Aston Martin DB5 Convertible

The Aston Martin DB5 Volante or Convertible, produced between 1963 and 1965, constitutes a rare open-top variant of the standard DB5 saloon. Though later referred to colloquially as the “DB5 Volante,” the designation “Volante” was not officially applied by Aston Martin until the introduction of the Short Chassis Volante in 1965. The DB5 Convertible remained a limited-production vehicle, with only 123 units constructed, of which 19 were manufactured in left-hand drive configuration. Mechanically, the DB5 Convertible retained the principal characteristics of the coupé. It was equipped with a 3,995 cubic centimetre inline-six engine, employing triple SU carburettors and developing approximately 282 brake horsepower. This allowed for a maximum speed in the vicinity of 145 miles per hour and acceleration consistent with the expectations of a high-performance touring vehicle of the period. A smaller number of vehicles were delivered in the optional Vantage specification, which substituted Weber carburettors and featured revised cam profiles, increasing output to approximately 325 brake horsepower. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a ZF five-speed manual gearbox, though a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission was also available. The chassis architecture employed a steel platform frame clothed in aluminium body panels affixed using the Superleggera method, a licensed technique originating from Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. The suspension system consisted of an independent front arrangement with coil springs and a live rear axle located by trailing arms and a Watt’s linkage, also sprung by coils. Four-wheel disc brakes by Girling were standard equipment, as were electric windows and leather upholstery, reflecting Aston Martin’s intent to merge performance with luxury. Owing to its limited production, refined mechanical specification, and association with the DB5 lineage—already renowned for its cultural connection to cinema—the DB5 Convertible is widely regarded as a highly desirable collector’s item. It occupies a transitional place within Aston Martin’s development of open-bodied grand tourers, preceding the formalized Volante series while retaining the technical purity of its closed-roof counterpart. As such, it is considered a benchmark example of British automotive craftsmanship of the mid-20th century.