At first sight it might appear shocking that a clapped-out car such as this would be on the market for almost a quarter of a million pounds. But the dishevelled-looking vehicle is a celebrated 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series III and will be worth three times its £220,000 price if fully restored. Despite its appearance it remains an attractive prospect for many car enthusiasts by offering the rare chance to restore a virtually-untouched DB4. Opportunity: Many car enthusiasts would jump at the rare chance to restore this virtually-untouched 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series III . Pricey: The restoration project will cost upwards of £350,000 - meaning whoever buys it will have to pay £570,000 to return it to its former glory . Inside: The car, registered as BTB 478A, is being sold at Bonhams' Aston Martin sale in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, on May 9 . But the restoration project will cost up to £350,000 - meaning whoever buys it will have to pay at least £570,000 to return it to its former glory. There were about 1,100 DB4 Series III cars made from 1958 to 1963 - and it is becoming tougher to find one that offers a restoration project. The British vehicle was supplied new in July 1961 to a Robert Drummond of London, who lived in a central postcode region in the capital of SW1. The car - to be auctioned in Buckinghamshire - was off the road in storage when bought by the unnamed current owner in 1982 as a restoration project. Work was carried out the next year - including the engine being stripped, fully rebuilt and a new chassis fitted - but it has hardly been touched since. The owner, who lives in the North West of England, has now decided it is time to part with the car that has not been driven in three decades. Steering wheel: The Aston Martin was off the road in storage when it was bought by the unnamed current owner in 1982 for restoration . In the boot: The engine was stripped, fully rebuilt and a new chassis fitted in 1983 - but the DB4 vehicle has hardly been touched since . How it could look: A file picture of a 1959 Aston Martin DB4. There were about 1,100 DB4 Series III cars manufactured from 1958 to 1963 . A spokesman for auctioneers Bonhams said: ‘We are advised that the Aston is completely original and comes with all components including the original leather interior, the latter in good condition. Someone has had a go at restoring it but for whatever reason never saw the project through. 'It has not been on the road since the work was done. Offered for completion and sold strictly as viewed, this is a potentially most rewarding restoration project. ‘If you take the car to Aston Martin to restore the most expensive bill you will get will be £350,000. ‘Today a fully restored Aston Martin DB5 can be worth between £500,000 to £750,000 and DB4s are slightly behind them.’ The car, registered as BTB 478A, is being sold at Bonhams' Aston Martin sale in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, on May 9. The Mail On Sunday reported last month how private bank Coutts said the value some classic cars rose 257 per cent between 2005 and 2013. Last year an investment research organisation said the value of 'exceptional historic' cars climbed 12 per cent in that year alone. Compared with the beginning of 2009, prices had shot up by 163 per cent. With some Ferrari prices peaking, their total gain was 9.7 per cent compared with 24 cent for some sought-after Porsches.
Aston Martin DB4 Series III will cost up to £350,000 to restore but could then be worth as much as £750,000.
Attractive prospect for many car enthusiasts by offering rare chance to restore virtually-untouched DB4.
1,100 DB4 Series III cars made from 1958 to 1963 - and this one will be auctioned in Buckinghamshire.
Engine was stripped, fully rebuilt and new chassis fitted in 1983 - but it has hardly been touched since.