16th annual Aston Martin Sale sees total transactions top £10m

• 16^th annual Aston Martin Sale sees total transactions top £10m
• Sir Peter Ustinov-owned DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible nets £1.5m
• More than 50 sports cars and 170 items of automobilia change hands 

In its 60^th anniversary year Aston Martin Works played host to another hugely busy Bonhams Aston Martin Sale on Saturday – with £10.3m worth of rare and prized sports cars changing hands.

The historic home of the great British luxury brand was the venue for the 16th annual Bonhams Aston Martin Sale, which saw around 50 classic Aston Martins sold.

The annual sale is recognised as a globally-significant occasion for Aston Martin collectors and enthusiasts around the world.

The 2015 event was the biggest to date, setting a sales total of £10,280,275 and witnessing a fascinating and diverse collection of Aston Martin-related automobilia go under the hammer in several hours of exciting and highly-charged bidding.

Highlights of the day included the 1962 DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible – originally the property of Sir Peter Ustinov – which sold for £1,513,500, and top lot of the sale, the 1966 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible in ‘Vantage’ specification, which sold for £1,524,700 including buyer’s premium.

‘Barn find’ and project cars also sold well, with a brace of 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Sports Saloons performing particularly strongly – one selling at twice its top estimate and achieving £104,540, with the other changing hands for £115,740.

Paul Spires, Commercial Director at Aston Martin Works, said: “This year’s Aston Martin Sale has been a hugely memorable occasion, with rare and collectable Aston Martin sports cars going to buyers around the world.

“Despite the mixed weather there was a superbly sociable ‘garden party’ atmosphere among the 2,000 or so guests who joined us here today – enjoying the sale and helping us to celebrate our 60 years in superb style.”

Bonhams’ UK Head of Motor Cars Tim Schofield said: “As pioneers of the single-marque sale we’ve returned to Aston Martin Works here in Newport Pagnell for another great auction, exceeding all previous years’ totals.

“The quintessentially British marque of Aston Martin attracts interest from enthusiasts across the world, a fact demonstrated here again this year as we took bids from all corners of the globe. The sale attracted a larger and more cosmopolitan attendance than ever before, achieving an excellent result.”

Fancy an Aston ? got up to a Million ? well, there is a lot for sale here, go on, you know you want to !

In its 60^th anniversary year Aston Martin Works is gearing up to host the biggest ever Aston Martin Sale staged by internationally renowned auction house Bonhams.

Now in its 16th year, Bonhams’ Aston Martin Sale is set to see some of the brand’s most iconic, and valuable, sports cars change hands as eager bidders head to the Aston Martin Works facility for this globally significant auction event.

Among the highlights in the packed catalogue are two rare and collectible DB4 convertibles. The first, a 1962 DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible, is one of only nine produced in left-hand drive and was once the property of Sir Peter Ustinov. It carries an estimate of £900,000 to £1m. 

Meanwhile, in right-hand drive, a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 4.0-Litre Series IV Convertible is estimated at £800,000-900,000.

The 2015 event is Bonhams’ largest Aston Martin Sale to date, and features more than 250 lots of motor cars and automobilia.

A total of 21 DB4, DB5 and DB6s have been consigned to the sale – the largest number of Sir David Brown-era motor cars in the sale’s 16-year history.

Paul Spires, Commercial Director at Aston Martin Works, said: “The Bonhams auction weekend is always a highlight of the Works’ calendar and this year, once again, some truly remarkable cars will be offered for sale.”

Tim Schofield, Bonhams UK Head of Motor Cars, said: “This year’s sale features a selection of significantly rare left-hand drive Aston Martins from the Sir David Brown era.

“At the time, only a small number of left-hand drive models were produced by the luxury marque, making the models incredibly rare. This year’s sale – in which more than a quarter of cars are left-hand drive – is very unusual indeed.”

He added: “But it’s not all about left-hand drive models. The sale has over 30% more lots than 2014, meaning there’s something for everyone. 

This includes restoration projects such as the 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Sports Saloon (Lot 201: £30,000-50,000); concours-standard motor cars such the 1952 Aston Martin DB2 Drophead Coupé, originally the property of His Royal Highness, Prince Bertil of Sweden (Lot 209: £250,000-300,000), and the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 ‘Series II’ Sports Saloon (Lot 233: £420,000-460,000) – plus many examples of automobilia.”

Formerly the property of Sir Peter Ustinov, the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible adds some Hollywood sparkle to the sale.

Originally owned by the Academy Award-winning actor, playwright and diplomat, this ultra-rare DB4 Vantage Convertible was delivered to him at the Montreux Palace Hotel in Switzerland in 1962. One of only nine DB4 Series IV convertibles ever made, the car is estimated at £900,000-£1m.

Aside from the auction activity, the event will also play host to the UK public debut of the luxurious new Lagonda Taraf super saloon. 

Unveiled to the world last year, and announced as a right-hand drive model in February, the new Lagonda makes its UK debut at the place where the last Aston Martin Lagonda model – the William Towns-designed four-door – was built up to its end of production in 1989.   

Aston Martin continues its year-long centenary party at the Goodwood Revival

Aston Martin continues its year-long centenary party in the appropriately historic surroundings of The Goodwood Revival this weekend.

The luxury British sports car maker is a main sponsor of this year’s meeting at the famous old English race circuit where examples of some of Aston Martin’s rarest and most highly-prized sports cars of the revival period – 1948-1966 – will be on show, and in action.

Among the cars set to do battle on the West Sussex track include a brace of DBR1s, numerous DB3, DB3S and DB2/4 Mk IIIs, plus the 1961 Aston Martin Project 212.

Aston Martin’s centenary will be a signature theme of the 2013 Revival with the strong association between the brand and the historic racing circuit celebrated fittingly throughout the weekend.

Aside from the numerous iconic Aston Martin racing cars in action on the Goodwood track, in meticulously authentic 1950s-style the Earls Court motor show will play host to a broad selection of Aston Martin models from across the years. Rare and exotic examples on display will include A3, the oldest surviving Aston Martin; the Atom and Bulldog concepts; a selection of Zagato models and a highly-prized One-77 hypercar.

Earls Court will also play host to Aston Martin’s ‘cars of tomorrow’ which, of course, means current sports cars including the timeless DB9 Coupe and luxurious new Rapide S.

Commenting on the brand’s extensive involvement in this year’s Revival, Aston Martin UK Marketing Manager Leighton King said: “The Goodwood Revival is always a great occasion and a real highlight of the UK motoring calendar. It seems entirely fitting, therefore, that Aston Martin plays such a significant part in this year’s Revival in this, our centenary year.”

Goodwood Revival founder the Earl of March says: "I am really delighted that Aston Martin is supporting the Goodwood Revival so enthusiastically, especially in this, its Centenary year.  Some very important moments in Aston Martin's long and glorious history have taken place at Goodwood, including the marque taking the 1959 World Sportscar Championship in a hard-fought race in the DBR1 here.  I am looking forward to seeing so many beautiful road and race Aston Martins here over the 2013 Goodwood Revival weekend."