Aston Martin DB4 Series I

Offered complete with a copy of its original build sheet, this DB4 from 1960, chassis DB4/245/L, is an original left-hand drive example that was sold new in the USA via West Coast distributor Charles Hornburg to Mr. Paul S. Pollack of Los Angeles, California. A rare and very desirable early ‘Series I’ car, it is highly collectible as one of about 150 originally built. This DB4 has particularly clean styling with its frameless doors, rear-hinged bonnet and the absence of the later bumper over-riders. In fact, it retains its matching-numbers engine, numbered 370/243.

This car is one of the very rare and collectible Series I models, only 150 of which were made, and which is recognised as having the cleanest and purest lines of all the DB4 variants. Furthermore, it is the 26th chassis completed and thus not only has the rear-hinged bonnet but also the frame-less side windows and more delicate bumpers without over-riders that characterise the first 50 cars.

‘3514 UG’ was acquired by the present owner in 2004 and subsequently treated to body and paint renovation (mostly around the front of the car); new headlining (being fitted at the time of cataloguing); and servicing carried out by the owner’s resident engineer, a former employee of marque specialists, Aston Engineering. One of the shortcomings of the Series I/Series II models is the lack of an overdrive; this car had one fitted by a previous owner in 2004 during a gearbox overhaul by Four Ashes Garage.

Our DB4T was delivered new in France to the director of Les Tramways de Nice, then owned by the President of the Club Aston Martin, another collector, and was acquired by its current owner eight years ago. It is grey with a fine, red leather interior (David Brown were also renowned for the quality of their leather) and left-hand drive, and has always been very well cared for (Suntrop invoice € 17500 in 2003); it was parked under cover in the garage of the owner’s château not far from Avignon.