One of only 551 Aston Martin DB III coupes ever built will be auctioned April 11 in Cumberland Furnace, TN.

Rob Selkow Reporting

rselkow@clarksvillenow.com

CUMBERLAND FURNACE, Tenn. – An upcoming auction in Cumberland Furnace could well attract the attention of car collectors worldwide.

While hundreds of items will be up for bid, including two Studebakers, the most anticipated item is sure to be a 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III coupe.

(Interior view of the 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III in Cumberland Furnace)

The British luxury sports car attained legendary status when Ian Fleming made it the vehicle of choice for James Bond in the novel Goldfinger. After all, wouldn’t a man who insists on having his martini being ‘shaken not stirred’ be even more particular about his ride? A chapter in the book is titled ‘Thoughts in a DB III,’ and it is the only Aston Martin in any Bond book to have gadgets installed.

The production years for the DB III were 1957-59. The company had a production run of 551 models during that period, with 462 hatchbacks like this one. Owner Tammy Maxwell has been told there are believed to be only 200 such cars remaining.



(This restored 1957 Aston Martin is a similar model to one in Cumberland Furnace to be auctioned in March. Photo: Adriano Castelli-Shutterstock)

“I didn’t know much about it, except it was old and worth some money,” said Maxwell of the car, now in her barn on blocks amid various parts and components.

Maxwell owns The Clarksville Indoor Flea Market on Fort Campbell Blvd. where she has been selling furniture and household items on consignment for 10 years.

The car will require a major restoration. “We contacted an outfit in California that specializes in restoring classic cars and they gave an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000,” Maxwell said.



(Front-end view of 1958 DB Aston Martin III)

Steep as that is, she was told the estimated sale price for the car, once restored (and minus such Bond options as a defibrillator, ejection seat or poison antidote) could reach half a million dollars.

According to documentation provided to Clarksvillenow.com, the car was purchased in Hawaii in 1975 by Maxwell’s husband, a former pilot in the U.S. Air Force. The car moved with him to Dover, Delaware and finally to the couple’s home in Cumberland Furnace.

“His plan was to restore it himself, but when he finally had time to do it he became ill and couldn’t finish it,” Maxwell said. He died last October.

The family has now decided to sell it by auction on April 11, 2015. The auction is being managed by Auction World of Clarksville and will take place at 210 Seven Springs Road, Cumberland Furnace, TN.

For auction details contact Lisa Nicholson or Jeff Fletcher at (931) 645-5888.

See a video walk-around of the Aston Martin to be auctioned in April below: