A decade, eh... doesn’t time fly? It’s the Bonhams Aston Martin Sale, now in its tenth year, and no less interesting. For 2009, the 46-car catalogue includes seven DB4s and yes, there’s a ‘barn find’ or two.

The sale will be held, as usual, at Aston Martin Works Service’s premises at Newport Pagnell, under the watchful eye of Kingsley Riding-Felce, Director, Works Service & Parts Operations. For many years, certain cars bought at the sale have been immediately consigned to total restoration by Works Service, one of the most famous being the £78,500 ‘barn find’ DB4 in 2006.

This year there are two DB4s that will need extensive re-commissioning. Either will give an owner the satisfaction of seeing ‘their’ car take shape; either back to its original specification or uprated to include modern conveniences such as PAS and air-conditioning. The first is a 1963 Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage estimated at £20,000 - 30,000, and the second a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series V (£40,000 - 45,000).



The latter is in better condition, but both cars sport three SUs and the Vantage (pictured above) packs a Special Series engine as well as faired-in headlights à la DB4GT and DB5. The original colour on this car was Black with Pearl Red interior – sounds good to me, just hand it over to Kingsley...

1977 Aston Martin DBR1 V8 Replica - £60,000 - 70,000

1966 Aston Martin DB6 Saloon - £70,000 - 80,000

In addition to the two restoration projects, other DB4s in apparently good fettle include a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible (£220,000 - 250,000) and a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series III, for £90,000 - 110,000.

The DB4 begat the DB5, and there are three of the iconic ‘Bond’ cars in this year’s catalogue. The estimates on all are in the high £100ks, so you can probably expect them to hit £200,000 including buyer’s premium. We hope to be taking a closer a look at one of these cars nearer the time.

1963 Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage - £100,000 - 130,000

1995 Aston Martin Virage Limited Edition Coupe - £35,000 - 40,000

The headlining car is the 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Volante. This is a painstakingly restored car in Rolls-Royce Midnight Blue with an engine prepared ‘to Vantage specification’. £320,000 - 360,000 is the estimate.



Moving to more modern Astons, the sale includes two of the mighty 1990s Vantage V600s. The Pentland Green 1998 example is £80,000 - 100,000, while the Mendip Blue 1999 car (£75,000 - 85,000) was converted from manual to four-speed automatic by the factory in 1999 and is equipped with the driving dynamic package.

There are no fewer than seven Virages this year, ranging from a 1991 coupé for £16,000 - 20,000, to the famous turbocharged 1994 7.0-Litre Limited Edition car (£38,000 - 45,000). In between there’s a 1996 Virage Volante for £27,000 - 32,000. And, talking convertibles, there are no ‘Prince of Wales’ cars this year, but the sale does include a regular 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante ‘X Pack’ for £60,000 - 70,000, and a LHD 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante ‘X Pack’ at £75,000 - 85,000.

1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series 3 Saloon - £90,000 - 110,000	1978 Aston Martin V8 Saloon - £17,500 - 20,000
1995 Aston Martin DB7 Coupé - £20,000 - 30,000	1961 Aston Martin DB4 Lightweight Competition - £85,000 - 100,000

No pre-War cars this year, and only three DB2s. One of these is a convertible: the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I 3-litre Drophead Coupé, for £90,000 - 110,000.


One-offs include the 1963 Lagonda Rapide (£30,000 - 40,000) and a rather nice 2004 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato Coupé (£85,000 - 95,000). On the DB7 front, the sale kicks off with the 'No Reserve' 1995 Aston Martin DB7 Coupé at £20,000 - 30,000. An innocent catalogue entry, perhaps, but on closer examination this is a car completely covered in gold leaf, platinum and palladium. Just to complete the effect, an arc of six diamonds has been embedded in the bonnet.

All-in-all it’s a good, well-estimated catalogue of cars suitable for every Aston Martin enthusiast. No DB4GTs, that’s true, but if you are looking for an Aston, Newport Pagnell on May 9th is the place to be.

Prior to the motor cars there’s the ever-popular automobilia. This year’s marathon comprises 207 lots, with such gems as A ‘James Bond 007’ slot-car racing set, by Scalextric, estimated at £1,500 – 2,000. 007’s car looks as if it’s been in the wars a little, but you never know with these automobilia entries - remember the £41,100 gear knob in 2007? Exactly.

The sale takes place at Aston Martin Lagonda Works Service, Tickford St, Newport Pagnell, Bucks, with Automobilia starting at 10:30, Motor Cars at 15:30.

To see all Motor Car entries in the Classic Driver car database please CLICK HERE.

Please CLICK HERE to see the full lotlist.

Bonhams Motor Cars Dept. 101 New Bond Street London W1S 1SR UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7468 5801 Fax: +44 (0)20 7468 5802 Email: [email protected]

Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - Bonhams/Classic Driver

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