Tag Archiv: aston

Aston’s Incredible DP215 up for Auction

****Update Sold for Sold For $21,455,000 Inclusive of applicable buyer’s fee.***

The sole Aston Martin DP215 made for the 1963 Le Mans will be up for public auction in Monterey.

This car has been seen very little in recent times, only making an appearance during the parade laps at the 2006 Goodwood Revival.

RM Describe the car:

A unique Works Design Project; developed to compete at Le Mans
Driven by Lucien Bianchi and Phil Hill at Le Mans, 1963
Clocked at 198.6 mph on the Mulsanne Straight
Restored with the consultation of Ted Cutting, the original designer
Fitted with its original engine and correct-type five-speed gearbox
1963 Works-built Hiduminium body
An exceptional and important part of Aston Martin racing heritage
The final David Brown competition Aston Martin

Aston Martin Valkyrie Revealed

This is the future.

It’s a new road-legal sports car designed by Red Bull and Aston Martin called the Valkyrie.

Until now we have only seem a clay-model of the Valkyrie and this is a first look at what the production car will be.

Matt Hill, Aston Martin Creative Director of Interiors said of the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s cockpit design: “It’s been a tremendous challenge to make the interior packaging work. We’ve embraced Red Bull Racing’s Formula One ethos and approached from a different angle than conventional road car design. In this instance, we’ve started from a position where you think something is impossible and work at it until you find a way to make it work. We’ve been fighting for millimetres everywhere, but the battle has been worth it, as it’s been fantastic seeing customers try the interior buck for size. They love the ritual of getting in and how it feels to be sat behind the wheel. They’re also genuinely surprised at how the car just seems to swallow them. You really do have to sit in it to believe there is genuine space for two large adults.”

Aston DBR1 to sell in Monterey

Recently RMSotheby’s announced the most expensive and desirable Aston for their Monterey sale: DBR1/1.

Driven by Stirling Moss, Jack Fairman & David Brown, this car took the overall victory at the 1959 1000km Nürburgring.

While this car has been offered to the public market before, this will be the first auction for a DBR1, so the results will set a precedent.

Infact, if this car sells it should be the most expensive British car to sell at public auction.

RMSotheby’s will sell DBR1/1 at their annual auction in Monterey held 18-19 August.

Aston DB4GT Continued

Aston Martin DB4GT

Aston Martin DB4GT

Aston Martin are anouncing that they will continue DB4 GT production.

That means they will create 25 additional cars to the 75 orignally made from 1960 to 1964.

Press Release:

Newport Pagnell: One of Aston Martin’s most iconic models – the DB4 G.T. – is to be celebrated with a special series of 25 track-only continuation cars built to lightweight specification by Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell.

Launched in 1959, the DB4 G.T. was immediately celebrated as one of the rarest and most revered of all Aston Martins. Evolved from the production DB4 and introduced in the same year Aston Martin scored its historic outright win in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the DB4 G.T. was a true supercar of its day. Shorter, lighter, sleeker and with a more powerful version of the legendary 3.7-litre straight-six engine, not only was the DB4 G.T. Britain’s fastest passenger sports car, it was a born winner, scoring a debut race victory at Silverstone in the hands of Sir Stirling Moss. A total of 75 DB4 G.T.s were built between 1959 and 1963. Of these only eight were lightweight models, most of which survive today, and values now comfortably exceed £3m.

Remaining faithful to the design of those original eight factory lightweights, each DB4 G.T. continuation will be built with Aston Martin Works’ unrivalled experience and exemplary attention. Employing a blend of old world craftsmanship and modern techniques, continuation cars benefit from improvements in engine performance, handling, braking and safety, with great care taken to ensure these enhancements build upon the original’s exceptional qualities while retaining its feel and character.

Underlining that authenticity are the continuation car VIN numbers, which carry on from the last original DB4 G.T. ordered – Chassis 0202R – for an unbroken bloodline and impeccable Newport Pagnell-built pedigree spanning half a century.

At its heart is a version of the celebrated Tadek Marek-designed straight-six cylinder engine with two spark plugs per cylinder, transmitting its 340bhp to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, just as in the original DB4 G.T. Thanks to its shortened wheelbase the DB4 G.T. is a strict two-seater blessed with greater agility than the regular four-seater DB4. Its body follows the original construction, with thin-gauge aluminum panels fitted over a tubular frame. To improve the accuracy and consistency of the panels, the continuation car’s bodywork uses state-of-the-art digital technology, before being hand-finished in time-honoured tradition.

Fittingly for a car created to celebrate one of Aston Martin’s most illustrious competition models, the DB4 G.T. Continuation is built to be enjoyed on track. Aston Martin Works has created a two-year international track driving programme held at a number of the world’s finest race tracks, including the spectacular Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. The ultimate arrive-and-drive experience, customers may also take advantage of Aston Martin’s dedicated driver training team. Comprised of expert instructors, including Aston Martin Racing’s multiple Le Mans class winner (and Goodwood Revival regular) Darren Turner, they will help customers master driving techniques from an era when track driving was more art than science.

Paul Spires, Commercial Director, Aston Martin Works said of the DB4 G.T. Continuation programme: “For over 60 years Aston Martin Works has devoted unrivalled skill and experience to preserving Aston Martin’s heritage. Now we are creating something for the future, with a special series of 25 continuation cars that celebrate one of Aston Martin’s greatest cars – the DB4 G.T. Lightweight.

