 1959 DB4 | 1961 DB4 GT Zagato  | 1961 DB4 Series II |
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1960 Aston Martin DB4 news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  | FastBack Coupe Chassis Num: DB4/342/R Engine Num: 370/362 |
Under the bonnet was a Tadek Marek designed, all-alloy, twin-overhead-camshaft six-cylinder engine with 'square' bore and stroke dimensions of 92x92mm. Total displacement equaled 3670cc and maximum horsepower was reached at 5500rpm offering 240 bhp. The entire package was mounted on a multi-tubular spaceframe structure with unequal-length wishbones in the front and a conventional live axle located by a Watts linkage in the rear.
Heavy-duty bumpers were added after the first 50 cars left the factory. The 2nd series arrived in January of 1960. The Series II cars included a front-hinged bonnet, larger brake calipers and an enlarged sump. The Series III had separate rear lights, two bonnet stays and a many interior updates. The Series IV, produced from September of 1961 through October of 1962, had a new grille with seven vertical bars, shallower bonnet intake and recessed rear lights. The Series V had 3.5-inches more in length which gave more room to the occupants and more trunk space. 15-inch wheels, an electric radiator fan and the DB4GT-type instrument panel were also new to the Series V cars.
This car is a DB4 Series 2. It is a left-hand drive model and one of a mere 249 SII produced. There is a larger hood scoop and a green exterior paint scheme with matching cream leather interior. It has been well cared for over the years and in its present ownership for many years.
In 2007 this DB4 was brought to Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia, at the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in Carmel, California. It was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $200,000 but failed to find an interested buyer willing to satisfy the reserve. This was very surprising, as the Pebble Beach Concours, happening just miles away, was featuring the Aston Martin Company as one of their celebrated events. It was assumed this car would inspire excessive bidding feeding from the Pebble Beach enthusiasm. Sadly, this lot was unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008
 |  |  | FastBack Coupe Chassis Num: 1DDB-4/358/l Engine Num: 370/487 |
| Sold for $231,000 at 2009 Gooding & Company. | |||
Later in the cars life, it was brought to California and in 1993 it received an extensive mechanical overhaul. The engine was completely rebuilt and the transmission stripped, inspected and rebuilt where necessary. A high-performance suspension kit was fitted and vintage specification carburetors and air box were installed. A few years later, the wheels were completely rebuilt and the car was fitted with competition style seatbelts.
In the early 2000s, a full suspension and brake rebuilt was performed on the car. In 2006, the car received some cosmetic updates including fresh paint and upholstery.
In 2009, this Aston Martin was offered for sale by Gooding & Company at their Pebble Beach auction. The car was estimated to sell for $275,000 - $325,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $231,000, including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2010
 |  |  | FastBack Coupe Coachwork: Touring Chassis Num: DB4/458/L Engine Num: 370/389 |
| Sold for $330,000 at 2012 Gooding & Company. | |||
The DB4 has a modern tube-frame chassis, four-wheel disc brakes, and a 3.7-liter straight-six engine. This example wears Superleggera coachwork by Touring of Milan. It was originally completed in the summer of 1960 and finished in Desert White over a black Connolly leather interior. It was specified for export and constructed with a left-hand drive configuration, a 3:54:1 rear-axle ratio, Smiths instruments, KLG spark plugs and fully chromed road wheels with Avon Turbospeed tires.
The car was delivered through Mirabeau to Andre Fontaine, who resided in the Place de la République in Paris. The car remained in M. Fontaine's care for two decades then was exported to the United States and to its second recorded owner, Roland Pallas of San Rafael, California. It is believed that while in Mr. Pallas care, the car was refinished in its current shade of silver.
The current owner purchased the car in 1988. The following year, the car was driven from the Los Angeles area to Laguna Seca and back for the Aston Martin tribute at the annual Monterey Historic Automobile Races.
After that, the car was put into static state for two decades. The car has had only three owners since new, has 92,905 km, and retains its original leather upholstery and matching-numbers engine.
In 2012, the car was offered for sale by Gooding & Company at their Scottsdale, Az. auction. The car was estimated to sell for $300,000 - $400,000. The car found new ownership for the sum of $330,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2012
 |  |  | FastBack Coupe Coachwork: Touring Chassis Num: DB4/287/L Engine Num: 370/293 |
| Sold for $495,000 at 2012 Gooding & Company. | |||
This car is one of 351 second-series DB5 examples that were produced between January 1960 and April 1961. This car was also chosen by J.S. Inskip, the American importer, for use at the New York International Auto Show in April of 1960.
After the NY Auto Show, Mr. Swigert took delivery of his car. Ownership passed to Oregon resident Earl Grove in the early 1970s. After this point, the recorded history disappears until the late 1990s, when the car came into the possession of a San Francisco dealer of fine motorcars. Acquired in 2002 by John Jordan of Potomac, Maryland, it was treated to a comprehensive restoration that featured a major engine upgrade. The engine displacement size rose to 4.2 liters and was given triple SU carburetors. The bored-out engine was rated at 303 horsepower, which was a significant increase over the stock 266 horsepower. The DB4 GT models produce 302 horsepower.
Along with the engine work, a body restoration and bare-metal repaint was performed in 200, as well as significant refurbishment of the chassis in 2005. The current owner acquired the car in 2008.
In 2012, the car was offered for sale at Pebble Beach presented by Gooding & Company. The car was estimated to sell for $325,000 - $375,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $495,000 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012
The DB name came from the name David Brown (later Sir David Brown), an individual who had purchased the Aston Martin Company.
