No longer in Pagnell, where the Aston Martin factory is located, but in Reading (near London), Bonhams auctioned 35 Aston Martin vehicles on June 2, 2018.
On average, the vehicles were 44 years old and primarily sports cars from Aston Martin's long manufacturing tradition. Around a third of the cars were left-hand drive, the rest were right-hand drive. Racing cars were almost completely missing from the lot list, Bonhams saved these for the Goodwood Festival of Speed auction.
Across the model range
At least five early Astons were looking for new owners in Reading, including a restoration project in the form of a 1951 DB2 (LML/50/29), which was offered for £ 40,000 to £ 60,000. However, the restoration base was worth considerably more to the interested parties and the project was sold for £ 66,460 (CHF 87,727 or EUR 75,764).
The DB4 to DB6 generation was represented by six models, including three rare open-top models such as the DB5 from 1965, which was the most expensive car estimated at £ 850,000 to 900,000. Here, too, the bidders did not let themselves get carried away, the DB5 was knocked down at £ 790,000, which meant a sales price (incl. surcharge/commission) of £ 886,300 (CHF 1.17 million, EUR 1.01 million).
Six DBSs and 10 V8s from the 1970s and 1980s made up the majority of the auction, with newer models from 1991 onwards completing the list. The results were mixed.
Two of the wedge-shaped Lagonda saloons provided the cheapest entry into an Aston Martin. Both sold, albeit well below the estimate. A restoration object from 1976 fetched £ 15,525 (CHF 20,493, EUR 17,698), the late Lagonda from 1983 found a new owner for £ 28,750 (CHF 37,950, EUR 32,775).
A very special DBS
The DBS is becoming increasingly prestigious among collectors. Bonhams was able to offer a very special car here, as DBS/5002/R is not only the second DBS ever built, but also the factory prototype with which the new V8 was tested and developed ready for production.
£ 130,000 to £ 180,000 therefore still seems comparatively fair, especially as the car has apparently been extensively technically refurbished in recent years, but has remained unrestored overall. However, the color has already changed at least twice since it was built in 1968.
Apparently, this particular car was too expensive for the bidders, however, and the bids dried up at £ 90,000, which was obviously not enough for the consignor. The car remained unsold, as did 15 others, including two DB6s, several DBS and V8 models and, with the exception of a 2008 DBS Coupé, all Astons that left the factory in the new century.
Vehicles offered and sold
The following table lists all vehicles offered and sold with estimated prices and highest bids in £, as well as sales prices (incl. surcharge/commission in £, EUR and CHF. Conversion is at the daily exchange rate (£1 = 1.14 EUR, £1 = 1.32 CHF). The %Est column compares the sales price with the average estimated value. All information without guarantee.
The list can be sorted as desired by clicking on the column headings. Registered readers and Premium users can also enlarge the table.
| Lot | Car | Year | GBP Est from | GBP Est to | GBP HP | GBP SP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | David Brown T.V.O Cropmaster Tractor | 1951 | 8000 | 10'000 | Z | |||||
| 202 | Aston Martin DB2 Sports Saloon Project | 1951 | 40'000 | 60'000 | 58'000 | 66'460 | 87'727 | 75'764 | +32.92%
|
V |
| 203 | Aston Martin V8 Series III Saloon | 1974 | 90'000 | 100'000 | 95'000 | 107'900 | 142'428 | 123'005 | +13.58%
|
V |
| 204 | Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Sports Saloon | 1969 | 300'000 | 350'000 | 270'000 | N | ||||
| 205 | Aston Martin Lagonda Saloon | 1983 | 35'000 | 45'000 | 25'000 | 28'750 | 37'950 | 32'775 | -28.12%
|
V |
| 206 | Aston Martin Virage Coupé | 1991 | 35'000 | 38'000 | 24'000 | 27'600 | 36'432 | 31'463 | -24.38%
|
V |
| 207 | Aston Martin V8 Series 2 Sports Saloon | 1973 | 220'000 | 260'000 | 150'000 | N |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