“Built in our recently refurbished, state-of-the-art facilities in Newport Pagnell, the DB4 G.T. Continuation is hand built in the same location as its illustrious forebears, and marks the return of production to the historic home of Aston Martin for the first time since the last Vanquish S was completed in 2007. Combining the authenticity of a hand-crafted David Brown era car with sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements and performance enhancements, the DB4 G.T. Continuation is a fusion of classic design and contemporary methods.

“The result is a truly remarkable machine. One that offers 25 individuals the opportunity of commissioning a classic, built to modern day standards and ready to be enjoyed in an international track driving programme as bespoke and individual as the cars themselves.”

Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President and CEO commented: “Aston Martin has a rich and vibrant heritage, as you’d expect from a company that has been building some of the world’s finest sports cars for 103-years. Of those the DB4 G.T. stands proud as one of the most coveted of all. It’s a mark of Aston Martin’s breadth of abilities that in the same year we launched the DB11 – our most advanced ‘DB’ production car ever – we can also embark on an adventure such as the DB4 G.T. Continuation. A project that taps into the unique passion and skills that exist within Aston Martin, I’m thrilled we have the imagination and capability to offer 25 enthusiasts the unique opportunity to commission their own piece of Aston Martin history.”

First deliveries of DB4 G.T. Continuation will commence in QTR 3 2017.

Aston Martins at Pebble Beach

1966 Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante Convertible DBVC/2318/R

1966 Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante Convertible DBVC/2318/R

This year some of the world’s best Aston Martins were on display at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

But these were scattered around in the various classes, as Pebble’s focus for 2016 was racing GT40s, Delahayes, early indy cars and Chapron Coachwork.

All images by Richard Michael Owen with car descriptions by Pebble Beach Company.

1935 Aston Martin Ulster Sport
The Aston Martin Ulster, one of the most successful British-built prewar race cars, was based on the 1500 cc–engined Aston Martin Mark II. After Aston’s success at the 1934 Tourist Trophy, 21 Aston Martin Ulsters were built for sale to privateers. This particular Ulster (chassis K4 509 U) was built in 1934 for amateur driver Peter Donkin, who finished 11th overall in his first race at Le Mans with co-driver Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton. Seven Astons entered Le Mans that year, including three team cars and four privateers—and all but one finished. This Ulster went on to race successfully at the Donington 12 Hour race in 1937 and the nternational Ulster Tourist Trophy Race in 1946. It has been raced virtually all of its life and has now been fully restored.

1960 Aston Martin DB4GT Touring Coupé
This is one of only 30 left-hand drive Touring-bodied DB4GTs from the total production run of 94 DB4GTs, including 19 built by Zagato. The DB4GT accelerated from 0 to 60 in 6.4 seconds, with a maximum speed of 152 mph, and it was the first sports car in the world to do zero to one hundred and back to zero in 20 seconds, thanks to its four-wheel Girling competition disc brakes. This car was raced in period at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1961, driven by Sherman Decker and Bob Bucher, and has been driven regularly on road and track by each of its four owners. It raced competitively in the ’80s and ’90s at the Lime Rock Sprints and in 1989 at Laguna Seca when Aston Martin was the featured marque.

1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark III Drophead Coupé
This elegant Drophead Coupé Mark III was built alongside regular saloons at the Feltham factory although the coachwork was by Tickford in Newport Pagnell. The Mark III was the first road car to wear Aston’s famous radiator grille (as fitted to the racing DB3S) as well as Girling’s new disc brakes. Thus equipped, the car could reach 60 mph in 9.3 seconds and could hit 120 mph. This car was bought new by the current owner’s father,
but it changed hands a few times over the years. Joe Clark found the car again in 2012 and has overseen its complete restoration. It is very close to his heart as he received his first speeding ticket in it at the age of 17!


1963 Aston Martin DB5 Touring Convertible
This Aston Martin DB5 is one of 19 left-hand drive examples built from a total of 123 convertibles. The convertible (chassis DB5C/1253/L) was shown at the New York and Los Angeles Auto Shows, and differs slightly from the production models: inside it has several fittings borrowed from its cousin, the Lagonda Rapide, and under the bonnet the aluminum cam covers are polished instead of painted and the carburetors, intake manifolds and various aluminum fittings are polished and chromed instead of nickel plated. This DB5C show car, complete with chromed Borrani wire wheels, was purchased immediately after the Los Angeles Show by retired US Admiral Robert Miller, who kept the Aston Martin at his home in Santa Barbara, California, until he died in 1993. The car was bought by its current owner in 2013 with just 34,916 miles on the clock.

1966 Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante Convertible
The Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante was an interim model between the DB5 and the DB6. It was the first Aston to adopt the Volante name as used by all subsequent Aston Martin Convertibles. It has a DB5 engine, chassis and suspension, but with several styling features seen on the new DB6, and it is generally considered to be one of the most attractive Astons of the David Brown era. During the single year of production between 1965 and 1966, only 37 Volantes were produced at the Newport Pagnell factory before the introduction of the DB6 Convertible at the 1966 London Motor Show. In 2009, this car was fully restored at Aston Martin by a team of technicians that included some people who had originally built the car in 1966!

1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Coupé
This car (chassis DB4GT/0186/R), the 14th to be built, was the only one delivered to Australia, where it had a short but successful racing career in 1962. Its first owner, Laurie O’Neill, shared the driving there with Doug Whiteford and Ian Georghegan, and the trio scored many class and overall wins down under. After O’Neill sold the car, it remained in Australia for the next 30 years but was rarely seen. The current owner recently acquired the car from Peter Read, who restored it in 2002.