequently committed to a ‘no expense spared’ restoration, encompassing all aspects of the car, by a leading Aston Martin specialist, completed in 2014, to the very highest standards as presented today.
Since restoration, the car has been used sparingly and has featured in world class concours events, receiving regular servicing and maintenance. Service records and MOT certificates, contained within the extensive history file accompanying the car, which contains factory build records, a BMIHT Certificate, factory service records, the original ‘Buff’ logbook, subsequent ownership records and period marketing materials and photos, verify the recorded mileage of 59,280.
