French title
Chassis no. DB4/476/L
Engine no. 370/466

- Sold new in France, only three owners
- Exceptionally well-preserved original condition
- Original engine and colour scheme
- In the same ownership since 1968; 99,289 km from new

As incredible as it may seem, there are still unknown cars, in extremely well-preserved original condition and never restored, to be found in garages in France. Such is the case of the Aston Martin DB4 presented here. Sold new in 1960 by the Mirabeau garage to a customer from Hautes-Rivières, a village in the Ardennes on the edge of the Belgian border, this Series 2 DB4 was ordered with an oil cooler and chrome wire wheels as options, as can be seen from the works production sheet supplied by the manufacturer. The car also had an engine with two SU carburettors, Armstrong shock absorbers, Dunlop tyres and Smiths instruments; the body was finished in 'Snow Shadow Grey' with red Connolly leather upholstery.
The first owner only kept the car for a few months before selling it to an acquaintance of the current owner, who bought it in 1968. According to his son, the car had then covered about 50,000 km. A car enthusiast, he also owned a Salmson and a Talbot-Lago; later, he bought an Aston Martin DB6. A particularly careful owner, he made sure that the DB4 was always stored in the dry and that it was regularly maintained, in particular by Aston Service Dorset, in England. The history file includes a set of invoices and correspondence with Captain Forshaw, the director of this renowned British firm. In March 1988, for example, when the car had covered 82,489 km, the running gear and braking system were overhauled. From the late 1990s, as the owner grew older, he only took the DB4 out to go to Le Mans Classic, accompanied by members of his family such as his son and grandson. At this time, the car was maintained by the Garage de la Maison Neuve, at Essarts-le-Roi. By 2006, it had covered 97,956 km, and since 2010 it has been driven very little.
Today, the car has 99,289 km on the clock and is in extraordinarily well-preserved condition. The owner's son recalled that from the age of 16, he sometimes helped his father who cleaned and greased the leather trim every year and polished the body by hand. So much that in places what is undoubtedly the original paint has become so thin that the bare metal can almost be seen. The paintwork still looks remarkable for its age, as does the red upholstery, which has scarcely been worn by the passing years. The engine compartment is immaculate, and the original 3.7-litre twin-cam six-cylinder engine producing 240 bhp can be seen in all its purity. It is just as noble as the bodywork produced by Touring following its 'Superleggera' method, with aluminium sheets laid over a tubular lattice-work structure.

Often, cars of this age and category have been restored, partially or completely, sometimes even several times. To find an Aston Martin DB4 like this one, unsullied by any work other than for careful maintenance, is unhoped-for, and we are delighted to give a new enthusiast the chance to enjoy its unrivalled charm.

Full catalogue and more photos https://www.artcurial.com/en/sale-4315-retromobile-2023-artcurial-motorcars