Background

The DB4 was introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1958. It has been referred to as the epitome of the 1960’s GT car, elegant, fast and involving to drive. The coachwork was designed by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, Italy. Body construction is to ‘Superleggera’ specification, which means a lightweight body of light alloy construction around a small diameter multi-tubular framework, the whole mounted on a platform chassis. The new 3.7 litre, six cylinder twin overhead camshaft, all alloy engine was designed by Tadek Marek; it first ran in 1956 and was raced in the DBR2. In 1959, they achieved 1st and 2nd places at Le Mans and went on to win the Sports Car Championship.

There are five series of the DB4, with various improvements and styling alterations and just over eleven hundred cars were built in all. The DB4 series II, was introduced in January 1960 and remained in production for fifteen months until April 1961. During this period, approximately 351 cars were constructed. The series two features revised bonnet opening arrangements with the bonnet now hinged at the front, enlarged engine sump for increased oil capacity from 15 to 17 pints, heavy duty front callipers and a radiator blind.

In August 1988, this particular vehicle was delivered to Aston Martin specialists, GTC Engineering, for comprehensive restoration in conjunction with coachwork specialists Shapecraft. Over the next two years, the car was dismantled and rebuilt, with attention to original specification, including the re-instatement of a Motorola Radio. The interior trim was replaced by Tove Trimming. The invoices submitted month by month testify that in excess of £80,000 was spent over the two-year period to completely restore this beautiful motor car. Today, a top quality restoration would probably cost considerably more, over and above the purchase cost of the vehicle.

Shortly after this restoration was completed, the car was sold by the then owner. Its next owner, Jim Robinson, knew of the vehicle and tracked it down to Cornwall, where he purchased it. He then began to present the vehicle in both national concours events and those of the Aston Martin Owners Club. It is my experience, however fastidiously a restoration is carried out; a restored car is not necessarily a car ready to compete in the exacting arena of ‘top level’ concours events.

The present owner purchased the car in May 1999. He states, “the glowing patina the car acquired and still maintains is a testament to the many hours of preparation needed to create a show-winning vehicle. Every part of this vehicle is fully detailed, from the engine bay to the back axle and spare wheel well. The standard of finish and shine within the wheel arches is more than a match for the external finish of many cars”.

Concours History – Key Events

In 1992, the car competed in the Scottish heat followed by the International final of the Benson & Hedges Classic, taking 12th place in the Gold Class.

In 1993, it was chosen to represent the Aston Martin Owners Club at the Autoglym Concours held at the Top Gear Classic & Sports Car Show in Birmingham and gained 2nd place in its class, which it repeated in 1994.

In 1995, it took 3rd place at the NEC final of the Top Gear Classic & Sports Car Concours, where it was also awarded the “Most Elegant Car” accolade.

In 1996, the car competed in the Elite Class of the AMOC Concours event held at Silverstone. As a premier “One Make” club, the standard of judging within the AMOC is painstakingly detailed and rigorous. Cars competing in this class must have previously won their own class and the outcome is a top-level competition whose entrants span the years, from the earliest cars to their modern counterparts.

In May 1997, the vehicle was awarded the Autoglym Championship of Scotland.

In June 1998, RSU 113 competed in the Elite Class of the AMOC Concours event held at Silverstone, being awarded the Heyworth Trophy. To quote the official Aston Martin magazine, “a really superb DB4 belonging to James Robinson scored 94 points in the Elite Class….”

In November 1998, the car was invited by Autoglym to participate in the Grand Final of the Autoglym Masterclass at the 1998 International Classic Motor Show.

The following January (1999) in recognition of its consistent success in Concours competitions, the Aston Martin Owners Club awarded this car the John Wyer Trophy for the best post-war Aston Martin in Concours.

The car has a comprehensive file of documents recording its restoration followed by its concours history. The documentation also includes the original Drivers Handbook and a wealth of general provenance on DB4 cars (including an original sales brochure) which is an important prerequisite for top class concours events.