9 hours Ago By Emma Crabtree
THIS rare throwback to the 1960s could be yours for a staggering £600,000 as a sleek vintage Aston Martin goes on sale.The highly coveted 1965 DB Short-Chassis Volante is one of just 37 examples ever made. mediadrumimagesAston Martin DB Short-Chassis Volante[/caption]mediadrumimagesThe car retains its matching numbers, all-alloy, twin-cam, and straight-six engine, preserving its authenticity and value[/caption]mediadrumimagesThe DB Short-Chassis features a vintage Motorola radio[/caption]Currently sitting in Italy, the British classic is the rarest series production convertible Aston Martin ever made.
The model is also the first to have the Volante badge, which means “flying” in Italian, and is on the boot.RM Sotheby’s will be running an auction for the highly-sought after vehicle. Images from the showroom show that this particular model is in classic British racing green with beige leather interiors and a convertible roof.
The vehicle harks straight back to the swinging sixties with a three-spoke wooden steering wheel.Meanwhile, the dashboard features chrome detail dials and gauges.It is the pinnacle of old-school sophistication and elegance with silver wire wheels, handcrafted alloy panels, split bumpers and unique DB6-style chrome finishers on the taillights.
Inside, as well as all the classic fixtures, the centre console boasts a vintage Motorola radio, perfect for blasting The Rolling Stones and other icons of the era.Another key selling point is that this particular model retains its matching numbers, all-alloy, twin-cam, and straight-six engine.Despite having numerous owners, the vehicle has managed to retain its authenticity and value and comes with the build sheet.
The auction house notes that it has been converted to right-hand drive, but states that this can be reversed.RM Sotheby’s will be hosting the auction in Milan where it is expected to fetch between £550,000 and £600,000.The listing notes how the 37 DB Short-Chassis cars came into existence.
After the DB6 arrived in 1965, the car manufacturer had leftover DB5 chassis with a shorter wheelbase. But instead of leaving them to rust, Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell factory created the DB Short-Chassis by making a convertible with the proportions of the DB5 and the new styling of the DB6.“These models retained Touring’s patented Superleggera construction, which wrapped handcrafted alloy panels around a lattice of small-diameter steel tubing to create light-but-rigid coachwork,” the listing states.
It adds that the model going on sale was bought in London in December 1965. The vehicle was then in a platinum finish with Blue Connolly Vaumol leather.Sotheby’s said: “As one of only 37 examples ever produced, this rarest of Aston Martin convertibles is highly prized among enthusiasts of the brand.
“With recommissioning, it will undoubtedly make for a wonderful and welcome show piece at concours events.”Meanwhile, four classic cars have been saved from garages after being stored for years and are now set to be auctioned.If you’re more of a 1970s fan, perhaps it is worth checking out the soon-to-be-sold 1974 Aston Martin V8 Series 3 that is part of the garage haul.
Also on offer are models from Lotus and Ford.mediadrumimagesChrome detail dials and gauges are along the dashboard of the right-hand drive vehicle[/caption]mediadrumimagesImages show the car refinished in dark green[/caption]mediadrumimagesThis model is one of only 37 examples ever made[/caption].
