1958 ASTON MARTIN

Background

The DB Mk III was launched simultaneously at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland and in the USA in March 1957. An export-only model until it appeared at the London Motor Show that October, it was the company’s first road car to feature the classic Aston Martin grille created by body designer Bert Thickpenny. It was the final incarnation of the Claude Hill chassis, incorporating Disc brakes, worm-and-sector steering and a live axle rear end. The Lagonda straight-6 engine incorporated lessons learned on the race track with a fundamental redesign by Polish engineer Tadek Marek. It now gave substantially more power and torque than the original LB6 and it would be the last of the DB models to be powered by this legendary engine. Only 551 cars were built during the short production run from 1957 – 1959.

The Car

Delivered new in August 1958 to its first unknown owner the DB Mk III was fitted with the standard 2.9 L (2,922 cc; 178.3 cu in) Lagonda straight-6 DBA engine with twin SU carburettors producing 162 hp (121 kW), Disc brakes, a hydraulically operated clutch and an optional Laycock-de Normanville overdrive with the standard four-speed gearbox.

Its History

Acquired by its second owner Mr W.E. Jolly in 1977 the DB Mk III was driven 11221 miles and the engine received a substantial re-build before being sold to the current and third owner in June 1983 by Four Ashes Garage in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The current owner and his father an experienced race team mechanic who worked with the Aston Martin Works team at Feltham in the 1950’s under the legendary team boss John Wyer prepared and modified the DB Mk III for club circuit and sprint racing events with the Aston Martin Owner’s Club. The preparation and rolling restoration, in four phases, took place in between 1983 to 2004 with further extensive work continuing to date. The list of work done and modifications is significant and very detailed and a full list and invoices are available on request. Some of the more notable items include;

- transmission re-build including rear axle

- engine re-build and balancing

- twin exhaust system fitted

- replacement of the original bonnet by a fibre glass version

- fitting full race harnesses

- replacement DB 2/4 cylinder head and modified stud positions

- fitting a racing clutch and cover

- tuning the suspension with different springs and ride heights and new bushes

- full repaint in the current oxford blue

- fitting triple weber carburettors and manifold

- fitting recommissioned Alfin rear brake drums and overhauled brake system

As currently set up the power is estimated at 178 BHP at 5500rpm giving a 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 9 seconds and maximum speed of over 120 mph (193 km/h) depending on tyres and gearing.

On the Road

This DB Mk III looks gorgeous yet purposeful and has that lovely patina of a car that has lived a life, been modified to race and compete by some incredibly skilled people with genuine Aston Martin history. To drive it is like taking a trip back in time to when driving was a physical challenge that required real skill and commitment to extract the best from a car. Deceptively fast and so much fun and mechanically absolutely spot on.

Conclusion

This car has been continuously maintained and modified over the current owner’s 40 years of ownership to build it into an Aston that satisfied his desires and as such it is unique, with race history and the lovely history of having been owned and worked on by an Aston Martin Works Team mechanic. Now it’s your turn to add to the history of this unique car and to take what in many ways is a blank canvas to create a unique car to fulfil your desires, historic racer and hill climb car, race focused track day car or even something completely different for a Sunday morning blast and trip to the pub. Rest assured this car will upstage many others in the car park and provide a huge opportunity to fettle it and build a strong bond with the car as the current owner has. To prove the point it was a finalist in the Aston Martin Owners Club Virtual Showcase Concours in November 2025.