Aston Martin DB5 Restored After Decades of Neglect, Now Valued at £1 Million

A 1960s Aston Martin DB5, made famous by James Bond films ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘Thunderball’, has been meticulously restored after sitting neglected on a driveway for decades. John Williams, 71, purchased the car second-hand in 1973 for £985, equivalent to about £15,000 today. After years of storage and exposure to the elements—and local children playing on it—the vehicle had become severely dilapidated. The couple invested £400,000 for a three-year restoration at Aston Martin’s Buckinghamshire workshop, where experts removed a mouse nest and completed 2,500 hours of detailed repairs, including restoring the original paint and parts. The car is a rare DB5 Vantage in silver birch grey, one of only 39 models worldwide. Aston Martin’s historian emphasized the skill required to restore the heavily corroded car, noting its historical and cinematic significance. Following the restoration, the DB5 is now valued at £1 million. John Williams took his first drive in over 45 years, describing the experience as ‘mind-blowing’. Despite fulfilling a lifelong dream, he plans to drive it sparingly to preserve its condition.