Ex Sir Paul McCartney 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Sports Saloon Offered by Bonhams

An ex-Paul McCartney 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is to be offered at the Bonhams The Bond Street Sale in London. Courtesy of Bonhams Chassis number ‘1653/R’ was completed at Newport Pagnell on 3rd July 1964 and delivered on 22nd September ’64 to Bryce, Hamer …

By: Bonhams | Photos Courtesy of: Bonhams

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An ex-Paul McCartney 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is to be offered at the Bonhams The Bond Street Sale in London.

Paul McCartney Aston Martin DB5
Courtesy of Bonhams

Chassis number ‘1653/R’ was completed at Newport Pagnell on 3rd July 1964 and delivered on 22nd September ’64 to Bryce, Hamer & Isherwood, Paul McCartney’s accountants at the time. Ordered by McCartney prior to his departure for the Beatles’ world tour in the summer of 1964, the Aston Martin DB5 was subsequently registered in the musician’s name, and Paul greatly enjoyed driving the car over the following six years. Accompanying paperwork shows the price was £3,800 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax of £793 6s 8d.

Paul McCartney Aston Martin DB5
Courtesy of Bonhams

The BMIHT certificate on file shows that the Aston was originally finished in Sierra Blue with black interior. It was fitted as standard with the ZF five-speed gearbox, while desirable factory options listed include Armstrong Selectaride rear shock absorbers, Motorola radio, powered aerial, two Marchal fog lamps, chrome road wheels, heated rear window, two Britax safety belts, three-ear hubcaps, and detachable headrests. Unusually, the car was also supplied with a Philips Auto-Mignon record player, the latter seemingly an essential for a professional musician. Reportedly, the original interior leather also featured musical note-styled patterns in the stitching. The BMIHT certificate confirms that the first recorded purchaser was Paul McCartney and that the car was registered ‘BYY 379B’ (subsequently ‘CLX 654B’).

Paul McCartney Aston Martin DB5
Courtesy of Bonhams

Though Paul McCartney later owned an Aston Martin DB6, which has been the subject of extensive media coverage, this lesser known DB5 is believed to be the first Aston owned by the musician. He ordered it at a particularly important career juncture: just weeks after the Beatles’ famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and the completion of filming ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, their first film. In a September 1967 profile of Paul McCartney, Time magazine wrote: ‘Bachelor Paul, 25 (his favorite “bird” is 21-year old actress Jane Asher) is a movie addict, loves “the look of London” and tools around town in a spiffy blue Aston Martin DB5’.

Paul McCartney Aston Martin DB5
Courtesy of Bonhams

This DB5 also made an impression on Roger McGuinn, guitarist with the Californian rock band, The Byrds. McGuinn once recalled a concert that his band performed during their 1965 UK tour. Apparently the Beatles were in attendance and, following the show, the two bands spent some time socialising. ‘The next night,’ recalled Guinn, ‘I went to Paul McCartney’s club in St James’s and he took me out for a drive around London in his Aston Martin DB5. It was a really amazing time.’

Paul McCartney Aston Martin DB5
Courtesy of Bonhams

1964 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-Litre Sports Saloon

Registration no. 64 MAC
Chassis no. DB5/1653/R
*Matching numbers
*Known ownership history
*Formerly owned by Chris Evans
*Professionally restored to concours standard
*Restoration completed 2017
*Circa 2,600 miles since completion

Paul McCartney Aston Martin DB5
Courtesy of Bonhams

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