1952 Aston Martin DB3

Shortly after becoming Aston Martin's new owner, David Brown hired Robert Eberan von Eberhorst, the individual who had designed the Auto Union Type D Grand Prix car. Near the close of 1950, the development of the new DB3 model began. The ambitious goal was to build a machine that could contest the world's greatest races.

Von Eberhorst's design called for a conventional ladder frame chassis with rigidity coming from the cross-bracing design. Torsion bars and Armstrong dampers were at all four corners with a trailing links setup in the front and DeDion axle in the back. A lightweight aluminum body covered the straight-six 2.6-liter engine. In the front was a large egg-crate grille that had become a hallmark of the Aston Martin design.

The DB3 made its racing debut In September of 1951 at the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod. Mr. Brown had hoped its introduction would be at the 1951 24 Hours of LeMans, but this ambitious goal was not obtainable. Instead, two DB2 models were prepared. One of these two lightweight examples was given the engine built for the DB3, and managed to finish third and claim a class victory.

Lance Macklin drove the DB3 on its maiden voyage and was running as high as fifth before it was forced to retire due to engine problems.

The DB3 was tested, modified, and properly prepared over the winter in hopes of a very successful 1952 season. Three more cars were built while the prototype example was given a fixed head body in preparation for Le Mans.

Three Aston Martin DB3 models were entered at the first race of the 1952 season, at Silverstone. They finished second, third and fourth behind a Jaguar C-Type driven by Stirling Moss. The DB3's had proven they were capable, but the engine was lacking power compared the C-Type. Jaguar engineers began work on a solution. The result was a three-liter version. Unfortunately, even with the larger engine, the DB3 would not earn the company the victories they sought. At LeMans, all three cars retired. It was late in the season - August - before the DB3 scored its first major victory. Piloted by Peter Collins and Pat Griffith, the DB3 earned its first win at the Goodwood 9 hour race.

For the 1953 season, the team hoped to field a DB3 replacement - the DB3S. It was not ready by the season opener, so Aston Martin continued to race the DB3. It scored a second-place finish and class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

In total, Aston Martin produced ten examples of the DB3. There were four factory works cars, five customer cars, and one road car built for David Brown. (2 examples were built in 1951, 3 in 1952, and 5 in 1953).

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2012