Lot details
Registration No: 400 AAB
Chassis No: DB4/291/R
Mot Expiry: Nov 2012

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 sophisticated 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).

The right-hand drive DB4 now offered - chassis DB4/291/R - is a Series II example manufactured in 1960. It is resplendent in Carribean Pearl Blue Metallic teamed with a Blue-Grey leather interior. Having spent thirty years in a lock-up near Stoke on Trent, it is now being sold by an Aston Martin specialist company that has recently completed a two-year 'nut and bolt' restoration on the car. Veterans of many such a refurbishment, they were delighted with the originality of this car, which they say is exceedingly unusual in apparently never having had any alterations or repairs to its lightweight aluminium bodywork, holes drilled in the floor etc - eg '400 AAB' has never even been fitted with seat belts! It also retains its original powerplant (engine number 370/313) and Motorola radio.

There is no documented history prior to the restoration, but it is being sold complete with a file full of invoices and photographs relating to the work just finished. Stunningly presented inside and out, the DB4 has covered just a few hundred miles since returning to the road for the first time since the '70s. A time warp car that currently shows an unwarranted 85,500 miles from new, it is now ready for a new owner to enjoy with pride.