1970 Aston Martin DBS Vantage

This motor car is being sold as part of a private overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams’ temporary admission customs bond. In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty.

In the UK, cars over 30 years old are subject to the lower rate of 5% import tax on the final selling price if purchased by a private individual. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT. A company buying this car will always pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT on the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, The Market can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 9am-5pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

In common with many cars from the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles, this manual RHD Aston Martin DBS Vantage comes with no paperwork beyond whatever is shown in the gallery section – none of which constitutes any kind of current licensing or registration documentation.

Chassis No. DBS/5482/R, engine No. 400/4301/SVC.

It does, however, come with an old V5 document, plenty of MoT certificates, documentation from AMOC and even a few bills and invoices attesting to parts of its service and maintenance history.

We know that the car left the factory as a Vantage spec DBS and was delivered new to Odeon Motors on 20.3.70.

At the time, it was ‘Dubonnet Rosso’ with a ‘Natural’ interior and was supplied with a ZF gearbox, power steering and Fiamm horns.

It was bought for the vendor in 2010, and was described then as a ‘restoration project’.

It’s first owner was a company Director in Stevenage. It’s second owner, a Dr. Ioannides of Holland Park, London, bought the car later in 1970 and kept it until 1997, at which time it passed to another member of his family.

In 1975, Dr. Ioannides and his car were in Munich.

In 1976 they were in Zurich.

The car’s odometer was recorded as reading 33,165 miles in 1982.

Today, it reads 36,562 miles.

The various bills and invoices suggest that no expense was spared in the upkeep of this vehicle for most of its life, with all manner of renowned Aston specialists doing their bit towards its upkeep, and even Aston Martin themselves doing a fair bit of work on it in 1975 (when the company was in the hands of the Official Receiver).

At some point, the care and attention clearly faded away and the car we have with us today has project status.

Well, judging from the bare metal sections and areas that have clearly been under a sander, the car was bought at some mid-point in a proposed restoration and has been held in that state of suspended progress ever since.

The bodywork is, quite literally, a work in progress and the paintwork, pretty much wherever you choose to rest your gaze, is cracked, crazed, discoloured or missing entirely.

The passenger door is refusing to open, as is the bonnet.

There is a dent in the bonnet and bubbling in several places, most notably both ‘A’ pillars, beneath the windscreen, around the rear offside window and on top of the n/s/r wing.

The chrome is not too bad.

The wheels are filthy but don’t look structurally compromised (you’ll want to check).

The ‘Vantage’ badging is missing from the offside and the rubber trim has perished in many places.

Much like the exterior, the interior has seen better days – but is by no means beyond salvation.

The tan leather upholstery, front and back, is very grubby but not split or ripped.

Much the same can be said for the headlining and door cards.

The carpet on top of the transmission tunnel has been eaten away and the sun visors are crispy.

The dashboard and instruments look fairly reasonable, but we can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the vehicle.

The boot is pretty shabby and contains a spare tyre but no spare wheel.

There is a fair bit of rust (and a hole where some of the rust used to be) around the hinges in the driver’s door jamb.

The bonnet is stiff to open.

However, we have some photographs of the engine bay. In those photos, everything appears to be more or less as it should be, as far as we can see.

There is evidence of corrosion – and some holing – in the sills and elsewhere underneath the car.

You’ll want to assess the car’s structural integrity for yourself.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records beyond what is shown in the photography section.

Currently, it has neither an MoT certificate nor an up-to-date V5. It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

None of the paperwork shown in the gallery constitutes any kind of current licensing or registration documentation.

Renowned Aston Martin whisperer Ian Mason gave Dr. Ioannides a valuation on this car in 1980, at which time Mr. Mason referred to the ‘overall excellent condition’ of the vehicle.

Well, obviously, not all of the intervening years have been kind to this car and there’s clearly plenty of work to be done.

That said, it’s an original, low mileage, factory-spec RHD manual DBS Vantage – so even in this condition it’s clearly got plenty of potential and could no doubt regain its former glory if given the right amounts or time, enthusiasm and skill.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £35,000 - £50,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £350 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.