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Baby, you can drive Paul McCartney’s car

His former 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is being auctioned

Blame former 'Top Gear' host Chris Evans for that kitschy plate number. PHOTO FROM BONHAMS

When Paul McCartney—as a member of some British band called The Beatles—sang the line “Baby, you can drive my car…yes, I’m gonna be a star” in 1965, little did the world know that the lyrics would someday become a reality. Not the part about McCartney going on to become a star, because Beatlemania was already in full swing when the song came out. I’m talking about the part where he said we could drive his car. Okay, I’m pretty sure he was singing it to a beautiful girl—although, in the song, it was the girl relaying the message to him—but you get the point.

So, apparently, a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 that previously belonged to McCartney is now scheduled to be auctioned in London—on December 2nd at The Bond Street Sale. They’re expecting this car to get snapped up for £1,250,000 to £1,500,000 (or P84,000,000 to P100,000,000). Not bad, considering this classic automobile was first purchased for just £3,800, according to its papers. Adjusted for inflation, that would be the equivalent of £73,000 (P4,900,000) today.

The car was the subject of a four-year restoration project. PHOTOS FROM BONHAMS

The DB5 is said to have been originally painted Sierra Blue, with a black interior. It was chassis number 1653/R.

The car has had different owners through the decades, including broadcaster and much-maligned former Top Gear host Chris Evans (responsible for the current registration number of 64 MAC). The next owner after Evans brought the DB5 to Alan Smith Motors in 2013 for a full restoration job that was finally completed this year.

The car's original color was Sierra Blue. It is now painted Silver Birch. James Bond approves. PHOTOS FROM BONHAMS

About the restoration work, the Bonhams auction house has this to say:

From the beginning, it was decided that a full “last nut and bolt” restoration was the only way to restore the Aston to its former glory, and everything would need to be stripped, assessed and either replaced or overhauled. The first task was to strip everything that could be removed, starting with the interior, the engine, the gearbox, the front and rear suspension, the electrical wiring, the bonnet, the doors, the boot and the glass. With the body removed and the sandblasting completed, it became possible to assess the chassis structure.

The engine, the gearbox and the final drive were removed and cleaned, and the engine dismantled. The bell housing and the gearbox were then separated. All parts were stripped and checked and replaced where needed. After the hubs and the suspension fittings had been removed, the rear axle was cleaned and set aside for reconditioning, as was the ZF five-speed gearbox.

The key objective for the rebuild of 1653/R was to ensure that the restoration should be to a standard at least as good as, if not exceeding, that achieved by the factory when the car was built. Also part of the brief was the requirement that any component not to original specification was to be replaced as a matter of course. It was decided that the Aston Martin would be repainted in the iconic Silver Birch of James Bond DB5 fame, while the interior was to be fully re-trimmed in Mulberry leather.

We just love new-looking classic gauges. Still cooler than all the digital instruments we get today. PHOTOS FROM BONHAMS

So, would you buy this car for that astronomical price? Well, if you had to pause and hesitate, this iconic Aston Martin is not for you. If you’re either a Beatles fanatic or a car buff, the amount shouldn’t make you flinch—assuming, of course, you have the means to go for it. Just be sure to strip those tacky Paul McCartney references inside the car.

Argh! Who conceived of all that tasteless embroidery? PHOTOS FROM BONHAMS

Now, if you just want a piece of Beatles history but find the DB5 unattainable, there’s this 1966 Mini Cooper S previously owned by Ringo Starr. It will also hit the auction block for just £90,000 to £120,000 (or P6,000,000 to P8,000,000).

Let us know if you somehow manage to acquire either of these two cars, so we can tell you, “Baby, you’re a rich man.”



Vernon B. Sarne

Vernon is the founder and editor-in-chief of VISOR. He has been an automotive journalist for 26 years. He became one by serendipity, walking into the office of a small publishing company and applying for a position he had no idea was for a local car magazine. God has watched over him throughout his humble journey. He writes the ‘Spoiler’ column.



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