Originally registered on 1 December 1963 – the first year of production – this Aston Martin DB5 has led a full life with its exclusively UK-based owners. Chassis number DB5/1957/R was supplied via Brooklands of Bond Street in the colour combination of Caribbean Pearl with red interior. It was fitted with the five-speed ZF gearbox and it’s thought that its first owner worked for Manger & Henley Ltd of Borough High Street. In the mid-1980s it was acquired by John Goldsmith, who had set up marque specialist Goldsmith & Young in 1980. Registered 73 GYL, it was the second Aston that Goldsmith had owned – after his GT-engined Series 5 DB4 Vantage – and he later recalled buying it from the father of his friend Tim Bisset. At that time, it was still painted Caribbean Pearl. Goldsmith was a keen racer and set about using his DB5 in competition, giving it wider arches in order to accommodate different wheels and tyres. He successfully raced it across the UK at circuits such as Oulton Park, and set the lap record around the Indy Circuit at Brands Hatch. When Goldsmith sold the car in 1991, he retained the numberplate 73 GYL, which was subsequently seen on the DB4 GT Zagato that he raced. The DB5, meanwhile, passed to a Mr Pitkethley – another marque enthusiast who also owned a DB6 – and was registered XMR 936A. In 2000, the engine was rebuilt and enlarged to 4.2 litres with Cosworth pistons. The Aston was also repainted Silver Birch and the interior was retrimmed in black. During the early 2000s, it made a number of appearances at charity and corporate events as part of the Character Cars fleet and was always fastidiously maintained. Recent work has included a new head gasket at Bell Sport Classic and this matching-numbers Aston Martin DB5 is now offered for sale by The Classic Motor Hub with an extensive history file and its original handbook.