A Happy Collision of Luck
Our friend Robin became the proud owner of this car when luck and circumstance collided on a sunny day in Bellevue, WA. This 2015 Aston Martin DB9 Equestrian Edition was originally commissioned by Los Gatos Aston Martin in California. It was to be auctioned at the Menlo Charity Horse Show and include a $10,000 donation to benefit the Vista Center for the Blind in Atherton, CA. It is a one-of-a-kind car produced by the Q division of Aston. The equestrian theme includes saddle tan leather with diamond-quilted ivory Alcantara trim, rare Japanese Tamo Ash, embroidered horse-head logos, and saddle-style luggage. The one-off metallic paint, called Ashen Blonde, is accented with diamond-turned wheels in satin champagne and Howlite stone-inlaid logos (later replaced outside by enameled ones). The interior was featured on a 2016 internet list as one of the most expensive car interiors in the world, coming in at #3.
Interestingly, the car never sold at auction, but a buyer appeared afterward and agreed to lease the car for three years in return for the donation. The three years came and went and upon expiration of the lease the car was returned, whereupon Los Gatos auctioned the vehicle again. This time it happened to be purchased by another Aston dealer, Park Place from Bellevue. The day the car appeared at Park Place Robin, just by coincidence, dropped by for a visit. Upon seeing the car, Monte Solovy, the Aston sales manager thought it might interest Robin. So, he mentioned it. Now it seems Robin had lusted after this car from the day it had first been revealed some four years before, but he had resigned himself to probably never getting an opportunity to buy it. Lo and behold, here it was.
Robin anxiously took a look at the car and then and there told Monte he wanted it, and not to let anyone else near it. I’m guessing Robin purchased that car before he ever left Park Place. It didn’t come home with him that day, however, because you see Robin is very particular about his cars. He knew all there was to know about this car, right down to the color and material used for the Q badges. And, as it turns out, not everything was correct. The badges, for instance, were not the originals. And then there was the case of the missing luggage. Somehow no-one knew to where they had disappeared. Robin contacted Q. The saddle tan leather and carpet was originally sourced from Bentley, as Q didn’t feel they had the right color. So they had to go back to Bentley. Even the luggage lining, called Johnstons Tweed Dunkeld, was from material used for a fashionable high-end equestrian riding jacket. Though originally a $3,785 option, Q nicked him $10,000 to tailor a new set. There were a couple of other niggily things Robin set straight as well. In the end, he had his dream car, one he thought he would never have the chance to own.
Having seen this car in person on a few occasions, I can tell you it is every bit as spectacular as you would think. I truly envy Robin for owning this one-of-a-kind Aston Martin, a car already rare simply by its marquee. I can also say there isn’t one thing about this car I would change – it’s an all out stunner, the epitome of class for a class individual. Congratulations, Robin. If you ever want to sell it I know of a buyer….
