This Ultra-Rare Pre-Production Aston Martin DB4 Has Been Restored to Perfection

Being just the third right-hand drive DB4 to come out of the historic Newport Pragnell factory in England, this incredibly rare Aston Martin has had quite the life.

Debuting at the 1958 British International Motor Show in Earl’s Court, London, the DB4 turned a lot of heads. The bodywork had been revamped from the previous DB model by Italian coachbuilders Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. Never before seen on an Aston Martin, the Italians’ Supperleggera (read: superlight) design, in which aluminium panels are fixed to a tubular frame, updated the DB series, giving the Mark 4 a sexy, European remodelling. Don’t we all need one of those.

Without indicating, this reworked silhouette would veer into pop-culture, as well as onto posters hung up on bedroom walls everywhere. It was also the inspiration for the later DB5, which Sean Connery’s James Bond iconically drove in Goldfinger.

DB4_s

This particular model was actually used by Aston Martin as their London demonstration car for the DB4 series. Later, the car’s interior was upgraded to the DB6 specification by Richard Williams, who apprenticed at Aston Martin, and then went on to create his own company R.S. Williams, which serviced, sold, and raced Aston Martin cars at the time.

db4_e

Williams also modified the car to use the triple-Weber carburettor from a Vantage model, fitted a 5-speed ZF gearbox, and added the flared front and rear wheel arches to accommodate the larger offset wire wheels. The car went on to compete successfully in hill climb events.

db4_d

London-based Hexagon Classics, an exclusive classic car collector, then purchased the DB4, spending nearly $390,000 fully recommissioning the car. Looking at the imagery, you could definitely say they clean up pretty nicely.

DB4_c

The backstory alone on this car ought to make it worth a fortune, but the fact that it used to, and hopefully still can, climb hills after its newest restoration makes its current price over $300,000. Sure. that may put this beauty out of a lot of folks’ financial leagues, but that’s not stopping Hexagon Classics from putting it up for sale, however.

It’s a pity when any classic car out there doesn’t get driven, but this DB4 is on a whole other level. So please, somebody, buy this thing. Think of the children!

DB4_g

Bonus: Watch this video to see vintage British Pathé footage of the DB4 debut at the ‘58 British International Motor Show in Earl’s Court, London.