It sat in a barn gathering rust and dust for 30 years, and doesn’t even start.
But that didn’t stop a collector paying £131,000 yesterday for what is regarded as one of the most beautiful British sports cars ever built.
The white, 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage needs a full restoration after being left in a lock-up garage since 1983.
It went under the hammer at Bonhams’ Harrogate sale in Yorkshire, with a guide price of about £60,000.
Bidding started at £50,000 and quickly rose to £70,000 before things got really interesting.
An online bidder upped the ante to £75,000 and sparked a battle with a rival on the auction room floor.
There was drama when auctioneer Sholto Gilbertson announced that the overseas online bidder had “made his intentions clear” by raising his offer to £110,000.
The bidding eventually ended with the internet buyer offering £116,000 – with premium and taxes taking the final bill to £131,420.
James Knight, group director of the Bonhams motoring department, said: “The demand for Astons, and those that require extensive restoration – known as ‘barn discoveries’ – is still very evident. The strong result for this sale was achieved after a protracted bidding contest, with the overseas online bidder succeeding over representation in the room.”
The buyer will also have to find a further £100,000 to restore the iconic coupe to its former glory.
The DB6 was a replacement for the famous James Bond Aston Martin, the DB5. The model sold yesterday was owned by a garage proprietor in Easter Ross who bought the car in 1981. When new, the Aston’s four-litre, six-cylinder engine developed 320bhp – impressive for a 1967 vehicle.