From Rust to Riches: Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 Restored to £1M Glory!

The Aston Martin DB5, a car made famous by James Bond movies, has an incredible story. John Williams, who lives in Mold, Flintshire, bought the car second hand in 1973 for £985, which would be about £15,000 today. He was only in his twenties when he last drove the car, which had appeared in classic films like Goldfinger and Thunderball. After getting a job in the Middle East, John put the car into storage, but eventually it ended up sitting outside on his driveway, exposed to the weather. Over time, the car became rusty and dilapidated, and local children would play on it, jumping on the bonnet and roof, pretending it was the famous Bond car with special gadgets.

John’s wife, Susan, remembers telling the children off for bouncing on the car. She said one child even jumped on the roof, thinking it might work like the car in the movies. The DB5 is a rare car, with only 1,022 made between 1963 and 1965, and it became iconic after Sean Connery drove it as James Bond. John’s particular model, the DB5 Vantage in silver birch grey, is one of only 39 in the world. Even when it was undriveable and rusting, Aston Martin valued it at £500,000, and the couple received many offers to buy it. They considered selling, but Susan convinced John to keep it, saying, 'You’ll never get another one. '

Determined to restore the car, John saved £400,000 for a three-year restoration at Aston Martin’s workshop in Buckinghamshire. The car had become home to mice, and the interior was full of debris. Technicians spent 2,500 hours repairing the car, replacing parts, and restoring its original paint. John and Susan visited the workshop regularly to check on the progress. When the restoration was finished, the car looked brand new, and Aston Martin estimated its value at £1 million. Steve Waddingham, Aston Martin’s historian, said it took a lot of skill and patience to fix such a heavily corroded car. John was thrilled to drive the car again after more than 45 years, saying it felt better than when it first left the factory. Susan enjoyed her first proper ride, loving the sound and speed of the car. Although they are proud of their restored DB5, John says he won’t drive it often, wanting to protect it from bad weather and keep it in good condition.