The DB4 series was built from 1958 through 1963. A total of 1040 vehicles and five series were produced during this time frame. The coachwork was performed by Touring of Milan, Italy. The body panels were hand made of aluminum mounted on a steel tube frame and featuring the Superleggera method of construction. Superleggera means super light.
Initially, the DB4 series used disc brakes made by Dunlop but later switched to the Girling made disc brakes. Each of the five series featured improvements, design modifications, and technological enhancements. All of the DB4s received their power from a Tadek Mereck designed, 3670 cc, six-cylinder, all aluminum engine. The 220-240 horsepower engine could propel the car to a top speed of around 140 mph and the go from zero to sixty in just 8.5 seconds. David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin, produced the overdrive transmission.
The standard DB4 body style was the Saloon version; however, the Vantage series could be ordered and featured higher horsepower ratings.
In 1959, Aston Martin introduced the DB4 GT series. This series featured a shorter wheelbase and higher output than the standard DB4 Saloon. Due to the shorter wheelbase there were no rear seats. The engine had three twin-choke Weber Carburetors and twin distributors increasing the output of the standard engine to 302 bhp. This extra horsepower increased the top speed to around 153 mph and the zero-to-sixty time of around six seconds.
Other distinguishable features of the GT series were the exposed, racing style, fuel filer caps located on the rear wings. Perspex headlamp covers adorned the front of the vehicles.
The GT series was produced from 1959 through 1963. During this time period, 75 models were produced. The Italian coachbuilder Zagato was tasked at producing the bodies of 19 of these vehicles.
In 1960 the Zagato bodied cars were introduced at the London Motor Show. These hand-built vehicles were built to outperform Ferrari's. The short wheelbase, light weight construction, 314 horsepower engine, and a top speed of 160 mph made them very competitive.
The DB4 Drophead Coupe was produced from 1961 through 1963. During this time frame, 70 examples were created. They were convertibles built on the DB4 Saloon body style using the same aluminum, Superleggera body construction. The standard six-cylinder 3670 cc engine was now producing 260 horsepower. Thirty-two of the convertibles received the Vantage specifications which increased the output of the engine. The overdrive transmission was also available as an option.
In the 1960's, the DB4 Drophead Coupe was used in the movie 'The Italian Job.'
During the 1980's, an Aston Martin specialist named Richard Williams produced the remaining DB4's using the assistance of the Aston Martin factory and unused chassis.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2010
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe DB4 series was built from 1958 through 1963. A total of 1040 vehicles and five series were produced during this time frame. The coachwork was performed by Touring of Milan, Italy. The body panels were hand made of aluminum mounted on a steel tube frame and featuring the Superleggera method of construction. Superleggera means super light.
Initially, the DB4 series used disc brakes made by Dunlop but later switched to the Girling made disc brakes. Each of the five series featured improvements, design modifications, and technological enhancements. All of the DB4s received their power from a Tadek Mereck designed, 3670 cc, six-cylinder, all aluminum engine. The 220-240 horsepower engine could propel the car to a top speed of around 140 mph and the go from zero to sixty in just 8.5 seconds. David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin, produced the overdrive transmission.
The standard DB4 body style was the Saloon version; however, the Vantage series could be ordered and featured higher horsepower ratings.
In 1959, Aston Martin introduced the DB4 GT series. This series featured a shorter wheelbase and higher output than the standard DB4 Saloon. Due to the shorter wheelbase there were no rear seats. The engine had three twin-choke Weber Carburetors and twin distributors increasing the output of the standard engine to 302 bhp. This extra horsepower increased the top speed to around 153 mph and the zero-to-sixty time of around six seconds.
Other distinguishable features of the GT series were the exposed, racing style, fuel filer caps located on the rear wings. Perspex headlamp covers adorned the front of the vehicles.
The GT series was produced from 1959 through 1963. During this time period, 75 models were produced. The Italian coachbuilder Zagato was tasked at producing the bodies of 19 of these vehicles.
In 1960 the Zagato bodied cars were introduced at the London Motor Show. These hand-built vehicles were built to outperform Ferrari's. The short wheelbase, light weight construction, 314 horsepower engine, and a top speed of 160 mph made them very competitive.
The DB4 Drophead Coupe was produced from 1961 through 1963. During this time frame, 70 examples were created. They were convertibles built on the DB4 Saloon body style using the same aluminum, Superleggera body construction. The standard six-cylinder 3670 cc engine was now producing 260 horsepower. Thirty-two of the convertibles received the Vantage specifications which increased the output of the engine. The overdrive transmission was also available as an option.
In the 1960's, the DB4 Drophead Coupe was used in the movie 'The Italian Job.'
During the 1980's, an Aston Martin specialist named Richard Williams produced the remaining DB4's using the assistance of the Aston Martin factory and unused chassis.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2010
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 1960
Aston Martin
models |
| Aston Martin DB2/4 MKIII |
| Aston Martin DB4 GT |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Bentley | Bugatti |
| Devon | Ferrari |
| GTA | Koenigsegg |
| Lamborghini | Lotus |
| Maserati | Maybach |
| McLaren | Porsche |
| Rolls-Royce | Spyker |
| Tesla | |
| Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1960 |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ($10,955-$11,130) |
Average Auction Sale: $244,502 |
| Aston Martin: 1950-1960 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Aston Martin |
| 15/98 2 litre C-Type 2-Liter Type A Speed Model Aston V8 | Cygnet DB2 DB3 DB4 | DB5 DB6 DB7 DB9 | DBR1 DBR9 DBS Lagonda | Le Mans Mk II One-77 T-Type | Ulster V12 Vantage Roadster V12 Zagato V8 Vantage | Vanquish Virage |
| 1959 DB4 | 1961 DB4 GT Zagato | 1961 DB4 Series II |
