The db3s was introduced in 1953 and it proved significantly more successful than the aston martin db3. The aston martin db3s sportscar clothbound edition. The statement holds true over two decades later, and db3s 2 represents an extraordinary example of one of the few postwar racing cars that can be truly enjoyed on the road and at events such as mille miglia, goodwood revival, and international concours. The aston martin db3s sportscar leatherbound edition. The company enlarged its range with three sports car icons, all made in the uk. The aston martin db3 and later db3s were sports racing cars built in the 1950s. The aston martin db3s is a special car although it may have been overshadowed as years came and went by a certain finned jaguar and the dbr0 that won at. The book is a celebration of aston martin through their 100 years and is a major. Aston martin classic cars db3s for sale car and classic. In 1984 i had a call from author chris nixon to say that he had been commissioned to write a comprehensive book on the aston martin db3s, a twovolume edition to be published by palawan press, a. The results speak for themselves 15 first places, second places and 7 third places. With one owner for 45 years, 115 is an exceptionally original example. But an outright victory at le mans eluded aml owner, david brown, so aston martin went on to develop the dbr1. Driving aston martin db3s10 through the english countryside.
Many books have been written over the years about the history. To celebrate this, the q by aston martin team has released a series of special liveries inspired by the companys illustrious automobile racing heritage. He had tested the works aston martin db3s at goodwood in the february of. Vantage heritage racing edition aston martin newport beach. Chris nixon wrote about db3s 2 in his definitive book the aston martin db3s sportscar that it is now in magnificent condition, and frank feeleys high rearwing line makes it, and 3s1, very handsome indeed. In 1984 i had a call from author chris nixon to say that he had been commissioned to write a comprehensive book on the aston martin db3s, a. Db3s 5s career encompassed competition triumph, operatic tragedy, and even a movie role as the bellini in. And while many of the worlds most desirable cars are race winners or roadgoing exotics, this is both. The predecessor to the db3s was the db3, a sport racer that first appeared in 1952. After moderate success in racing with the db3 and db3s, cars that were never intended as production models, the db mark iii. It became easier for italian kids to become loyal to merits growing offer of racing cars. It was somewhat more successful, and was produced until 1956. Although the feltham factory was aston martin s postwar hq for little more than a decade, some of the most important cars in the marques history came to life there.
Forthcoming publications, on ferrari racing cars and the aston martin db3s, are even more narrowly focused than the aston history. Frank feeleys alloy db3s body looked much better than the boxy db3 and was more aerodynamically efficient, if not always very stable at mulsanne speeds. David browns own db3s, once raced by stirling moss. In recent years it has been in the care of a particularly fastidious and committed european owner. Ive been doing some research on the aston martin db3s the buchanan body is based on. Introduced as a factory racer in 1953, the aston martin db3s delivered the competition victories its predecessor, the db3, had not. Over the years sir stirling moss has had an amazing racing history and has. The aston martin db3s is a sports racing car that was built by aston martin. The bellini, as it was named in the film, started life as a fiberglass bodied db3s built for david brown as a road car. The young man goes by the name pk as well leave it for now, and after a spirited drive through the english countryside i tossed on my recorder and asked him about this gorgeous machine. By 1955, demand for customer versions of the db3s had reached a crescendo, prompting aston martin to build 20 examples for sale to privateer teams or those simply looking for a fast. Although the db3s failed at le mans they went on to score a 12 at the tourist trophy at dundrod in the 6th round of the inaugural world sports car championship to help astons to 3rd in the championship.
The complete story and aston martin model by model. I regard it as one of the bestproportioned and most attractive of all british 1950s sportsracing cars. Aston martin boeken historie, modellen en techniek tmb bookshop. Collection in action aston martin db3s posted at 17. The experts at evo magazine look back at aston martins glorious history, with. Sir stirling moss writes opening foreword to the new aston book. It is a wonderful celebration of aston martin through their first 100 years. So pk, tell me a bit about your 1958 aston martin db3s 10. It was built for aston martin owner david brown the db in aston martin s nomenclature, but soon after commandeered by the companys competition department to replace accidentdamaged works db3s models at le mans in 1954. The aston martin db3s motor sport magazine archive. We are extremely proud and honoured to officially announce that the aston martin book portfolio of dreams was officially launched this month with sir stirling moss writing the foreword to photographer tim wallaces aston book that journeys through the life and models of aston martin from the very first prototype car to the very latest models of today.
