1960 Aston Martin DB4 FastBack Coupe

David Brown's first DB2 series of road cars, produced from 1949 through 1958, were largely based upon pre-war technology. The DB4, however, was a totally new and thorough modern motor car. They made their introduction at the 1958 London Motor Show to rave reviews. The monocoque, punt-type chassis, developed under Harold Beach, featured a coil-over A-arm front suspension with an anti-sway bar and a live rear axle located by trailing arms and a proper Watts linkage. The coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring was in the company's lightweight Superleggera process. A skeleton of small diameter steel tubing supported the all-alloy body paneling, creating a rigid and very light structure. Though they were styled by Touring, the DB4's fastback body was actually produced by Aston Martin's own skilled panel beaters in Newport Pagnell.

Powering the DB4 was an alloy six-cylinder dual overhead cam unit which displaced 3670 cubic centimeters and developed approximately 240 horsepower. It was designed by Czech-born Tadek Merak and would enjoy a long life powering the DB4, DB4 GT, DB5 and DB6 series of road cars. The alloy-cased, four-speed synchromesh gearbox was designed in-house and built by David Brown's gear and machine tool division. Brakes were either Dunlop or Girling depending on the model.

chassis 347/L
This car was one of only 45 LHD Series II cars and was completed on August 12th of 1960, prior to being dispatched to Montreal, Canada's Aston dealer, Budd & Dyer. The car was sold to the first owner, the proprietor of Percy Dress Inc. on 460 St. Catherine Street West in Montreal, and registered on June 12, 1961. It is not known how long this DB4 remained with the first owner in Quebec, but, by 1979, it was acquired from the second owner, the Performance Garage in Ontario, by the current restorer. The new owner commenced a total body and mechanical restoration, which was to occupy the best part of a decade, being completed in 2008.

The car earned a First Place in the DB4 class (2008) and the Elite class (2009) at the Lime Rock Park Aston Martin Owners Club Meeting. Further wins at British Car Day in Bronte Park, Ontario, as well as First Place in the 2012 Marques d'Elegance at Paletta Mansion in Burlington, Ontario, confirm the car's current condition.

Since the restoration, the car has travelled around 4,000 miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2014