1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible
One hundred and twenty three DB5 convertibles were built during the model's two year production run. Thirty nine of those were left hand drive. This is one of them, and its history is as layered as the car itself.
Chassis 1278/L was completed in February 1964 and shipped to J.S. Inskip of New York for display at the 1964 New York Auto Show. The BMIHT certificate confirms it, describing the car in the build ledger as a New York show car. After spending years in obscurity it was discovered in a Massachusetts barn in 1976 and purchased by Peter Sprague, who at the time was chairman of Aston Martin. Sprague had the original engine replaced with a Vantage specification 4.0 liter DOHC inline six fed by triple Weber 45 DCOE carburetors, the higher performance option that Aston Martin offered with a reprofiled inlet camshaft. The car remained in the Sprague family until 2020.
Between 2022 and 2023, Team CJ Works in Austin, Texas performed a comprehensive refresh totaling over $237,000. The interior was retrimmed in terracotta leather matching the factory build sheet specification. Front bucket seats and rear bench were rebuilt. The engine received cylinder honing, cylinder head resurfacing, valve grinding, new piston rings, valve springs, thermostat, coolant reservoir, and fuel pressure regulator. The clutch assembly was replaced, flywheel resurfaced, and the clutch master cylinder rebuilt. Brake calipers and master cylinders were rebuilt. The steering rack was rebuilt. Suspension bushings were replaced and control arms refinished. Bumpers were repaired and replated alongside the brightwork. Chrome Borrani wire wheels with three eared knock offs were installed and wrapped in 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato tires.
The car wears an older repaint in its original shade of black, corrected and ceramic coated during the CJ Works project. The black convertible top stows under a terracotta leather boot. Power windows, Normalair air conditioning, a Blaupunkt push button radio, and Britax shoulder belts furnish the cabin. A wood rimmed steering wheel replaced during the refresh sits ahead of Smiths instrumentation including a 180 mph speedometer, 6,000 rpm tachometer, and gauges for fuel, coolant temperature, amperage, oil pressure, and oil temperature. The five digit odometer shows 64,000 miles.
Power routes through an all synchromesh ZF five speed manual transmission and a Power Lok limited slip differential to the rear wheels. Independent front suspension runs double wishbones with coil springs, telescopic shocks, and an anti roll bar. The solid rear axle uses coil springs, a Watts linkage, trailing links, and lever arm shock absorbers. Servo assisted disc brakes at all four corners handle stopping.
The DB5 inherited its Carrozzeria Touring styled bodywork from the DB4 Series V, built using Superleggera construction with aluminum panels over a steel framework. Faired in headlights, triple stacked taillights, a low profile hood scoop, and a seven bar grille define a design that has only gained presence in the sixty years since it left the factory.
Now offered through Bring a Trailer on dealer consignment in Texas with the BMIHT certificate, CJ Works invoices, tool kit, jack, and a Montana title. The carburetors were cleaned in March 2026 and the underside and engine were dry ice detailed in preparation for sale.
