This Aston Martin barn find was nearly lost forever after owner mistook it for another car
- This Aston Martin was the victim of a case of mistaken identity
- The previous UK-based owner received a telephone call from its then-custodian in 2013
- However, they were in for a surprise when they went to collect the ‘Austin’
Published on Jul 22, 2024 at 4:55 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jul 23, 2024 at 7:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
While this Aston Martin is a dream barn find, a case of mistaken identity almost meant this beauty was lost forever.
The previous UK-based owner received a telephone call from the then-custodian in 2013.
However, the current owner and eBay seller was in for a surprise when he went to collect the ‘Austin’ in question.
READ MORE! Man finds 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 behind 20 other cars in barn find, realizes he’s uncovered a gem
A barn find case of mistaken identity
An elderly gentleman from Wokingham, UK, called the previous owner.
With his house up for sale and his garage due to be demolished, the then-owner wanted to get rid of the ‘Austin’ from his garage.
When the true model of the car came to light, the pair reached an amicable and fair agreement.
Tucked away for 35 years in a private collection, the tax disc was last dated in 1982.
This isn’t the only story of barn-find success, one man built his ultra-rare dream car after finding the remnants of one as a barn find.
The 1967 Aston Martin DB6
Launched at the 1965 Motor Show, it was the first model to be engineered after the factory upped sticks from Feltham to Newport Pagnell.
It was lauded at the time for its handling and performance.
Per the listing, the twin-cam straight six in 3995cc form was designed by Tadek Marek and carried over unchanged.
Even in standard tune, it developed a claimed 282bhp and 280lbft of torque, mated to the no-cost optional automatic transmission.
It boasted a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph)and 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) of 8.5 seconds.
The Huddersfield-built chassis platforms were fitted with a steel superstructure at Newport Panel before the hand-finished aluminum body panels were fitted.
With a raised roofline and revised rear suspension leading to redesigned rear seats, a significant increase in rear passenger room makes this a true four-seater.
It boasts all-round coil sprung suspension, disc brakes, and rack and pinion steering resulting in a suitably sporting drive.
Using Touring Superleggera techniques, its dry weight is limited to 1,550 kg (3,417 lb).
Its condition
According to the listing by Adamsykesandco, despite rust on the underside of the doors, the body and wheel arches appear sound, and the Dubonnet Rosso paint is flat.
At some point, work has been done to the engine bay.
Firstly, the crank turns with a spanner, the rocker covers have new gaskets, and the dipstick shows brand-new oil and, with a spark plug out, the top of a shiny piston can be seen.
Plus, a brand new expansion tank has been fitted.
It’s driven through a factory Borg Warner automatic gearbox.
The conclusion – while a strip-down would be necessary to confirm, it looks like a rebuild.
All five wire wheels are intact, although corroded.
A tool roll, minimal paperwork, Aston Martin Heritage Certificate, and build sheets detail the factory power-steering, chrome roadwheels, heated rear screen, three ear hub-caps, power aerial, and two lap and diagonal safety belts.
Service work recorded back in 1970 appears to include a top-end rebuild and extensive service as well as a repair to the front bumper.
Importantly the car is matching numbers.
Inside, the carpets need to be replaced however, the leather dashboard and headlining are in ‘good’ condition.
The front seats were missing but have been replaced with a non-color-matched pair.
It could be yours for $180,900 – contact the seller for more info on the ‘used’ condition car before the listing expires in 11 days.
Speaking of Aston Martin models, the Aston Martin DB5 is still the most iconic 007 James Bond car.
However, the Aston Martin DB4 is actually even rarer than James Bond’s DB5.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
