Category: Automotive Posts

Developed from the Claude Hill-designed ‘Atom’ prototype, won the 1948 Spa 24 Hours race at Spa. Rebuilt and shown at the London Motor Show for public sale at over £3000, there were no takers.

Photo: Wikipedia

David Brown’s first postwar sportscar, using the Claude Hill engine. Retrospectively known as the DB1 and generally seen as interim.

Debut of 3-part grille.

Start of production of pre-war prototype designed by W. O. Bentley, with the Lagonda engine used in all early David Brown Astons. DHC bodied by Tickford, which was bought in 1955 as main Aston factory.

Shortened DB1 chassis mated with a new body and the Lagonda engine. A Vantage performance upgrade was available.

Luxurious but too expensive for demand to be sustained.

Opening rear window and optional small rear seats (“/4” suggesting a 4-seater). Bodywork by Mulliner at Feltham.

Single-piece windscreen, larger bumpers, repositioned headlights.

Bodywork moved to Tickford, Newport Pagnell. Small performance and styling updates.

More angular rear wings, suggesting tailfins, bubble-type tail lights, added chrome, revised bonnet opening line

Road legal but designed for the track, the first five (including DB3/5 shown) were works cars. Originally intended to have a new V12. 2nd at Sebring in 1953.

Debut of the classic Aston Martin grille.

Several cars were converted to coupés.

Road legal but designed for the track, the first 11 were works cars.

Updated design, featuring DB3S-style grille. Substantial engine rework by Tadek Marek During the production run, disc brakes and a proper hatchback (except on the coupé and DHC) were added.

‘Droop snoot’

‘Drophead coupé’ convertible version.

The sensationally attractive lightweight superleggera (tube-frame) body was designed by Carrozzeria Touring in Milan, and built at the Newport Pagnell factory. New aluminium engine from Marek.

Window frames from S2. barred grille from S4. S5 cars longer and more roomy, with smaller wheels. S5 and Vantage had GT front end.

Fastest road legal car of its day. Shortened and lightened. Engine mods including twin spark plugs, treble Webers, higher compression.

Zagato shortened and visually transformed the car, further lightening it, using aluminium and perspex. Entered Le Mans in 1961. Continuation series have been released in 1988 (4), 1992 (2) and 2019 (up to 19).

DB4 GT derivation, entered in 1963 and 1964 Le Mans. Several replicas exist.

An updated luxury performance car, designed by Carrozzeria Touring with aluminum panels over a tubular steel frame. Used the 4-litre engine later seen in the DB5, rear suspension later seen in the DBS.

Photo: Wikipedia

Improved suspension, brakes, steering. A Vantage performance upgrade was available with treble Webers (rather than treble SU) and revised camshafts .

The Volante name was used for the last 37 cars (made after the launch of the DB6 saloon) and had DB6 bumpers and rear lights.

Aston Martin made a single version for David Brown (who was a hunter). Radford converted 11 or 12 more.

Photo: Sotheby’s

Longer chassis, so roomier and more stable car. More sophisticated superleggera construction incorporating tubes and plates as required. Better equipped.

Noticeably longer wheelbase gives different side profile; split bumpers; restyled rear with (controversial) Kammback tail.

New funding from Louis Zborowski allowed Aston Martin to enter the French GP in 1922, with Zborowski in one car; this was Clive Gallup’s.

One of the GP cars was developed into Razor Blade achieved victory in its first race, lapping Brooklands at over 98 mph; and soon set records in the standing start mile (74 mph) and kilometer (66 mph).

Another GP car was developed into a special for the record-breaking driver of Razor Blade. Originally a pioneering turbo, superchargers proved more reliable in the end. It competed in the 1927 French GP.

Aston Martin made a small number of inter-war short- and long-chassis cars before bankruptcy, and the departure of Martin, in 1924-1925.

Photo: Wikipedia

R&B took over Aston Martin in 1926, and brought with them the development car, including for their new overhead cam engine.

Photo: Bonhams

Bertelli-designed “First Series”, replacing the Standard Sports. Also available as T-Type sports and saloons from 1927; also a few coupes, and a ‘Le Mans’ version of the International.

Photo: Broad Arrow

The bulk of Second Series production from late 1932 was taken up by the short chassis ‘Le Mans’. Neatly exploited niche for medium sportscars.

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New lowered design, with pointed tails and a new ‘V’ shaped radiator. LM10 was the most successful of the 3 cars built, winning its class at Le Mans in 1932 and finishing in 1933 and 1934.

Photo: Car-Iconics

Mark II with respect to the Le Mans, but actually Third Series, with considerably stiffer and stronger chassis.

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The name ’Ulster’ was first used to describe the two seater racing version of the ‘Mark II’ after the 1934 TT race held at Ards in Northern Ireland.

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A more civilised Aston Martin – softer, quieter and more flexible. Marketed as a tourer, rather than sportscar

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Intended as a street version of a racing car, and originally developed for the 1936 Le Mans (the cancellation of which ended the works team).

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