One of the most recognizable classic sports cars of all time is the DB5 – a car that represents the zenith of Aston Martin and benefits from the marque’s vast experience producing exceptional machines for road and track.

Introduced to the world in 1963, the DB5 combined the sporting qualities of previous David Brown Aston Martins with a more mature and refined manner. This sophisticated feeling from behind the wheel was echoed in the beautiful Italian-styled aluminum coachwork handcrafted in the old-world Superleggera (Super light) method patented by Touring of Milan.

Mechanically, the DB5 was an evolution of the already superb DB4. Every DB5 was equipped with the updated four-litre Tadek Marek-designed straight-six engine and all but the earliest examples were fitted with an excellent ZF five-speed gearbox. Other noteworthy improvements to the DB5 included Girling rather than Dunlop disc brakes, standard electric window lifts, and a more modern charging system. The result was a well-appointed grand touring car of unapproachable prestige, effortless style, and ample performance.

The latest Aston Martin drew universal praise from buyers, journalists, and motoring enthusiasts alike. When Road & Track tested the DB5 in October 1964, they suggested that “If one were planning a trip from Paris to Rome, a car such as the Aston would be hard to beat,” and concluded that the Aston Martin represented “the essence of GT driving.”

Likewise, Autocar found that the DB5 is “a car which defies definition, for it can put on so many widely differing characteristics that it always seems tailored to one’s mood of the moment.” Aston Martin advertising of the period emphasized the model’s remarkable flexibility, stating: “The pleasure to be had from owning an Aston Martin is something that must be experienced to be believed…This car has a nature like an angel. So docile and forgiving, your control and mastery of every situation is supreme.” This confident and elegant image has long been associated with the DB5.

Between 1963 and 1965, Aston Martin built just 1,021 examples of the DB5, a total that includes 123 examples of the ultra-desirable Convertible, which commanded in excess of £4,500 when new. From the already exclusive supply of Convertibles, just 39 were produced in left-hand-drive configuration for export markets. Due to its extreme scarcity and prestigious status as Aston Martin’s top-of-the-line offering, the DB5 Convertible has always been prized by collectors.

According to accompanying factory records, chassis DB5C/1903/L was originally finished in Fiesta Red, upholstered in black Connolly leather with red piping, and equipped with desirable extra-cost options including Normalair air-conditioning, a Blaupunkt-Köln radio with power aerial, as well as chrome wire wheels with three-ear knock-offs and Avon Turbospeed GT whitewall tires.

The outstanding provenance of this DB5 Convertible can be traced back to its original owner, Harold Dubilier, the proprietor of York Electronics Corporation in Brooklyn, New York. According to records on file, Mr. Dubilier purchased the DB5 Convertible from local dealer Ralston Motors, but only on the strict condition that it be painted black prior to delivery. Consequently, 1903/L was not registered until May 1966.

Throughout his ownership, Mr. Dubilier kept the Aston Martin in a small, independent garage near his office on 64th Street in Manhattan and used it for high-speed, open-air touring when weather allowed. The DB5 Convertible remained in his ownership until 1974, when it was sold to his nephew, Robert Stockman of Danbury, Connecticut.

Like his uncle, Mr. Stockman was involved in the electronics business and 1903/L was the first of many significant Aston Martins that he owned, including a DB4 GT Zagato, DB AR1 Roadster, and two other left-hand-drive DB5 Convertibles. An active member of the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC), he entered his cars in the annual Lime Rock meet for 35 years, participating in the sprints, time trials, and concours. Mr. Stockman obviously enjoyed great respect from his fellow club members and was elected to serve as the AMOC’s East Coast chairman for several years.

In 1979, Mr. Stockman sold 1903/L to its third owner, Theo Gruttman, a successful German-born fashion photographer. After driving the car for a few years, Mr. Gruttman turned to Lance Evans, the founder and then-owner of Aston Martin specialist Steel Wings, to perform a sympathetic restoration, including new lacquer paint and interior trim.

After this work was completed, Mr. Gruttman periodically exhibited 1903/L at the annual Lime Rock meet. According to AMOC records, he won the Elite Class – only open to prior class winners – in 1992 and 1996. He also displayed the DB5 Convertible at the prestigious Louis Vuitton Classic at Rockefeller Center in 1999, where the Aston Martin was selected from a field of significant postwar sports cars to receive First in Class.

Throughout his ownership, Mr. Gruttman took remarkable care of 1903/L among his stable of Aston Martins, which included an all-original DB2 Drophead Coupe, a DB5 Saloon, and a DB3 Sports Racer. Carefully stored in his climate-controlled garage, each of Mr. Gruttman’s prized Aston Martins benefited from his meticulous attention to detail. He enjoyed great pride of ownership in this DB5 Convertible for almost 40 years, only agreeing to sell the car in 2018 due to failing health.

The current owner, a respected East Coast collector and active AMOC member, possesses a particular fondness for David Brown-era Aston Martins as they represent “the perfect combination of fine British engineering with Italian clothing.” Having owned DB4 and DB5 Saloons, as well as another left-hand-drive DB5 Convertible, he was already familiar with the esteem in which 1903/L was held.

Soon after acquiring the car, he decided to undertake a complete restoration with the expressed goal of producing a concours winner. Having previously worked with Steel Wings, he was confident in their experience with the marque and model as well as their reputation for high-quality, show-winning restorations. Between 2018 and 2021, the DB5 Convertible was completely disassembled and restored from the ground up, addressing all elements, seen and unseen. As 1903/L was in such fine condition prior to restoration, virtually all the car’s original aluminum skin was retained and over 1,000 hours were devoted to body preparation alone, with single-stage paint used to achieve a proper, period-correct appearance.

In 2021, the DB5 Convertible made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, where it received Third in Class. Each subsequent outing has proven to be highly successful, including a Class Award and Founder’s Choice at the Audrain Newport Concours, First in Class at Amelia Island, and the Timeless Elegance Award at Radnor Hunt. To honor its previous owners, 1903/L was shown at the 2022 AMOC Lime Rock Classic and earned First in Class as well as the Ziebart Trophy for the Most Deserving Aston Martin.

Presented today in pristine, show-quality condition, the DB5 Convertible is accompanied by important accessories including an original tool roll, jack, owners manual, and factory sales literature. In addition to these important items, the Aston Martin is offered with an extensive history file that contains restoration records, period road tests, and ownership documents, as well as a copy of the delivery record and Aston Martin Heritage Trust certificate, both of which confirm that 1903/L retains its original engine, no. 400/1805.

Boasting an ideal factory specification and a superb provenance that counts AMOC royalty among its former owners, this expertly restored, prize-winning DB5 Convertible is surely among the most desirable Aston Martins imaginable.