Lot details
Registration No: T.B.A.
Chassis No: DB4/936/R
Mot Expiry: June 2009

Debuting at first the Paris and then London Motor Shows of 1958, the Aston Martin DB4 was a world class high-performance GT car. 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.

Introduced in September 1961, the Series IV variant benefited from the same front-hinged bonnet, opening rear quarter-lights, uprated front brake callipers, increased oil sump capacity and revised tail light clusters as its immediate predecessor but sported a new seven vertical bar grille and reprofiled bonnet scoop. A rather more exciting development, however, was the availability for the first time of the optional `Special Series' engine. As well as an extra (third) SU carburettor and boxed plenum chamber, the unit benefited from an improved inlet manifold, higher compression ratio (9:1), revised distributor advance curve, special pistons, larger inlet / exhaust valves and hotter plugs. Utilising the same `big sump' bottom-end as its lesser siblings, the enhanced 3670cc DOHC straight-six was credited with putting out some 266bhp and 255lbft of torque (an increase of 26bhp and 15lbft respectively). Needless to say the `Special Series' engine brought a welcome extra dose of performance and as such was also used to power the DB4 Vantage models. Of the 1,110 DB4s made, just 260 are thought to have been Series IV cars.

According to the accompanying copy build sheets, this particular example - chassis number DB4/936/R - was supplied new via dealer Brooklands (H.W. Motors) to a Mr Bintcliffe of Bexhill-on-Sea on 27th April 1962. Originally finished in Dubonnet Rosso with White Gold leather upholstery, its list of non-standard equipment included the following: "overdrive, special series engine, bray block heater, map pockets on backs of front seats, heated rear screen, two reversing lamps in place of existing reflectors, reflectors in tips of rear bumpers and Marchal F24 horns". Said to have been with its previous keeper for an impressive twenty-four years, chassis DB4/936/R entered the current ownership during April 1999. Competing on the Liege-Rome-Liege historic rally just two months later, the Aston's reward for surviving the event was to have its factory-fitted special series engine (number 370/987/SS) extensively overhauled and converted to unleaded fuel by marque specialist Beauxfield Ltd of Warrington (who now trade as Headshop UK Ltd). Taken off the road and put into dehumidified storage in 2000, the DB4 remained undisturbed until earlier this year. Suitably recommissioned, it has since been used for pleasure motoring including a return trip to the Le Mans Classic (July 2008). In terms of condition, the vendor informs us that the car's paintwork and interior trim are "original", while he rates the coachwork as "sound with visible blemishes". The four-speed manual plus overdrive transmission is said to be "excellent" and the electrical equipment is apparently "all working and in good order". Currently undergoing a cherished number plate transfer, this desirable Aston Martin is offered for sale with MOT certificate valid until June 2009.