Originally two works coupe versions were also built. When ordered, the book supplied will be in its original publishers sealed packaging. The book starts by making an overview of the aston martin of the interwar years and its finances or lack of and explains in an accurate way the david brown acquisition. Aston martin classic cars db3 for sale car and classic. The car was largely based on the db3 and featured a lighter chassis with a reduced wheelbase. Mckay was a very dab hand at the wheel of aston s by the time he bought his exmoss car. Aston martin racing was founded to return the marque to international competition.
Only 10 of 30 db3s made were raced by the aston martin works team, including this one. Stylist frank feeley transformed aston martin s racing look from sturdy, slabsided machines into a lithe, athletic profile. With its wideintake mouth and muscular wing line, it balances function with aesthetic flair. For me, the charismatic db3s is the hawker hurricane to the dtypes smoother, more advanced supermarine spitfire. The db3s was a lighter version of the car, introduced in 1953. Collection in action aston martin db3s franschhoek.
After 2 years the duo lionel matin and robert bamford made their first car, by setting a 4cylinder engine in the ex 1908 isottafraschinni chassis. In 1956 the db3s was replaced by the dbr1, which claimed victory in the 1959 24 hours of le mans. The aston martin dbr1 was a sports racing car built by aston martin starting in 1956, intended for the world sportscar championship as well as nonchampionship sportscar races at the time. Db3s 115 has been restored to its original colour scheme and raced at the goodwood revival. Then we get a chapter for each of the cars db1, db2, db24, db24 mk ii and mk iii and finally the competition db3 and db3s. The 1955 aston martin db3s we have the pleasure of offering here is chassis 118, ordered new by dutch racing car driver hans davids and finished in the appropriate national racing livery of dutch racing orange. In may of 1953 a new prototype appeared at charterhill. Take the full tour of a beautiful 3litre 1950s aston martin db3, that has competed for 65 years in events around the world, including le mans and. The result was the db3s, a design that was based on its predecessor but featured a smaller wheelbase and a lighter chassis. The car is in perfect condition all parts overhauld like new. What was the history of the db3s used by terry thomas in school for scroudrels. Andrew is the author of more than a dozen motoring books including the ultimate history of aston martin, aston martin db7. Racing cars frequently have checkered careers, but the fifth of 11 aston martin db3s 5 factory cars has one of the most impressive. The teams first race was the opening round of the american le mans series at sebring in 2005, where it scored a spectacular gt1 class victory with dbr9.
Aston martin db3s coupe designed for le mans but then civilised for the road although highly effective and successful in international racing, the db3s, as with all competition aston martins of the 1950s, lacked ultimate outright speed against invariably largerengined rivals. The db3s, introduced in 1953, established aston martin as a serious le mans contender, racing for outright wins. Rm sothebys 1953 aston martin db3s works monterey 2019. This particular aston martin db3s is unique in that it was built originally for the aston martin companys owner multimillionaire industrialist david later sir david brown. Perhaps palawan is pioneering the homologation special of car books. It is most famous as the victor of the 1959 24 hours of le mans, aston martin s only outright victory at the endurance classic. Books, however, have a longer life and are more gratifying to be involved in. Following the failure of the heavy and uncompetitive aston martin db3 designed by.
The first volume of this twobook set traces the history of the car from its inception as the db3 to its transformation into the db3s and subsequent production for. I have always been extremely partial to the aston martin db3s. This appreciation extends back to childhood, when my dinky toys db3s was absolutely a favourite. One of 20 original 1955 aston martin db3s customer cars he.
So as well as being race prepared, db3s 115 represents the perfect embodiment of aston martin s fabulous sports racing car, perfectly suited to both the road and the circuit. The db3s works cars were entered for races on 35 occasions. Photos courtesy bonhams unless otherwise specified. The first volume of this twobook set traces the history of the car from its inception as the db3 to its transformation into the db3s and subsequent production for sale to a limited public, and details the global racing history of the factory cars from 1953 to 1957. Available for vantage models, the 6 liveries are inspired by the color schemes of iconic cars spanning 96 years of racing history, from land speed record holders to endurance race winners. The aston martin db3s is the car that really placed the foundation stone for the dbr1s success story. He had tested the works aston martin db3s at goodwood in the. Although they used some db2 parts, they were quite different, being designed especially for racing. The car is complete with an extensive history file that contains the. It has covered approximately 2729 miles since it was ready for the road and is the last of only 11 of these wonderful celebrations of the db3s by bill monk and the only one to recreate the style of het later db3s works. The book is lavishly illustrated with a mix of period and contemporary images.