Aston Martin
DB5 Vantage (saloon)

Why it matters

The Vantage was the high-output option within the DB5 range, with three Weber carburettors and different camshafts in place of the standard triple SU set-up. It kept the DB5 body, five-speed gearbox option and disc brakes, so externally it is nearly identical to the standard saloon and its rarity lies in the engine specification.

How rare is it?

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

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

• Aston Martin DB5 Vantage (saloon) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
• Aston Martin DB5 Vantage (saloon) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
• Aston Martin DB5 Vantage (saloon) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

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 appeared in 1963 as the 4.0-litre development of the DB4, and the factory page describes the Vantage as a higher-performance variant offered alongside the standard car. A period RM Sotheby's catalogue puts the Vantage-tune output at 325 hp, against 282 hp for the standard engine.

A separate lot description of a convertible explains the Vantage upgrades as ram-effect intake manifolds, extra-large cylinder-head ports, modified valve timing, advanced ignition timing and a vacuum reservoir for the brake servo. Original Vantage status is normally confirmed by the factory build sheet or a Heritage certificate.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

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

Identification guide

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

Engine numbers on documented Vantage cars carry a V suffix (for example 400/2111/V on a Vantage convertible), and a factory build sheet or Heritage Trust certificate substantiates Vantage specification, original colour and engine number. A V stamping alone is not proof, since an engine can be upgraded later. The visible differences from the standard car are small, so documentation matters.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Bonhams – 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Saloon, chassis DB5/2214/L Level B

   • 65 DB5s fitted with the Vantage engine ("fitted to a total of 65 cars")

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Aston Martin DB5 & DB5 Convertible Level A Aston Martin Lagonda

   • DOHC Straight six, 3995 cc (Specifications)
   • 3 Weber carburettors and different camshafts

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   1964 Aston Martin DB5 (Arizona 2013) Level C RM Sotheby's

   • 325 horsepower in Vantage form
   • top speed of 155 mph
   • 0–60 in 6.1 seconds

   Accessed 2026-11-12