1962 Aston Martin DB4

Lot details
Registration No: 314 YKX
Chassis No: DB4811R
Mot Expiry: Feb 2007

Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford produced the first prototype in about 1914 and although it is easy to see where the Martin name came from the Aston side to this enigmatic manufacturer came from the Aston Clinton Hill Climb. The first company bearing the two individuals names was registered in 1922 in London W8 but was wound up in 1925 a few weeks after it had exhibited at Olympia. A comeback was staged in 1926 with a new car being designed by one A.C. Bertelli which had a David Brown, a name that would become synonymous with the marque in later years, worm final drive. The bodies were the work of Bertelli's brother Enrico and the sports model was very light and indeed the models of this period had significantly distinguished competition histories.
Competition was always a significant part of the Aston Martin name and indeed ensured its prominence in the public eye but finance was always a problem and there was a brief marketing link with Frazer Nash in 1931. In 1933 the firm came under the direction of R.G. Sutherland who retained control until after World War II and indeed the first years of his reign showed Aston's best sales results with 105 cars delivered.
Things were difficult before the war and this continued thereafter. David Brown bought the company in 1947 and had a major result on the competition front in 1948 when Aston Martin won Le Mans with essentially one of the pre-war designed cars. 1956 saw the first of two unsuccessful forays into Formula One, the second was in 1959, and in 1958 production was transferred to the Tickford bodyworks at Newport Pagnell and a new era of manufacture began.
The DB4 was launched in 1958 with a Tadek Marek designed 3670cc twin overhead cam engine, with an aluminium block and head, which produced 240bhp at 5,500rpm. This was mated to a David Brown four speed syncromesh gearbox and it had disc brakes all round with Dunlop callipers and a Lockhead vacuum servo. Roadtesting began in 1957 with production starting in September 1958 and the Italian designed DB4 was an immediate sensation with the GT version being a logical development in 1960.
We are exceptionally pleased to offer this wonderfully original DB4 today, which dates from 1962, and is an original right hand drive car still bearing its original registration number of 314 YKX. She comes complete with original 3670cc six cylinder engine.
Naturally to be able to warrant the mileage of a car of this age there needs to be a significant history file and generally speaking we will only advise a client to do this if indeed it was a one owner and there was practically a complete and full service history. The patina of this car is superb and lends one to think that it is a very low mileage car and the history file includes the green logbook and many detailed bills by marque specialists including Robin Hamilton and Aston Engineering dating back to 1972 and there are MOT's back to 1980. The paperwork shows evidence the car had completed a mere 5,564 miles in 1980 and it has definitely only completed 10,000 miles in the last 26 years. The present owner does believe this total to be correct from new.
The bodywork is beautifully furnished in blue and has the complimentary red leather interior trim, which has just a beautiful patina, and the car presents itself wonderfully well on its wire wheels. It comes with a four speed manual gearbox and is currently tested until February of next year.
Values of DB4's and DB5's are accelerating into the stratosphere and a car with such a history as this and in such exemplary condition looks extremely good value compared to some of its 'restored' rivals.