1958 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 MKIII

KEY FACTS

• A handsome sporting GT car, subject of an extensive recent restoration, and which remains in first-class condition throughout.
• It is equipped with the numbers-matching 2.9-litre Lagonda straight-six fed by twin SU carburettors, coupled to a four-speed manual transmission with overdrive in 3rd and 4th.
• Initially sold to a doctor in Cape Town in 1958, it remained in South Africa for just over 40 years, subsequently being imported to the UK and re-registered in December 2001.
• There are two previous UK keepers, and the seller, a renowned design authority who acquired the car in 2017, may be only the fourth owner from new.
• It was showcased at the Aston Martin Owners Club Autumn Concours in 2017 at Boconnoc House in Cornwall, and for the car’s 60th birthday the owner and his two adult sons drove it to the Newport Pagnell factory site and Heritage centre. It is a well-loved car that has been driven and enjoyed.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• Finished in Paeony Red, which was the original factory colour, it is complemented by a period-correct grey Connolly leather interior, and has just been fitted with new burgundy Wilton carpets.
• Overdrive in 3rd and 4th gears allows the car to cruise with ease at and above motorway speeds.
• The car was also specified from the factory with the twin exhaust system, and is equipped with front disc brakes and chromed wire wheels.
• Its previous owner, a Swiss banker, commissioned an extensive restoration at renowned Aston Martin restorer Davron, with work also being carried out at classic car specialist Mitchell Motors. This included a full engine rebuild with balanced crankshaft, gearbox rebuild, chassis and body restoration, and a major mechanical overhaul, with the total cost tallied at £166,500.
• Its current owner purchased the car in 2017 and has kept it well maintained, also commissioning some improvements to the suspension and brakes, and correction of the rear axle alignment. The car now rides on uprated road springs.
• Accompanying the car is the original toolkit, owner’s manual and sales brochure, plus much paperwork for the car's life in the UK for the last 20 years, and some from its previous existence in South Africa. There are also original sales and build documents dating from 1958, and a recent BMIHT record certificate confirming the factory specification.
• A raft of invoices covering the mechanical and cosmetic restoration are present from both Davron and Mitchell Motors, along with photo documentation of the engine rebuild.

CONDITION

• Given its recent comprehensive restoration, the car is of course in excellent condition, with a wonderful finish to the bodywork and paint.
• Having been completely repainted in 2012, it still looks superb, with only a couple of minor blemishes noted on the scuttle. A small blemish on the boot was repainted in late 2019.
• The interior re-trim in grey Connolly leather is thought to be around 20 years old, presenting with a very light ‘patina’ but no significant wear. The wool headlining is in great shape, and the burgundy Wilton carpeting is brand new. The leather upholstery has been lightly restored in recent years.
• There are no known electrical faults.
• The car is exempt from mandatory MOT testing on the basis of age, but the current owner reports that this DB MkIII is in fine mechanical order.

SERVICE HISTORY

• Last serviced in October 2020 at 53,500 miles, this included renewal of fluids and re-greasing, as well as adjustment of the Panhard rod, carried out by Autoclassico Ltd of Bristol.
• The car has been serviced annually by Autoclassico during the current ownership, with the spark plugs also replaced in 2019, the seat rails refixed in 2018, and the uprated road springs and adjustable Panhard rod fitted in 2017.
• During the restoration, the car was mechanically renewed, including the aforementioned engine and gearbox rebuilds. The suspension, brakes, steering box, and wiring loom were also all completely stripped, refurbished and reassembled or upgraded.
• Beyond the previously mentioned items, the seller has also commissioned minor repairs to the fuel pump/gauge and instruments, small electrical repairs, and revisions to the radiator and hoses.

SUMMARY

Connoisseurs of the marque or of the work of Ian Fleming will know that while the DB5 connection is an invention of the silver screen, the Aston Martin originally driven by James Bond as described in ‘Goldfinger’ was in fact the DB MkIII. It is perhaps no surprise that Fleming selected this model for his suave protagonist, given it is arguably the most elegant and certainly the most accomplished of the ‘Feltham era’ Astons.

In the owner’s own words, this Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII “drives exceedingly well at motorway speeds, the overdrive engaging effortlessly in 3rd and 4th gears”. After its 2020 service, he took it for a 300-mile drive just for fun, describing it as “a joy to use”. The sale is a reluctant one given that funds are required to progress two Italian rebuild projects, so this is an excellent opportunity for the next owner to acquire a superbly restored example, which is ready to relish on the road.

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All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.