1960 Aston Martin DB4

Model History

The Aston Martin DB4 was unveiled in 1958 and marked a significant step up from previous models. Designed by the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, the DB4's aerodynamic bodywork was crafted using the innovative Superleggera technique, which involved lightweight aluminium panels mounted over a tubular steel frame. This method not only reduced the car's weight but also enhanced its structural integrity and performance. Under the hood, the DB4 featured a brand new 3.7-litre DOHC straight-six engine, capable of producing 240 horsepower, which was a huge leap over the comparatively paltry 162bhp produced by the engine in the outgoing DB2/4 Mk III.

The new engine featured twin SU carburettors and an aluminium block, and could propel the DB4 from 0 to 60 mph in just 8.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of around 140 mph.

The DB4 also had more sophisticated suspension, featuring independent front suspension with coil springs and a live rear axle with trailing arms and coil springs. This setup ensured exceptional handling and ride comfort, making the DB4 a true grand tourer. Additionally, the car was now equipped with Girling disc brakes on all four wheels, as standard.

The first production cars were made from October 1958, known as Series I’s, just 149 were made. The early cars had features including a bonnet that hinges at the rear, simple bumpers with no overriders and no frames around the glass. Wind noise as a result of the latter and overheating issues meant improvements had to be made and these came in the form of the Series II that was made available from January 1960.

The main changes on the Series II were to hinge the bonnet at the front, so that it opened from the rear to the front, thus eliminating the risk of the bonnet flying open at speed, should the bonnet catch fail (not uncommon in the day). The sump was enlarged to allow for more oil capacity to reduce overheating and an oil cooler was available as an option. Other cosmetic changes included chrome frames around the windows and the rear quarter lights could now be opened and featured flat glass, as opposed to the curved panes fitted to the Series I. The Series II was made for just over a year, until April 1961 when the Series III was introduced, with just 349 units having been built. One prominent cosmetic change with the introduction of the Series III was the change to three stacked Lucas light clusters, as opposed to the beautiful, jewel-like rear lights on the earlier cars. It seems such a small thing but this change has prompted many to consider the Series I and II’s as the best looking of the DB4’s with the Series II being the pick of the bunch thanks to the upgrades and improvements over the Series I.

Motor Car Offered

The Aston Martin DB4 for sale with Wrightson Automotive is one of these beautiful and pure Series II’s. Chassis number DB4/361/R was ordered new by New Zealand industrialist Sir Robertson Stewart CBE. He ordered his new DB4 in Peony (Dark Red) with White Gold (Cream) Connolly leather. He came to Europe for six months to collect his new Aston Martin and spent much of that time touring Europe, including a visit to Le Mans for the 24 Heures du Mans, where he picked up a race programme that is still in the history file today! Correspondence on file from Sir Robertson Stewart states he later returned to Le Mans during his trip and drove the car down what was the Mulsanne Straight at close to 140mph.

On arriving in New Zealand there was a huge amount of interest surrounding such an exotic car arriving on their shores, especially as it was the first DB4 in New Zealand. Period press cuttings on file wax lyrical about the car and later articles document the owners achievements, including setting the speed record for a four seater saloon car of 137.69mph at the Tram Road Sprint in Christchurch in 1960, a record that stood for decades.

According to correspondence in the file 361/R was upgraded to ‘Vantage’ specification by the factory in 1961, this may well have been done locally with parts and guidance from the factory, as sending the car all the way from New Zealand back to the factory would have taken months and cost a fortune, further research to confirm where the upgrades took place is in progress. Vantage specification didn’t officially come in until the Series 4 cars in late 1961 but certain cars had what were called Special Series engines which included the upgrades that would later go on to the factory Vantage cars. Special Series engines had a higher compression ratio head with bigger valves and three SU HD8 carburettors as opposed to two. The car retains this very special specification engine to this day

In August 1970 Sir Robertson Stewart sold the car to Anthony Ellis, a lawyer who would go on to be a High Court judge, the Honourable Justice Ellis and later President of the Electoral Committee. There are letters between the pair from 1970 with the latter chasing the handbook which seemed to have been misplaced during a house move. After a second look in the ‘Music Room’, Sir Robertson writes jubilantly of its discovery and it is re-united with the car.

The Honourable Justice Ellis only kept the car for a couple of years before it was sold to a David E. Curry, a respected restorer and enthusiast. Mr. Curry would retain the car for over 13 years and in that time he would painstakingly restore the car to it’s former glory, remember cars lived harder lives back then so a restoration at 10-15 years old wasn’t unheard of. A well-loved Jaguar collector and restorer called Leslie Parkinson, or ‘Parky’ in New Zealand Jaguar circles, bought the car in December 1985. He bought the car as a bit of a change up from his regular Jags, however, the car didn’t suit him and the car would be bought by David and Sally Garrett in August 1987.

David Garrett became the Aston Martin Owners Club area representative for New Zealand and as such was the perfect owner. He wrote to all the previous owners to track down stories and history. He had the car bare metal repainted at huge cost and enjoyed the car immensely for many years until 2002. During his ownership the DB4 featured in a couple of New Zealand car magazines, copies of which are in the file.

The next and believed to be last owner in New Zealand was Hanlin Johnstone who acquired the car in 2002, went through the car mechanically and would retain it until 2013 when the car would return to the United Kingdom, it’s place of birth.

While the history file is hugely impressive, the UK history is not very well documented. Enquiries will be made to fill in the gaps but what is known is that it was subject to a full inspection and detailed report by Excalibur Engineering in Suffolk. A few years later the car was in the custody of award winning restorers, Tudor Black Coachworks. Tudor Black have done some phenomenal restorations over the years and have won several concours events. DB4/361/R was restored by Tudor Black with work being completed in 2020. During the restoration it was decided to finish the car in the stunning colour combination of Caribbean Pearl with Grey/Green and Grey carpets. Soon after restoration the car went to The Classic Motor Hub where I was involved in the sale of the car to the current owner. He took the car straight to the prestigious and ICJAG judged concours, Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace where it won its Class.

Since that win the owner has enjoyed the car sparingly, enjoying blasts in the country with his family and trips into London where the top hotels and restaurants would insist he leave the car parked outside the front.

The time has now come to move the lovely Aston on and for it to start a new chapter in new ownership.

Accompanying the car is a huge lever arch file that includes correspondence, invoices and press clippings going back as far as the 1960’s. Also in the file are a copy of the Aston Martin Register and List of Members from 1961 and 1968, draughtsman sized copies of factory drawings showing the steering system on the DB4, the aforementioned 1960 Le Mans programme, the original Workshop Manual for the DB4 and DB4 GT and last, but by no means least, the original Owners Handbook signed and dated by every owner of the car from new.

Now is your opportunity to acquire what more consider to be the best of the DB4s and to sign your name to that list of owners.