Aston Martin DB4 Series II

The Aston Martin DB4 was launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 1958 and was an immediate success. The car was a completely new design with superb styling by Touring of Italy to the Superleggera (superlight) concept of alloy panels over a structure of welded steel tubes.

The engine was designed inhouse by Tadek Marek and was of lightweight all-aluminium construction with six-cylinders and twin-overhead-cams. The gearbox was a four-speed, all-synchromesh unit produced by Aston Martin chairman David Brown’s engineering company.

A luxurious interior trimmed in the finest quality Connolly hide provided accommodation for four passengers with adjustable front seats by Reutter and full-width rear seat.

At launch the DB4 was the fastest British road car and was more than equal to its Italian rivals. The model was developed through five distinct series with the series two arriving in January 1960 and addressing shortcomings of the series one cars. The series two, with its unique combination of technical improvements, elegant ‘cathedral’ taillights and muscular high bonnet scoop is generally considered the most desirable standard DB4 variant as the later iterations grew in size and weight.

Chassis 345/R is a series two example sold new via London Aston Martin agents Brooklands of Bond Street to its first owner, Scottish folk singer and artist Roderick ‘Rory’ McEwen.

Copies of the original factory build sheet confirm the new car was registered YXA 34 on the 13th June 1960 with the guarantee being issued four days later. The Aston was originally finished in Star Blue with an interior of blue/grey leather and featured several options such as fully chromed road wheels, a heated rear screen and Avon Turbospeed P tyres.

Early service records show maintenance duties were split between the original supplying dealer Brooklands of Bond Street for minor works with Aston Martin at Feltham carrying out more complex jobs. Some minor accident damage occurred in mid-1960 when the car had ‘dents beaten out of the offside wing’. At this time McEwen took the opportunity to have the exterior refinished to his favourite Titanine Ticel Blue colour supplying the paint himself. At the same time twin Fulgar horns were fitted along with Richmond safety harnesses.

McEwen drove the DB4 regularly between his home in London and the McEwan family seat in Scotland and by 1963 had covered over 31,000 miles when the engine was rebuilt. Whilst the engine was undergoing work it was decided to upgrade to triple SU specification along with the addition of a large capacity oil sump with modified oil pick-up unit and a dual-plate clutch.

In December 1963 with 36,000 miles showing on the odometer, McEwen decided to trade the Aston against a new Ferrari 250 GT Lusso from British Ferrari importer Maranello Concessionaires. Written correspondence with Colonel Ronnie Hoare of Maranello is on file where McEwen requested that his new Ferrari be finished in the same special shade of blue as his DB4.

The continuation buff log book also on file lists John Tizard of Swindon as registered keeper who we believe acquired the car in 1972.

By 2008 the DB4 was in need of complete restoration and was purchased from Tizard by Simon Thornley of respected restoration specialists Thornley Kelham and became their first project - a full body-off restoration.

The car was completely stripped and the body transported to Aston Martin body specialists Bodylines Specialist Panel Beaters Ltd. of Olney, Buckinghamshire.

The original engine was fully rebuilt by leading Aston Martin specialists RS Williams to 4.7 litre lead-free specification. The period triple-SU carburettor upgrade was retained along with the large capacity sump. Original specification yellow and black spark plug leads were fitted and standard exhaust manifolds were finished in silver Simoniz Sperex Very High Temperature Paint to match the original appearance.

The original gearbox was rebuilt using the latest synchromesh cones and a 4.7 litre specification clutch. The rear axle was overhauled with a Powr-Lok limited slip differential unit by Supertorque to the original 3.54:1 ratio (3.06:1 ratio internals are included in the sale). Two new half-shafts were installed and the rear shock absorbers were fitted with modern internals. A heavy-duty anti-roll bar and new road springs feature at the rear whilst RSW specification Koni shock absorbers take care of damping at the front. RS Williams also machined the front kingpins to accept welded-on roll-centre extensions to increase camber and cure the standard DB4’s tendency to understeer.

The original brake specification was retained with fully rebuilt calipers, new discs and pads and a reconditioned master cylinder. Five new Borrani DB4 GT-specification chrome wire wheels were fitted with Pirelli Cinturato tyres.

The car was finished in classic Aston Racing Green – in our opinion the best colour for a DB4 – and the interior trimmed in Connolly 846L light-tan hide which included a bespoke dished profile to the front seat cushions. Carpets are of a fine pile and coloured in a slightly darker tan than the leather.

Aston Martin Owners Club concours judge Rod Perrin was consulted during the restoration.

Other sensible upgrades include a new wiring loom, stainless steel exhaust system, collapsible steering column, a new radiator of standard appearance but with an aluminium core, fire extinguisher, Dynalite Dynator – a dynamo with alternator internals and discreet/concealed inertia seatbelts fitted to the front seats with invisible seatbelt provision to the rear.

Thornley Kelham sold the car to the current owner mid-restoration in February 2012 with TK completing the project in 2013. A visit to Thornley Kelham is highly recommended to any prospective buyer to see the quality of their work for themselves.

The owner lives in the southern hemisphere and has used the car sparingly for British and European road trips when visiting. Consequently the car remains in superb order and possesses a superior driving feel in terms of precision and response in comparison to lesser DB4s.

In 2018 the car was included in the DB4 60 years anniversary display at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court.

With a Thornley Kelham restoration exceeding £300,000 and RSW 4.7 litre engine upgrade this matching numbers Aston Martin DB4 series two is an extremely desirable and fine-driving example and is now offered for sale.