For Sale at Auction: 1963 Aston Martin DB4 in Carmel, California

Chassis No. DB4C/1082/L
Engine No. 370/1051/SS

The Aston Martin DB4 Convertible is among the most exclusive models from the DB era, with only the Zagato-bodied variant being rarer. Production was limited to 30 Series IV and 40 Series V examples-the latter featuring an extended wheelbase and larger wheels-before the arrival of the DB5 in September 1963.

According to its factory build sheet, this noteworthy DB4 Convertible, chassis number DB4C/1082/L, was completed on 21 September 1962 and promptly dispatched a few days later to Peter Satori, Aston Martin's distributor in Los Angeles, California. The second Series V Convertible built, it is distinctive for several reasons as one of 12 left-hand-drive Series V examples, and of these, one of just eight cars equipped with the Special Series "SS" engine, featuring triple SU carburetors, higher compression, larger inlet valves, and a revised camshaft. The car retains its matching-numbers original engine and cylinder head and is also thought to be the sole example finished in stunning Black Pearl with a Red leather interior, according to the Heritage Trust Registrar.

After its debut at the 1963 Los Angeles International Motor Show, the car was purchased by Wheeldex Simpla Corporation, known for inventing the Simplawheel, a predecessor to the Rolodex. Remaining in California, the car passed to Forrest Moore of Aptos in the late 1970s. Moore later commissioned a photo-documented restoration in the mid-1990s by marque expert Kevin Kay Restorations of Redding, California, during which the car was repainted green and trimmed with a black leather interior.

The DB4 was subsequently brokered by Aston Martin collector Eric Jeffries of Cincinnati, who sold it via Bob Fountain of The Aston Workshop in the U.K., who promptly showcased the car in the Techno Classica Essen exhibition. It later passed to T.J. Bahr and Wolfgang G. Koehne of Germany before being acquired in 2008 by Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, then Prime Minister of Kuwait, for his Aston Martin collection.

In early 2022, under then-new ownership, the Convertible underwent a second comprehensive restoration by Classic Motor Cars in Shropshire, U.K., under the supervision of Aston Martin expert and author Stephen Archer. Their work encompassed a bare metal repaint in its original Black Pearl finish, while the interior was luxuriously appointed in correct Vaumol Connolly hides, restoring the original Red color scheme, complemented by new Grey Wilton wool carpets. Attention to detail extended beneath the surface, with a full suspension rebuild incorporating new bushings and consumables as required. Similarly, the braking system saw a complete rebuild, and the electrical systems were modernized with a new wiring loom. The Special Series engine was entrusted to the specialists at Oselli Ltd., who rebuilt the matching-numbers unit with an increase in displacement to 4.2 liters for increased power.

Under current ownership, a further $300,000 has since been spent with Kevin Kay Restorations preparing the car for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This work included extensive mechanical sorting, engine-bay detailing, carburetor and cooling-system attention, refurbishment of chrome and exterior trim, convertible top and interior fitting work, and final assembly, testing, and concours preparation. In August 2025, it was subsequently shown at the 74th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Class O-3: Postwar Luxury Touring.

The car comes complete with various documents and accessories, including a copy of the factory build sheet, period-correct tools, the jack and hammer, a DB4 Instruction Book, a binder of restoration photos, and a program from the 1963 Los Angeles International Motor Show. Given its rarity, matching-numbers engine and cylinder head, recent high-quality restoration, and subsequent Pebble Beach preparation and showing, this DB4 Series V Convertible represents one of the most exquisite and desirable examples to come to market in recent years.