Rare Car Archive

Makes › Aston Martin United Kingdom › DB5 › DB5 Convertible · Rare specification · 1963–1965 Extremely Rare

Aston Martin
DB5 Convertible

Factory convertible DB5

Aston Martin DB5 Convertible (Wikimedia Commons: Aston Martin DB5 Convertible)
Aston Martin DB5 Convertible (Wikimedia Commons: Aston Martin DB5 Convertible)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
123BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
123 Built
Years
1963–1965
Engine
Inline six, DOHC · 3,995 cc / 4.0 LFactory: 3,995 cc
Power
210 kW / 286 PSFactory: 282 hp · converted
Top speed
229 km/hFactory: 142 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera of Milan (body design)
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The DB5 Convertible is the open version of Aston Martin's best-known road car. Only 123 were built between 1963 and 1965, and 39 of them were left-hand-drive export cars. At a price of 4,490 pounds it cost more than the average house of its day, so few were sold.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityExtremely Rare 123 · Built1
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productionDB5 convertibles created 1231 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The DB5 shared much with the DB4 but gained a 4.0-litre engine, achieved by enlarging the bore to 96 mm, and a ZF five-speed gearbox. A convertible, with an optional steel hardtop, was offered alongside the saloon. The factory listed it at 4,490 pounds against 4,175 for the saloon.

On the convertible the ZF five-speed gearbox was standard rather than optional, and standard equipment included power windows, an alternator, twin fuel tanks, chrome wire wheels and an oil cooler. The body used Touring of Milan's Superleggera construction. One left-hand-drive car was built as the show car for the 1965 Barcelona motor show, with a body-coloured steel hardtop.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard DB5 Convertible.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutInline six, DOHC2
Displacement 3,995 cc / 4.0 LFactory: 3,995 cc2
Bore 96 mmFactory: 96 mm2
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemThree SU carburettors2
Power 210 kW / 286 PSFactory: 282 hp · converted2Rating: manufacturerRM Sotheby's lots quote 283 bhp and 282 bhp for the convertible.
Power at 5,500 rpm2
Torque 380 NmFactory: 280 lb-ft · converted2
Torque at 4,500 rpm2

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxZF five-speed manual; Borg-Warner three-speed automatic optional2
Gears52,3
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesGirling twin-servo-assisted front and rear solid discs2
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionTouring Superleggera aluminium body4 Independently researched
WheelbaseNot yet verified
Length 4,480 mmFactory: 4,480 mm2
Width 1,676 mmFactory: 1,676 mm2
Height 1,322 mmFactory: 1,322 mm2
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,468 kgFactory: 1,468 kg2Factory page lists one weight for the DB5 range without naming the weight basis or body style.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 229 km/hFactory: 142 mph · converted2RM Sotheby's lots quote 143 mph and 148 mph for convertibles.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 7.1 s2
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

DB5 Convertibles carry chassis numbers with a DB5C prefix and an L or R suffix for drive side, for example DB5C/2115/L and DB5C/2122/R, and 400-series engine numbers such as 400/2220. The body is aluminium over Touring's Superleggera tubular structure. Factory options include a steel hardtop, chrome wire wheels, detachable headrests and a Borg-Warner automatic as an alternative to the ZF five-speed manual. The factory build sheet and the Heritage Trust certificate are the usual documents for confirming specification.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Aston Martin DB5 & DB5 Convertible Level A Aston Martin Lagonda
    • DOHC Straight six, 3995 cc, 282 bhp @ 5500 rpm
    • DOHC Straight six, 3995 cc
    • increasing the bore to 96mm
    • The car had three SU carburettors
    • 282 bhp @ 5500 rpm 280 lbs-ft @ 4500 rpm
    • 282 bhp @ 5500 rpm
    • 280 lbs-ft @ 4500 rpm
    • 5-speed ZF box or optional Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic
    • 5-speed ZF box
    • Girling Twin servo assisted brakes with front and rear solid discs
    • 4480 x 1676 x 1322 mm (Convertible)
    • 1468kg
    • 142 mph
    • 0 - 60 mph: 7.1 sec
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  3. 3
    1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible (chassis DB5C/2115/L), Monterey 2021 Level C RM Sotheby's · 2021
    • five-speed ZF gearbox ... standard on the convertibles
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  4. 4
    1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible (chassis DB5C/2122/R), Cliveden House 2024 Level C RM Sotheby's · 2024
    • Touring of Milan's lightweight tubular Superleggera coachwork construction
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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