DB4 advice please.........

[Camlet]

Does anyone please have practical experience of owning or driving an AM DB4? Or, point me in the direction of a relevant thread?

I saw a DB4 again recently and it looked stunning but I've no idea how the DB4 drives or which series is best. Many seem to have had engine upgrades too.

The Aston forum on PH seems to be limited to modern Astons only.

Many thanks. Happy Easter.

[RichB]

True, there aren't many owners of classic Astons on here but it's fun to read about the moderns too.

http://www.amoc.org go to the Forum and look for David Brown/Newport Pagnell section (see below). There's a lot of advice on the AMOC site for owners and potential owners of all models of Aston not just Gaydon cars.

You need to register with a user name but don't need to be a member of AMOC to contribute to that section of the forum.

Edited by RichB on Sunday 20th April 09:58

[RichB]

Also worth looking at Tim Cottingham's excellent web site here http://astonmartins.com/

What are you looking for in particular? The DB4 was launched in 1958 and went through quite a few changes during its evolution. Very early cars suffered with poor oil cooling which was corrected in the Series II. I'm not an authority on DB4s but they are lovely cars, better looking than the DB5 IMO. I guess you're looking at £250k upwards now for one you can use while you work on it.

Edited by RichB on Sunday 20th April 09:51

[Mistron]

I'm sure if you are considering a purchase, any of the dealers would be happy to let you drive a selection of cars - Nicolas Mee, Aston Workshop etc

That way you'd also find out the difference between a fully restored, upgraded and tired (absolutely original and un-messed with, sir) examples

[a8hex]

RichB said:

True, there aren't many owners of classic Astons on here but it's fun to read about the moderns too.

http://www.amoc.org go to the Forum and look for David Brown/Newport Pagnell section (see below). There's a lot of advice on the AMOC site for owners and potential owners of all models of Aston not just Gaydon cars.

[/footnote]

Not checked recently but the AMOC forums used to be very active, friendly and helpful. I was looking at buying a DB6 at one stage and I used them then.

[Keep it stiff]

I owned a DB4 for a few years, it was some time ago and I sold it before values went through the roof. Mine was a series 5. In comparison with earlier DB4s and DB5s, performance wise there was nothing to choose between them in standard trim. I did a few AMOC events in mine and it was chalk and cheese compared with modified DB4's, on the trace mine was too soft and the brakes struggled. As a car to drive down the pub on a Sunday it was superb, as a press-on car on the road it was out-performed by most hot hatches. I constantly had to drive within the capabilities of the brakes, gear changes were ponderous, it wallowed around corners and at night the headlights were hopeless.

If you are looking to buy a DB4 my advice would be don't get hung up about what series, look for the best car you can find within your budget, it really does not matter if it is an early car or a later one. Likewise if you do want to modify I can't see any particular advantage to age.

There are a few well modified DB4's that have been raced extensively over the years, a car that is well sorted for the track really is a very different proposition, if that is what you have in mind you might be better to make some contacts via historic race circles rather than AMOC.

[RichB]

Keep it stiff said:

...if that is what you have in mind you might be better to make some contacts via historic race circles rather than AMOC.

And if that's what you have in mind don't forget that the chairman of the AMOC owns and races a DB4 so plenty of good advice in racing Aston within the club too.

[Camlet]

Thank you all for your extremely helpful posts, I'll research each of them well. I was a member of the AMOC in the late 90s when I bought new a mendip blue DB7 Volante (supercharged) which was beautiful but lacking. Then went "Italian" and stayed there. However the DB4 remains a considerable itch. One life.

Cheers.

[neutral 3]

A good pal of my Late Dad bought a first series DB4 new ( huge money back then ) and after a while set off for Italy. Cruising at high speed resulted in the engine letting go in a big way. He wasn't amused and eventually Astons fitted a new engine.

Believe he sold it soon after.
If I had early Aston money a Maserati 3500 GTI a Sebring or the Gorgeous Mistral would be by far my preference.