In 1963, Aston Martin needed something new to stay competitive in the luxury sports car market, despite their popular DB4 model. The solution was the DB5, which made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This new version boasted significant design and technical improvements, including a more powerful engine. The DB5 quickly became iconic, thanks in part to its appearance in James Bond films.

During the Swinging Sixties, many famous individuals, including The Beatles' Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, and comedian Peter Sellers, owned DB5s. Over the years, other celebrities like Robert Plant, Jay Kay, Elle McPherson, and Ralph Lauren joined the ranks of DB5 owners, elevating the car's status.

Despite its celebrity appeal, the DB5's production was limited, with only 887 saloons, 123 convertibles, and 12 custom-built shooting brakes originally made. This is remarkable considering that the UK produced over 1.8 million cars in 1963.

The DB5 displayed in Germany featured a reworked 4.0-litre engine that delivered 282 bhp in standard form. It introduced new features like electric windows and optional air conditioning to meet evolving customer expectations. With its sleek styling and top speed exceeding 150 mph, the DB5 was heralded as "the fastest regular 4-seat GT car in the world" in the Aston Martin brochure of the time.

The DB5 at 60