Beschreibung:

1959 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 MK III Chassis No. AM 300 31723 Engine No. DBA 1359 Gunmetal grey with maroon leather interior. Engine: six cylinder in line, double overhead camshaft, 2,922cc, 162bhp at 5500rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual; Suspension: trailing links, coil springs front, live axle with coil springs, radius arms and Panhard rod at rear; Brakes: disc front, drum rear. Left hand drive. Launched at Earls Court in 1957, the DB2/4 Mk III (or DB Mk III) was the last of the Feltham-built Aston Martins using the ultimate 2,922cc version of W.O. Bentley's classic twin overhead camshaft in-line six, first seen in the post-war Lagonda saloon. With its stiffer crank and crankcase and bigger valves for improved breathing, power was boosted to 162bhp on the Mk III while a twin exhaust option - as fitted to this car - took the output to 178bhp. Twin 1.75in. SU carburetters were used. The lightweight, rigid tubular chassis was directly descended from Claude Hill's 2.5 litre DB2 of 1950, as was the handsome handcrafted alloy body made more fashionable by a new, wider droop snoot nose modelled on the DB3S racing cars of the era. This car has the desirable Girling disc brakes fitted on the front as standard after the first 100 DB Mk IIIs were built with bigger Alfin drums at the back. Wheels were traditional centre-lock wires. The close ratio, four speed gearbox, built by the David Brown concern that bought Aston Martin in 1947, has synchromesh on second, third and top and on the DB Mk III enjoyed an hydraulic clutch for lighter operation. With its unusual trailing link front suspension and well located live rear axle the DB Mk III was one of the best handling GT cars of the 1950s, capable of high average speeds on twisty A roads with its precise rack and pinion steering and disc brakes. The "Autocar'" December 1957 road test of the Mk III credited the car with a top speed of 120mph with 91mph available in third gear, 60mph came up in a virile 9.3 seconds, still in second, and the car returned between 16 and 22mpg, entirely reasonable given the muscular performance. As well as being fast the DB Mk III was practical and luxurious, trimmed in finest leather throughout with a pair of rear occasional seats to complement the deeply contoured individual bucket seats of the driver and passenger. As on its DB2/4 predecessor, luggage space was accessed through an early form of rear hatchback, top hinged and self propping. The DB Mk III had a redesigned dashboard, all major instruments and controls grouped within a new binnacle that reflected the design of the front grille. DB Mk III production ended in July 1959, crossing over for several months with its successor, the Touring-designed DB4. 551 Mk IIIs were produced. This left hand drive car, finished in original gunmetal grey and still having its original maroon leather interior trim, has been in Swiss ownership from new and is in superb condition. The engine was rebuilt 3000kms ago and a stainless steel exhaust system was fitted. On a test drive the car drove extremely well. It is offered with its original toolkit, handbook, workshop manual and parts list. A lot of spare parts are available from the vendor by separate negotiation.