by Mike Gulett –

For years I have liked shooting brakes, even before I knew what a shooting brake was, maybe because as a kid I spent a lot of time in the back seat of American made station wagons, like the Mercury Colony Park. We had dogs so that was kinda like a shooting brake experience without the guns. And I love my Lamborghini Espada which has some similarities to a shooting brake.

There are two shooting brakes up for auction by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in August during Monterey Car Week. I think both are beautiful and probably a lot of fun to take on a country outing. Shooting brakes do not come up for auction frequently and to see two Aston Martin shooting brakes at the same auction is a treat.

If I owned one of these I would get a tweed hunting jacket to match and maybe a pipe even though I don’t smoke.

1965 Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake by Radford

RM Sotheby’s writes,

Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,400,000 USD

* NO INTERNET BIDDING

* IMPORT DUTY

* One of 12 factory DB5 shooting brakes; only four left-hand drive

* Always remained in Switzerland with only three private owners

* Original matching-numbers engine and Dark Blue upholstery

* Fully documented with comprehensive history file

* Accompanied by BMIHT certificate

The rarest DB5 variant ever made, the factory-sanctioned DB5 shooting brake is the perfect combination of elegance, luxury, and practicality. Offered with a comprehensive history, this exceptional Aston Martin is presented as beautifully as the day it left Radford for Switzerland.

Read more about this shooting brake here.

1987 Aston Martin Lagonda Shooting Brake

RM Sotheby’s writes,

Estimate: $150,000 – $200,000 USD – Offered without reserve

* Unique shooting-brake conversion

* Two private owners from new

* Accompanied by its original service books and warranty card

The design brief took inspiration from the conversion carried out by Roos Engineering in 1996—with the ambition of preserving as much of the original William Towns design as possible. The result was a more harmonious incorporation of the shooting-brake element into the original lines of the car, preserving most importantly the

distinctive C-pillars and the symmetry of the original design. The project was followed by Swedish television series Grand Turismo TV. Ultimately, the final conversion took many years to refine to the exacting standards of the car’s enthusiastic owner. The car comes with a detailed history file, including its original service books and warranty card.

Read more about this shooting brake here.