"Aston Martin’s sublime DB4" - by David Lillywhite & Hagerty

[LTP]

Just read an article on the DB4 written by David Lillywhite and published by Hagerty Media in the USA. He quite liked it.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/master-...




Couldn't see a link to this anywhere else on PH

[Murph7355]

Whenever DB4s get posted it always makes me look at this...



One I almost bought back in about 2005...

[DB4DM]

Thanks very much for the link, nice article and photos

This is mine since 1979. When new in 1962, 0-60 timed at 6.8s and geared for 153 in 4th, modifed by AML to outrun a Series 1 E Type for a road test by Car & Driver magazine

Edited by DB4DM on Wednesday 3rd August 09:00

[cardigankid]

My goodness, that's eyewateringly pretty!

One question you might be able to answer - I always thought that the DB4 had a single vertical rear light cluster (a bit like an Austin 1300) and the three individual units one above the other came in with the DB5.

[stevewak]

cardigankid said:

My goodness, that's eyewateringly pretty!

One question you might be able to answer - I always thought that the DB4 had a single vertical rear light cluster (a bit like an Austin 1300) and the three individual units one above the other came in with the DB5.

Those were S1 and S2 cars with 'Cathedral' rear lights. S3 had three on a flat chrome plate and later cars had DB5-style lights with a cowl. S1/S2 with those lights and big air scoop and fine mesh grille is best looking DB4.

[DB4DM]

Re the pleasing aesthetics of the S1/S2 etc, Harold Beach who designed the chassis said at a talk in 2009 to mark the DB4's 50th, that the ratio of wheelbase to length ahead of the windscreen corresponded to the golden ratio. It just looks right therefore, also helps explain why so many DB4 race cars were from earlier series with the shorter wheelbase, having slightly different/better dynamics

In the article, I enjoyed the author's praise of the door handles, which are from a Bedford CF truck. And there is synchro on 1st gear

[john ryan]

The Bedford CF dates from 69/70, so Newport Pagnell did not borrow from Dunstable

[stevewak]

DB4DM said:

... also helps explain why so many DB4 race cars were from earlier series with the shorter wheelbase, having slightly different/better dynamics

Same wheelbase until DB6. Just shorter overall length due to more compact boot and lower roof until S5 and DB5. Racing DB4s were anything cheap at the time, but RSW tended to source early cars as donors. Mine was S3.

[Mr.Tremlini]

Murph7355 said:

Whenever DB4s get posted it always makes me look at this...



One I almost bought back in about 2005...

Are you kicking yourself? It looks amazing. I`m one of the weirdos that prefers these DB4`s to the much vaunted DB5, which is a bloody nice car in itself!

[DB4DM]

OK, the CF has DB4 door handles!

[Beckson]

Did the later series 3,4,5 DB4s really have a longer wheelbase?

I thought the wheelbase change was going to DB5

Then the DB4gt was shorter than any of the "standard" series db4s