1958 ASTON MARTIN

Recognising the need to widen the appeal of the already successful DB2, Aston Martin responded with the DB2/4, introducing its new four-seater model in October 1953. Extensive revisions to the car's rear end arrangements made room for two occasional seats and more luggage, the latter being accessed via a ‘hatchback’ rear door - one of this now-common feature's earliest applications. In addition, a raised roofline, one-piece windscreen, larger bumpers and other detail styling changes differentiated the newcomer from its predecessor. Otherwise, the DB2/4 remained much the same as the DB2, with the DB2/4 Mk II model being introduced in 1955. Also in 1955, David Brown, Aston Martin’s owner, acquired Tickford, the well-known British coachbuilder. Following this, the company relocated its body-building operations from their original facilities to the Tickford works in Newport Pagnell, which became Aston Martin's long-term headquarters.

Just two years later, at the 1957 Geneva Salon, Aston Martin launched the DB2/4 Mark III (simply called the DB Mark III, even in period, with the 2/4 suffix being dropped); it was the final and most highly-developed iteration of the Frank Feeley-designed DB2 series. In its two-year production run, a mere 462 sport saloon versions were made, all coach built by Tickford Ltd. Externally, the most obvious change was the adoption of a characteristic and more purposeful front grille (designed by Tickford’s Bert Thickpenny, and suggested by 17-year-old designer John Turner, as an update to the DB2/4) which was derived from the DB3S sports racing car, plus a redesigned dashboard binnacle (aping the grille design, with instruments grouped in a cowled panel ahead of the driver) subsequently becoming signature design elements of the DB line.

The Willie Watson/ W.O. Bentley-designed 2.9-litre Lagonda straight-six engine was carried over from the DB2/4 Mark II predecessor but benefited from an extensive redesign by Tadek Marek (newly arrived from Austin) and featured improvements such as a stiffer block, strengthened connecting rods, a redesigned cylinder head with bigger valves, and a higher compression ratio. The DB Mark III’s standard DBA engine (with twin SU carburettors) produced 162bhp (though an optional dual-exhaust system raised this to a reputed 178bhp). Elsewhere there were improvements to both clutch and gearbox; Laycock overdrive became available and front disc brakes were standard rather than optional (after the first 100 cars had been built). Despite the inevitable weight increase, the Mark III was faster than any of its predecessors with a top speed of 120mph.

Road & Track magazine declared it ‘a car for connoisseurs’ and famously, of course, Britain’s favourite spy, James Bond, in Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger novel of 1959, drives a DB Mark III (referred to as a ‘DB III’ in the book); the chapter in which he drives to his famous golf-course encounter with the villain Auric Goldfinger is entitled 'Thoughts in a DB III'. James Bond under cover as a 'well-to-do, rather adventurous young man with a taste for the good, fast things of life.' The ‘DB III’ is the only Bond car in the Ian Fleming novels to have gadgets installed, for the film adaptation five years later, the star car was updated to a DB5.

The car presented here is a 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Sports Saloon (chassis #AM/300/3/1604, engine #DBA/1233). Now in fully restored condition, with over £100,000 invested into it, it must be one of the best examples of its type currently available. Our vendor, who enjoys a very select collection of cars, was drawn to this particular Mark III as it was just so original, unsullied and genuine that he couldn’t pass it up. When the car was taken to the restorers, in 2018, the level of completeness was remarkable, matching numbers, original features abound, even the leather interior – its seats and door-cards - were factory-supplied, a real ‘template’ 1950s Aston.

The accompanying history file is equally as fascinating, containing a copy of the car’s original Aston Martin Build-Sheet (retrieved from the factory in the 1970s by Aston Service, Ferndown, Dorset); it confirms the car's original specification, showing that AM/300/3/1604 was registered (as it still is today) '380 EKK', and was delivered new on 21st November 1958 via Martin Walter Ltd., motor engineers and coachbuilders, of Dover, Kent, to its first, presumably rather pleased, owner, a Mr Bernard Tindall of Sheerness in Kent. The car’s specification included twin SU HV6 carburettors, Avon Turbo Speed tyres, Desert White paintwork, Connolly (VM 3086) Burgundy leather trim, a longer 36-inch exhaust silencer and Hydro Booster braking system, the latter fitted a few months after purchase.

By c.1973, AM/300/3/1604 sported red paintwork and was then owned by Mr David Brown of Heywood, Greater Manchester who renewed the car over a number of years, returning it to its original colour, before selling it in the 1980s to Mr Barry Lomas. Between 1986 and 1989, Mr Lomas participated in sprints and circuit races with another Mark III (intriguingly AM/300/3/1603) at Curborough (AMOC Annual Sprint Meeting), Winscombe Park, and Oulton Park, with some considerable success. At around this time, prominent AMOC member Martin Cheetham used to campaign his DB2 Special at the same events. Martin is a highly regarded specialist in vintage and classic Aston Martin restoration, engines, and parts - famous for producing some of the finest and fastest Feltham Aston engines.

According to a hand-written addition to the Build-Sheet, added by Aston Service of Ferndown, in June 1984 the car’s owner is listed as ‘Mr Martin Cheetham of Stockport, Cheshire’ and it might be that Martin bought the car initially, or somehow brokered/facilitated the sale of AM/300/3/1604 to Lomas between 1984-86, as they moved in the same circles.

Following this period, and facilitated by Richard Procter of Plus 4 Motors, also of Cheshire, AM/300/3/1604 was sold overseas and then owned by Dr Gerard De Coster of Brussels. Paperwork from 1993-c.2002 show it was being maintained by Garage Soret Paul in Hoeilaart, Belgium, whilst Dr Gerard De Coster also corresponded with Aston Service in Dorset.

In 2015, again with input from Richard Procter, the car was repatriated and subsequently purchased by our vendor. In 2018, he commissioned its complete restoration, utilising the significant skills of Stewart Haslam of Haslam Body Repairs Ltd of Bolton, a reputed classic, vintage and performance car restoration business, established for over 50 years ago, plus an expert mechanic and trimmer. The restoration was fully documented in numerous photographs, that form part of the history file, as do many invoices. AM/300/3/1604 is now, quite simply, superb.

Transmission: Manual