Aston Martin DB5 flared wheel arches

[Jukebag]

Popped down to a local classic car meet the other day was surprised to see a lovely Aston DB5 in attendance (minus the rear and front bumpers), but was curious to notice that it had flared wheel arches. Having no real knowledge of the model I did a search on the net, but strangely I can't find any DB5 (either vantage or convertible) that have flared arches. No mention of any DB5 having been made like that, except on the Mk2 DB6.

Anyone know if there was a DB5 like that?.

[DB4DM]

Might have been a racecar once?

[Plug Life]

Maybe a rich Barry boy?

[Jukebag]

The absence of bumpers (which in my view makes the DB5 look less appealing) made me initially think it is or was used as a race car. The car dates from 1966, so maybe one of the last DB5s made.

[williamp]

Never left the factory like that, but back in the 70s and 80s they were not as precious and severl were modified and personalised (one specialist I have spoken to admits, with head held in shame, he used to break them back in the day too)...

there is a green DB5 which I know of which has been left in "fast road" spec and the owners less bothered about the odd ding and scrape.

[Jukebag]

The reg no. by the way was EJX 33ID. Didn't look like it has been raced. Can't find anything in the way of history about the car.

Edited by Jukebag on Wednesday 5th April 11:46

[Roy C]

Jukebag said:

The reg no. by the way was EJX 33ID. Didn't look like it has been raced. Can't find anything in the way of history about the car.

No, it's EJX331D. Registered 1st January 1966.

[MorganP104]

Those wheelarches don't look very flared to me...

[Yertis]

MorganP104 said:

Those wheelarches don't look very flared to me...

Really? They definitely are. More like a lip than a horrible Quattro/Integrale type of thing but flared nonetheless.

[MorganP104]

Yertis said:

MorganP104 said:

Those wheelarches don't look very flared to me...

Really? They definitely are. More like a lip than a horrible Quattro/Integrale type of thing but flared nonetheless.

Granted, there's a lip... But to call that "flared" is a bit of a stretch, in my opinion.

[MorganP104]

With apologies for two posts on the trot, THIS is what I think of when someone says "flared wheel arches".

[mr alan]

MorganP104 said:

With apologies for two posts on the trot, THIS is what I think of when someone says "flared wheel arches".

Same here sorry, I couldn't tell you if that db5 was standard like that or not, looks nice however even if it has been modified. So does the Sebring type MGB though

[Jukebag]

I admit its it's not massively flared. I wonder why the owner modified it like that. You'd think very valuable classics like the DB5 would left as standard, but I suppose some like to be different. I doubt it would seriously devalue it in anyway.

Apparently it's not the only DB5 like that":

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=img...

[Roy C]

Jukebag said:

You'd think very valuable classics like the DB5 would left as standard, but I suppose some like to be different.

They key word is "Superleggera". This method of construction, developed by Touring, uses an alloy skin stretched over a steel tubular frame. It can cause galvanic corrosion between the steel and the aluminium, which made these handmade cars a very expensive proposition to restore in the 1970s & 1980s. Only when values rose in recent years did it make proper restoration economically viable.

...or maybe they just like flares in the 1970s.

Edited by Roy C on Thursday 6th April 08:27

[MrB.]

DB5s never had flared arches as standard as has been stated on here, although many have since been modified. You have remember that at one point, they weren't seen as a "classic" insomuch as just an "old" car, in the same way that some people have tarnished DB7/DB9s now.

Mind you, if you are going to modify a '5 may as well do it correctly! This is one of the best cars I have ever had the pleasure to drive, period. One of my absolute favourites that I had the joy to spend many an hour with during my 17 years (and counting!) buying and selling the marque.