This Aston Martin DB5 restoration is a dream come true for the owner.
In one of the most remarkable stories of automotive appreciation ever recorded, a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 purchased for just £900 in the early 1970s has finally returned to the road—now valued at an estimated £1 million following a meticulous factory restoration.
The car, owned by Welshman John Williams for over 50 years, has just completed a full “better-than-new” restoration at Aston Martin Works, the historic home of the marque where it was originally built.
A Dream Bought for £900
The story begins in 1972, when a then 18-year-old John Williams, a welder and garage owner from North Wales, set his sights on the ultimate dream car: the Aston Martin DB5.
After a year of saving and working overtime, John scraped together £900—roughly £15,000 in today’s money. In September 1973, at age 19, he took a train to London to view a 1965 model advertised in Motorsport magazine. The car was perfect: a Vantage-engined model with Weber carburettors, wire wheels, and “Sundym” electric windows. He bought it on the spot.
John used the DB5 as his daily driver for four years before parking it on his driveway in 1977 when he took a job in the Middle East. For decades, the car sat mothballed, enduring everything from the elements to neighbourhood children using the bonnet as a trampoline.
The Restoration: 2,500 Hours of Craftsmanship
Despite offers to sell, John held onto the car, driven by a promise to one day restore it. In late 2022, the couple finally sent the car back to its birthplace: Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell.
Over the course of three years, the heritage team dedicated more than 2,500 hours to the project. The process involved a complete bare-metal restoration, rebuilding the chassis, hand-forming aluminium body panels in the Panel Shop, and expertly refinishing the Paint and Trim.
Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works, noted the car arrived in “profoundly run-down condition” but praised the team’s ability to return it to a standard that exceeds even its original factory condition.
The “Holy Grail” Specification
What makes this particular restoration even more special is the car’s rarity. It is one of only 39 examples ever built with this specific “Holy Grail” combination:
- Model: 1965 DB5 Saloon
- Engine: High-output Vantage engine
- Drive: Right-hand drive (RHD)
- Colour: Silver Birch (the iconic James Bond colour)
Out of 1,022 DB5s produced, this specific specification is considered the most desirable, cementing its status as a collector’s dream.
A £1 Million Return on Investment
While John Williams originally paid £900, the restoration has unlocked immense value. Paul Spires estimates that if the car were to hit the market today, it could command a value of up to £1 million, given its provenance and flawless condition.
For John, however, the value is in the drive. Seeing the car finished just days ago, he was visibly emotional.
“It’s probably almost 50 years since I have driven this car, but the experience is phenomenal. It’s just… unbelievable. My girl’s back and up and running! Back to her former glory.”
