An Aston Martin DB5 ordered by George Harrison in 1965 sold at auction in London on Wednesday for £350,000.00 after fierce bidding from around the world.
Manufactured in late 1964, the Aston Marton DB5 / 1896 / R was supplied new on January 1st 1965 through Brydor Cars of Brooklands in Surrey to the famous Beatle and had created huge interest when it was put up for sale at the COYS True Greats Auction held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster. There was intense bidding in the room and from telephone bidders in the United States and elsewhere. The Aston Martin DB5 car was eventually knocked down to an anonymous Beatle and Aston Martin fan from Houston in Texas who said: “George Harrison would be amazed about all the money his car is going to raise for Christian causes.”
Recently, model and photographer Patti Boyd, who was married to George Harrison when he owned the Aston Martin DB5 was re-united with the car when it was showcased at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London. Chris Routledge, Managing Director at car auction house COYS said: “There was a battle royal for this car which went for some £150,000.00 over its estimate”. The sale saw some £4.5 million pounds worth of cars being sold.
A Cord 810 Phaeton owned by Jimmy Page and Duncan Bannatyne sold for £80,000 and a Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster which had been stored in an Edinburgh garage for the last 23 years made £343,000, £100,000 over its estimate. A Mercedes Benz 540 K formerly owned by Bernie Ecclestone, which had been estimated at £500,000, sold for £864,000. Chris Routledge, Managing Director of COYS said: “It was a fantastic sale with dealers and collectors from all over the world participating. There is also no doubt that many people who in the past invested in stock and shares are now looking to classic cars as a good investment for the future.”