Lot 043: 1961 ASTON MARTIN DB4

Debuting at first the Paris and then London Motor Shows of 1958, the Aston Martin DB4 was a world class high-performance GT. Some four years in the making, its gestation was overseen by the marque's Technical Director John Wyer. Working alongside Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, Harold Beech developed a robust sheet-steel platform chassis which could accommodate the Italian coachbuilder's 'Superleggera' or 'Super Light' method of body construction (whereby hand beaten aluminium alloy panels are fitted over a cage-like structure of small-diameter support tubes). Equipped with independent coil and wishbone front suspension, a Watts linkage located 'live' rear axle and four-wheel disc bakes, the model was powered by a new all-alloy DOHC straight-six engine. Displacing 3670cc thanks to its 'square' bore and stroke dimensions (92mm x 92mm), the powerplant was designed by Tadek Merak. Interestingly, the Polish-born engineer is thought to have fought Wyer's wishes for a more competition friendly 3-litre unit and to have initially favoured cast-iron construction. With a quoted 240bhp and 240lbft of torque on tap, the two-door fixed-head also boasted a four-speed all-synchromesh manual gearbox as standard. Reputedly capable of 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds, 0-100mph in 21 seconds and 140mph, the DB4 won rave reviews from the likes of Autocar and Motor magazines. Despite a well stocked dashboard, finest Connolly hides and thick carpets, the refinement of early cars was compromised by wind roar at speed. Frames were quickly adopted for the side windows as a result and the 2+2 progressively refined through five series (a process that also saw it put on weight). Introduced in January 1960, the Series II variant was distinguished by its front-hinged bonnet, flat glass opening rear quarter lights, uprated front brake callipers and increased oil sump capacity. Of the 1,110 DB4s made, just 350 are thought to have been Series II cars (chassis DB4/251/L to DB4/600/R). Finished in maroon with black leather upholstery, this particular example is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (electrical equipment, interior trim), "fair" (bodywork), "good working order" (engine, gearbox) or "very good" (chassis, wheels / tyres) condition. Though, he considers that it "needs repainting". An original right-hand drive Series II car, DB4/564/R was resident in France for several years before returning to the UK and being re-registered by the DVLA as '469 UXD' (the licensing authority were also responsible for identifying its year of manufacture as 1959). The subject of an older restoration, the Aston Martin appears to have exchanged its factory fitted engine (370/556) for a later unit (370/921) which is believed but not warranted to have come from a Series IV car. While, this swap denies the DB4 'matching numbers' status, it also means that the fixed-head carries a more advanced, less overheating prone powerplant. Summed-up by the seller as a "delight to drive" which "handles very nicely" and possesses "a very responsive engine", DB4/564/R is offered for sale with MOT certificate valid until October 2008. Although by no means a 'show car', it nevertheless represents an affordable entry to the privileged ranks of DB4 ownership.