Buying a fully restored classic Aston Martin outright requires deep pockets.
Another route to ownership is to buy a project. Although the final outlay is still significant, it can be spread over time, perhaps even several years.
Originality Is Everything
So what should you look for when buying an Aston Martin project car? In a nutshell, you can’t beat originality. No matter the condition, if a car’s unmolested and original, the restoration project is going to be more predictable. This also means finding a car that hasn’t already been restored is a bonus, as each restoration can introduce issues if it hasn’t been done right.
We’ve written about some of the restoration disasters we’ve uncovered in another article.
One way to check for originality is to make sure the engine and chassis numbers match. The gearbox number can also be checked, but doing that isn’t easy.
Having said all that, when you consider that back in the ‘70s, and ‘80s when classic Aston’s were relatively cheap, it was common practice to exchange a restored or rebuilt engine for the original unit. So cars without matching numbers shouldn’t be dismissed.
Colour Is Down To Choice - With a Few Exceptions
Conversely, when considering the colour of your project car, the originality question is not essential. Although we’re suggesting originality is a good thing with engines and chassis, don’t worry about the colour. Changing a DB5 from it’s original red to the much-loved James Bond silver isn’t going to impact the value negatively. It will probably enhance it. There are some exceptions to this rule, especially with rare cars. For example, a DB4 Convertable might be better retaining its original colour.
A Restoration Project Find is Rather a Rarity
Of course, all of the above makes one rather glaringly obvious and incorrect assumption. The bottom line when buying a classic Aston Martin restoration project is, there are precious few of them out there. The chances of securing an original “barn find” Aston Martin DB4, 5 or 6 are, at best slim. Furthermore, if you do find one, you’re almost certainly going to find yourself in a feeding frenzy with other enthusiasts desperate to get their hands on the vehicle.
Of course, here are Pugsley and Lewis, we do, from time to time, hear about project cars. If you’d like us to keep you informed of these opportunities, fill in the form at the bottom of this post.
Owning a classic Aston Martin is special and seeing the car transformed from something tired and worn into a head-turner is a great way to own one. Knowing the car’s been rebuilt, and where appropriate enhanced, to the very highest standard guarantees years of motoring pleasure, not to mention ownership of a valuable and appreciating asset.
Finding a car these days isn’t easy, and you’re almost certainly going to need to make compromises. Still, we can guarantee the result will make it all worthwhile.
For a more general overview, check out this information on investing in an Aston Martin. It tells you what you can get with budgets starting as low as £25k all the way up to £700k and beyond.
If you’ve got an Aston Martin that you think is a prime candidate for restoration but you're not sure where to start, why not have a chat with us? Contact us to Book a no-obligation consultation.
