You could own some of the coolest Aston Martins ever

It is one of the rarer (only 140 made) early MkI convertible versions of the first Aston to wear the Volante badge, making its debut at the London Motor Show in 1965. The car in the sale is from ’68, finished in metallic Chrome Aluminium with black Connolly leather interior and fitted with ZF five-speed manual transmission.

The car’s condition reflects the expertise of the people who have been looking after it over the past years, including Aston Martin Works – there’s an invoice from them for £100,000 for bodywork in 2012. The car is said to have covered just 1000 miles since then.

Bonhams’ Tim Schofield tells us early DB6 Volantes are among the most sought-after of David Brown-era Aston Martins, and this car’s pre-sale guide price – £700-900,000 – reflects that. 

It’s the most expensive car in Bonhams’ 18th annual sale dedicated to the Aston Martin and Lagonda marques. We have singled out some more highlights from the sale, which covers 65 years of the brands, and as well as cars comprises all kinds of Aston automobilia – from brochures and badges to engine blocks and bumper overriders, as well of course as a host of things signed by racing drivers, rock stars – and assorted James Bonds…

Most work needed

That has to be this car: a 1957 DB2/4 MkII project, with guide price of £50-70,000. This 2+2 version of the DB2 – one of the first hatchbacks! – has been off the road for 40 years but would have plenty of stories to tell if it could. One of its early owners was Freddie Mills, former World Light Heavyweight boxing champion who turned Soho nightclub owner and presenter of the BBC’s Six Five Special music show!

Quirkiest

You can’t get much quirkier than the 1970s Aston Martin Lagonda, that futuristic Williams Towns-designed saloon that caused a sensation at its 1976 London unveiling. This 1979 car is said to be the second one sold and has been in single ownership for the past 30 years, the last 14 of them in storage. It was rebuilt by Aston Martin in 1986 and has done just 4200 miles since then. Oh, and the digital instruments all work! Guide price: £50-80,000 and no reserve.

Rarest

Aston Martin shooting brakes aren’t exactly unheard of – DB5, DB6 and Virage all got the factory estate treatment – but this one is a bit rarer. It’s one of three built by Aston Martin around the V8 Coupe, the car that replaced the Virage, in 1996. The British Racing Green V8 Sportsman estate is said to offer plenty of practicality as well as performance from the 350bhp 5.3-litre V8. The left-hand drive automatic has been looked after by Aston Martin Works most of its life and has covered only 21,000km. Guide: £300-350,000.

Least expensive

The cheapest car you could potentially drive home in from the auction is, no surprise perhaps, a DB7. With a guide of £35-40,000, the 1999 sale car is one of 19 Limited Edition specials from the dealer group Stratstone. It’s a manual coupe finished in black with grey leather, and has plenty of service history to show for its 85,000 miles. 

Fastest

Not much argument about that: with 595bhp and under 1600kg, the ultimate Aston Martin Vantage, the GT12, will scoot to 60 in 3.5 seconds and (with a short final drive) top out at 185mph, all accompanied of course by a magnificent normally-aspirated V12 soundtrack. Aston would have called it Vantage GT3 if it has been allowed, but no matter, at its launch in 2015 this £250,000 road racer special sold out in double quick time. The car in the auction is number 74 of the 100 made, it is very green (the only one in this hue, apparently) and is as-new (30km only) and unregistered. It is also £350-400,000 worth, says Bonhams – plus it would need the VAT paying if it stays in the EU.

Most James Bondish

You could go for one of the assorted Sean Connery signed photographs in the auction (from £300), or maybe the Bahamas licence plate 56526 as fitted to 007’s Aston in Casino Royale (£2000-3000), but if you want the real Bond experience you have to get yourself a DB5. This 1964 example may not be silver with a red interior like the Goldfinger car but it’s still only a few chassis numbers away from the most famous Aston Martin of them all, with its machineguns, ejector seat and rocket launchers. The car has been in the same ownership since 1972 and comes with a guide price of £500-600,000.