Rusty Bond-Era Aston Martin Restored to £1m Glory

Published: 02 December 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A classic Aston Martin DB5, once left to rust for decades on a driveway in Flintshire, has been restored to its former James Bond-style brilliance and is now valued at an astonishing £1m. The car, owned by 71-year-old John Williams from Mold, first entered his life more than 50 years ago when he purchased it second hand in 1973 for just £985 — the equivalent of about £15,000 today.

Williams, who fell in love with Aston Martins as a child after receiving a toy version at the age of eight, saved tirelessly throughout his teenage years to finally purchase the iconic vehicle at 19. At the time, it represented both a dream fulfilled and the beginning of a lifelong bond with one of the world’s most admired classic cars.

But the DB5, made globally famous by its starring role in the James Bond films Goldfinger and Thunderball, was destined for a long and unexpected period of neglect. After Williams accepted a job in the Middle East in the late 1970s, the car went into storage. Eventually, it ended up sitting exposed on the couple’s driveway for decades, battered by the unpredictable British weather.

Local children, perhaps inspired by Bond’s gadget-laden adventures, even played on the abandoned car. “The neighbours’ kids used to bounce on the bonnet and we used to tell them off,” recalled Susan, John’s wife. “And then one was jumping on the roof thinking, ‘Does it work?’ because he’d seen the Bond film and thought it was going to come up.”

The DB5 Vantage in silver birch grey, of which only 39 were ever built, is among the rarest versions of the model. A total of just 1,022 DB5s were produced between 1963 and 1965, but the association with Sean Connery’s portrayal of James Bond transformed the DB5 into an automotive legend.

Even in its rusting, undriveable state, Aston Martin valued the car at £500,000 — a testament to both its rarity and cultural legacy. Despite receiving multiple offers from collectors eager to secure the iconic vehicle, John and Susan decided instead to bring it back to life.

Williams saved £400,000 to fund the ambitious three-year restoration at Aston Martin’s historic Buckinghamshire works. The project was immense, requiring 2,500 hours of meticulous craftsmanship. Specialists even discovered a mouse nest deep within the decayed interior before reconstruction could begin.

Aston Martin historian Steve Waddingham emphasised the complexity of the restoration, saying: “It would almost be easier to build a brand new car. But to actually repair and put new sections into a very heavily corroded car like this one took an awful lot of skill and patience.”

For Williams, the wait proved more than worth it. After taking his first drive in the fully restored DB5 in more than 45 years, he described the experience as “mind-blowing,” adding: “It must be better now than it was when it came out of the factory originally. I wish they could do a number on me to make me look 27 again. I definitely feel 27 today.”

Susan, who had only ever sat in the car while it was being towed during its decades of disrepair, finally enjoyed her first real ride in the gleaming DB5. “The sound of her was wonderful,” she said. “And then when we were going a bit faster I thought, ‘Yeah, go a bit faster. Let’s see what she can do.’”

Despite its immaculate restoration, Williams admits he won’t be driving the prized vehicle often. Concerns about weather, rust, and security mean the car’s days of sitting outdoors — or suffering neglect — are long gone. “You’re limited to where you can take it and leave it. I’ve neglected it once. I’m not going to do that again.”