With some sorrow, I sold the DB4
 

Many of you were very supportive during my recent engine rebuild of the Aston Martin DB4. I've owned it 35 years. The value of these beasts has gotten where I decided to sell it. It will be going to Switzerland to the personal collection of the Prime Minister of Kuwait. Apparently he's hoarding DB4/5 and 6 Astons and has a restoration shop that has about twice as many mechanics/restorers as Aston Martin has people who build cars. I've gotten to a point where I don't drive the car, its big, hot and heavy and steers like a pickup truck compared to the 84 Targa. Certain parts like synchro rings for the trannie are NLA, new or used. People who are keeping the cars are chopping them to accept a german five speed trannie. Its with a heavy heart that I do it, but his representative offered me a very generous price, much more than I think I would have gotten at a Barrett-Jackson auction or anywhere else. I'm also at a point in my life where I'm really, truly, tired of working on the car. Anyway, thanks all for your support. I'm kind of going to miss owning a truly one-of-a-kind toy. Here is a parting shot of it hanging with a couple of p-cars on Mulholland a while ago.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187674180.jpg:(

Sorry moderator, wrong thread, please move.

Hugh- I can't believe it, but it sounds like you're content with the choice you've made. I really enjoyed your rebuild thread BTW. I just can't believe how many unique cars are changing hands on the boards these days, seems like everyones labor-o-love is up for sale or has recently changed hands. Next thing I know BBII will be... naw, that'll never happen.

Wow.

Smart move, tho. ...You got 35 years of fun, cash, and the knowledge it has a good home. :)

I'm also at a point in my life where I'm really, truly, tired of working on the car.

This, I understand...:)

Loss of a legend...a work of art...and a solid, well engineered tractor. Driving pleasure can be found elsewhere at higher levels. Congratulations. Insurance company gave me 5k for my DB5 after a telephone pole jumped out in front of me...thanks to a truck that clipped it and laid it across all lanes of the highway near Novato, Ca.

Diverdan

Hugh, that is unfortunate, but money talks...I'm sure you can somewhat confide in the extra zeros in your bank account.

That had to be tough. Such a beautiful car but in reality change is inevitable. So it's best when we can accept changes on our own terms and it sounds like the terms were pretty good for you in this situation. :)

The funny thing is no matter how many Astin Martins the new owner buys he will never know the joy that you and that car have had. That joy belongs to the past and your memory of it.

Anyway, now is the time to look forward. A wad like that in your pocket has got to be burning a hole in it. ;)

I can see how that would be like selling an old friend. Then again, we can´t take anything with us so any and all possessions will ultimately be of no use.

Thanks for sharing your rebuild with us. I really enjoyed it.

Agree!

Plus, the heated dip stick was priceless...that is really what the Prime Minister was interested in;)

Sorry to hear that but hope it pays your house off and puts some extra in the retirement fund!

Buy a old 911 or something else to have fun with!

Joe

Wow! Sort of like losing a member of the family after that long. Well, sounds like it went to a good home, and if you've got to sell, do it for scads of cash.

Really enjoyed your posts on the work done, thanks. The minister may not be able to appeciate it, but their will be a few mechanics there that will.

His representative wasn't from, say. . . . .Nigeria, was he?

I completely support your decision, Hugh. Not just because I was present for one of the more frustrating days of owning that car, but because I understand the reasons you've given. It would be one thing if the car did not have much monetary value and/or you got a lot of enjoyment out of it, but that was not the case. Smart move, you owned it for the perfect chunk of time in its (and your) life. Glad that you got paid well for your stewardship of it.

neat car. i enjoyed your sharing of the motor work you did.

time to take just a small % of that cake and buy a decent longhood coupe. or maybe an Alfa.....

Good for you hugh - a smart decision.

my 1st thoughts exactly.

That was my first thought.:p

Hugh:

Selling a British car is always a double-edged sword! Do you have plans for new wheels or will you stick with the '84 Targa?

Cheers,

Paul.

Yes, this I also understand well.

When I owned a DB4 (#161 or 163, can't remember which) in the 1970s, I used to explain to people that it was the world's fastest vintage car--1930s machinery hidden inside a Superleggera body.

Hugh, you are dead to me.























Just kidding:D I understand and the "offer you can't refuse" is always nice. Getting out of it knowing that you topped the market makes for an easy decision. Just make sure you do something for yourself with some of the dough, don't go paying all your bills with it:)

Hugh,
I'm sorry to hear that you sold that car, especially since it's going into a "harem" and probably won't get the attention you paid to it. None of my business, but I understand. Good luck!

Sounds like smart move but must be tough to see it go, 35 yrs is a good chunk of time w/ a car. Enjoy the thought that it's going to a good home.

Thanks for the support guys. I feel kind of bad, especially with all the recent work. And when you consider I sold it sight unseen. Going to a "harem" is a good way of looking at it. I plan on investing a large amount of the money, but may buy another less exotic toy. It represented a substantial amount of my net worth, and I had a hard time justifying insuring it for its full value, expecially when I almost never drove it. The only time I was driving it was to exercise it by taking it north of Los Angeles where there isn't as much traffic. When the only reason that you drive it is to excersie it, that makes you think what else you can do with another asset that will give you more pleasure.

Thoroughly enjoyed your posts on it. Hard to see it go, but as you say it was time for a new owner.

Give the new owner the History of the car, that always very important to have. Even if the new owner doesn't realize it. The new owner has the capability of manufacturing new parts for it, so he will probably do a ground up on it.

Well its going to a a man with the wealth to collect them like someone might collect Baseball cards or Comic Books.

I'm thinking U made the right decision. The better part of valor as it were. I need to get off the dime and sell my Mustang Mach1 and Ford 427 motor. My 911S I keep.

Hugh,

I have enjoyed reading your posts about the car--have always loved Astons:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187726254.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187726315.jpg

Hugh, great move on something that needs lots of money to keep going. I got a call from Europe from some Prince who asked me if I had a oil heater stick. I said no. He was mad, and said he would pay over 10K for one. I said sorry and gave him your #. Good luck

Hey, too funny. If you want it back let me know. You can sell it on ebay and state that it was "inserted" into an Aston Martin DB4, that's got to increase its value by what? 10 cents?

Congrats Hugh :),

A little sorrow is a good thing - makes the memories so much sweeter.

Life is a huge book - you've finished this chapter - enjoy starting the next one.

Cheers,

Hugh, assuming the oil minister of Nigeria wasn't the middle man in the transaction, you made a very wise decision. It's time for that fine car to go to it's retirement where it can be kept in a museum where it belongs. Not many can say they possessed, or were possessed by, a car such as that. You should be proud of having had it and happy that you were smart enough to part with it at the peak when you can take some serious money that will make your life more enjoyable in other ways.

Even the proudest Dad has to let his beautiful daughter go off to be married when it's time.

I really enjoyed seeing the car; I had shown my wife the rebuild thread and pictures and she gasped at how beautiful it is. Just told her you sold it and she kind of frowned.

Let us know what you get in its place.

Jack

I have no doubt that after careful consideration you made the right choice, tough call, I would have had a lot of trouble with that, knowing what the right thing to do often is no consolation. Thanks for sharing so much of it with us.

All of this I also understand...well, maybe other than the $ angle...

Hugh,

I am glad I was able to see it in person at the Rose Bowl a few months ago! I also followed the threads you posted regarding the rebuild. Sounds like you made the right decision.

Dave

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sad to see it go to a storehouse but it sounds like you made the right decision Hugh. So lets hear some thoughts on the new toy?

Hugh? Just let us know when you are 100% positive the money is good, okay?