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Saving Aston Martin

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Saving Aston Martin

Pete Weishaupt
Dec 24, 2020
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Saving Aston Martin

everydaydriven.substack.com

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Aston Martin DB5. Three words guaranteed to make your heart beat faster.

There's a 99.9% chance you first discovered the Aston Martin DB5 through Ian Fleming's James Bond. What else would a cunning, skillful, and sophisticated Intelligence Officer drive?

Just 1,021 examples of the DB5 were built between 1963 and 1965. Of those, only 123 were Convertibles. Rarest of the rare though, are the 39 left hand drive Convertibles.

Rarer still is chassis number DB5C/1278/L with engine number 400/4711/VC. The Vantage engine features three legendary Weber carburetors, renowned for delivering top-end performance. 65 DB5 Coupes and 12 Convertibles were built with the Vantage engine.

You probably appreciate the rarity of DB5 Convertible with the Vantage engine, but wonder the significance of chassis DB5C/1278/L?

This particular 1964 DB5 Convertible was owned by American businessman Peter Sprague, savior of Aston Martin Lagonda.

After Christmas, 1974 workers at Aston Martin Lagonda went back to work; only to find the doors locked.

The company was pronounced bankrupt and the creditors were in control. This didn't sit right with Sprague. His wife, tired of his angst, challenged him to do something about it. Thankfully, he did.

The story gets even better. This historically significant Aston Martin DB5 is currently on the market. Contact Gullwing Motorcars.

Photo: Gullwing Motorcars

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