• Year of manufacture 
    7/1959
  • Car type 
    Coupé
  • Chassis number 
    DB4/129/R
  • Competition car 
    Yes
  • Drive 
    RHD
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Number of doors 
    2
  • Number of seats 
    1
  • Location
    United Kingdom
  • Exterior colour 
    Yellow
  • Gearbox 
    Manual
  • Performance 
    400 BHP / 406 PS / 299 kW
  • Drivetrain 
    2wd
  • Fuel type 
    Petrol

Description

1959 Aston Martin DB4 Series 1 – RSW Lightweight Race Car. Ex: Ed Sharpe and Gerry Marshall.

Stripped out, paired down, re-engineered and developed to race. The DB4 lightweight’s when seen on track, provided a formidable sight and spectacle. Becoming ever faster, with over 20 years of evolution, their high state of development and engine tune, resulted in spectacular racing within club motorsport.

With power in excess of 400 bhp available from the fully developed original Marek designed Aston Martin 6-cylinder engine, a total weight of less than 1000 kilos and with limited traction from regulated narrow width tyres, driving through a limited slip beam axle, the extreme performance thrilled many drivers and race spectators alike, with the relatively tail happy attitude easily provoked and controlled, when driven competitively.

This exciting DB4, chassis DB4/129/R, is an early Series 1 example, of which just 150 were manufactured. Affectionally known as the Banana car, the original race car rebuild was carried out by renowned Aston Martin engineers and race preparers R S Williams Ltd, in the early 1990’s. Owned and driven to multiple class wins by amateur racing driver Ed Sharpe and occasionally by the renowned and flamboyant racer, BRDC member and BARC gold medal winner, the late Gerry Marshall.

Becoming a firm favourite in AMOC organised races during the 1990’s and well into the 2000’s, the Banana car’s list of podium finishes is impressively extensive, with several 1st places and podium finishes recorded.

Spanning some 30 years, the evolution of the Aston Martin DB4 in motorsport was pioneered and perfected by specialists R S Williams Ltd, who’s engineers campaigned both Aston Martin Nimrod and AMR1, group C sports racing cars in the Le Mans 24 hr races and other FIA international sportscar races, during the 1980’s. The DB4 Lightweight race cars, developed by the same engineering team over many years, were built primarily for the Aston Martin enthusiast / owner, to compete in Owners Club historic racing.

Aston Engineering Ltd of Derby, have continued to further evolve these phenomenal race cars well into the 21st century, providing further engineering development and racing support, including to the car we are offering.

Currently UK registered and supplied with a current V5 UK registration document, this early Series 1 DB4, can either continue to be competitively campaigned in select motor sport events or alternatively, would make an ideal basis for restoration, either to its former road car specifications, to fast road car specifications, or be rebuilt to FIA historic racing standards. The next owner, being able to personalise the car, to their own taste’s and for their own requirements.

Available for viewing now at our Hertfordshire showrooms.

Specifications:

Engine: Aston Martin 4.5 litre 6 cylinder – 400 bhp+. Steel Crank, Forged rods and
pistons, equipped with 55mm DCOI/SP Webber Carbs, Full flow oil cooling system, Alloy Radiator, Race ignition. Last built by Aston Engineering Ltd. Derby.

Gearbox: 4 speed competition straight cut gears

Suspension: Front: Unequal length double wishbone, fully adjustable telescopic dampers, lowered front roll centre, rose jointed and adjustable anti-roll bar.

Rear:- Beam axle double bearing with LSD, unequal length adjustable trailing arms, modified Watts linkage and fully adjustable remote reservoir telescopic dampers.

Steering: Race spec. Rack and pinion.

Brakes: Dual circuit double pump, adjustable bias, Brembo front & AP rear alloy callipers with bell mounted discs.

Instruments: Stack electronic Rev counter and traditional Smiths.

Fire system: Plumbed in fire extinguisher and internal / external battery cut off.

Safety:- Fuel cell. OMP race seat. Full Roll cage. Indicator, side, head and rain lights.

Body: Lightweight aluminium.