Vehicle Description
Chassis No. DB4/790/L
Engine No. 370/777
The Aston Martin DB4, launched on 10 October 1958 at the Earls
Court Motor Show, marked a turning point for the marque. It was the
first Aston Martin to feature Carrozzeria Touring's Superleggera
aluminum bodywork-sleek, lightweight panels draped over a tubular
steel frame. It also marked the debut of the Tadek Marek-engineered
3.7-liter all-alloy twin-cam straight-six which produced 240
horsepower, allowing the DB4 to reach a lofty 140 mph top speed.
The chassis, designed by Harold Beach, features a shorter
wheelbase, wider track, and improved rigidity over the DB2. It used
independent front suspension with coil springs and double
wishbones, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes, and
standard wire wheels with knock-off hubs. An all-new four-speed
transmission, designed by David Brown, complemented the upgraded
drivetrain. Stylish, fast, and refined, the DB4 embodied Brown's
vision of a "Gentleman's Express," combining performance and
long-distance comfort. Today, it remains one of the most iconic and
collectible Aston Martin road cars ever produced.
The build sheet for this Aston Martin shows that it was purchased
new by Heinrich Nordhoff, the Managing Director of the Volkswagen
plant in Wolfsburg. The Aston Martin Assured Provenance
Certification shows that it was sold new through the Volkswagenwerk
in Germany on 21 October 1961. The gleaming Desert White
left-hand-drive Aston was optionally equipped with chrome plated
wire wheels and Marchal fog lights. It is thought to have been used
by the engineering department as a means to assess other
manufacturers' cars, as well as Nordhoff's personal vehicle. During
his tenure with the car, the factory build sheet notes it was sent
back to Aston Martin to replace the shock absorbers, realign the
door, and repair its overdrive transmission in May 1962 with just
3,987 kilometers-issues that might have arisen during high-speed
testing! The car is believed to have remained in Germany until May
1993, when Swiss registration documents place it in Bern. It stayed
with a single owner until March 2007, when it was sold to another
Swiss enthusiast who continued its care with recognized marque
specialists.
In Spring 2018, the car was brought to the United Kingdom where the
team at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, England were tasked
with restoring the significant DB4. Aston's factory specialists
returned the aluminum Touring coachwork to its original
as-delivered Desert White and the interior was reupholstered with
fresh Black Connolly leather. At the same time, the engine was
completely overhauled with new cylinder liners. Servicing of the
suspension included replacing both front kingpins and rebuilding
the rear axle along with other worn bushings as needed. The
transmission was removed to install a new clutch, and electrical
repairs restored overdrive functionality. Once finalized,
restoration invoices totaled nearly £90,000.
After its time at Newport Pagnell, the car was displayed by Aston
Martin at several events throughout Europe as a showcase of their
restoration abilities. From there the car was brought to the United
States via official Aston Martin dealership Miller Motorcars in
2019 where it was acquired by the current owner. Since entering the
United States, the car has remained in excellent condition thanks
in part to the care of its current owner, whose belief that regular
exercise is the best preventative maintenance has resulted in the
restored DB4 accumulating an impressive 3,000 kilometers since
leaving Aston Martin Works.
Framed by its impressive early Volkswagen history and recent
factory Aston Martin restoration, this Series IV DB4 offers a
superb opportunity to experience firsthand why the Aston Martins of
the 1960s define the grand touring ideal-offering sports car
performance wrapped in the refined civility of an elegantly
appointed luxury car.
