Although the later DB5 receives most of the plaudits (it remains the quintessential Bond Car, after all), in truth it was 1958’s DB4 which formed the template for what the Aston Martin brand stood for. And with the Newport Pagnell firm celebrating its centenary in 2013, what better way to celebrate than a cheeky $350,000 DB4 acquisition?
First introduced in 1958, the DB4 was a clean-sheet design for Aston, replacing the respected but ageing DB Mark III. The DB4 wowed crowds at the 1958 London motor show, its Italian-designed body built by Touring following their patented Superleggera (‘Superlight’) tube-frame construction method.
Under the sexy skin lay a DOHC, aluminium-alloy block 3670cc straight-six designed by renowned Polish engineer Tadek Marek. In time, this engine would form the cornerstone of Aston DB production, finally retiring in 1972 as a 4.0-litre unit capable of 242kW in triple Weber ‘Vantage’ form.
For the DB4 it initially produced 179kW via twin SU carburettors. Matched to a four-speed manual transmission, it could hit 60mph in nine seconds and top out at 140mph (224km/h) with the common 3.54:1 final diff ratio; shorter or taller ratios were also available.
Powered four-wheel disc brakes were standard fare; initially from Dunlop then later Girling, while suspension was independent at the front-end, via wishbones and coils with a live axle in the rear supported by a Watts linkage.
Over its production life (1958-1963) the DB4 was substantially refined over five ‘Series’. Series II cars (Jan 1960-onwards) gained a front-hinged bonnet, larger sump and overdrive on the gearbox, Series III (April 1961) saw only minor updates before being replaced with the Series IV, which gained a new grille and the option of a 198kW ‘Vantage’ specification engine, which also added slanted, covered headlights.
Final Series V DB4s (with a body extended by 90mm for improved interior space) arrived in September 1962. By production’s end, the DB4 was the highest selling Aston Martin to date, with 1113 produced in both left- and right-hand drive forms.
This particular example is described by the vendor as ‘a matching numbers, Australian car’. Chassis DB4 878R (the R indicating right-hand drive) is an ‘older restoration in good condition, however not Concours’ and is one of only 184 Series IV DB4s built.
The subject of an older restoration, this DB4 benefits from an engine to 3.9-litre ‘GT’ specification; the uprated, lightened DB4 GT conceived for GT Racing against other exotica such as the Ferrari 250 GT SWB. It sports the ‘140mph diff’.
In trademark Silver (with bumpers removed for a racy look), one whiff of the Aston’s gorgeous Burgundy leather interior could have you handing over $350K unconsciously.