VIN: the Ken Downing Aston Martin DB3 chassis 8
History of chassis DB3/8
Aston Martin built ten DB3s in total, the first five of which were reserved for works use.
When the factory team moved on to the new DB3S in spring 1953, a second batch of five DB3s were assembled and sold to customers.
Chassis 8 was acquired by wealthy privateer, Ken Downing, whose family business manufactured bricks, roofing tiles and clay products for the building trade.
Downing had raced a Connaught Type A single seater during 1952 in which he most notably won the Madgwick Cup at Goodwood.
Downing moved back into sports car racing for 1953. His new Aston Martin was ordered from John Wyer on the strict understanding that it was identical to the latest factory cars.
The brand new machine was delivered to Silverstone for the International meeting on May 9th but, after an unhappy practice session, Downing qualified 30th and went on to finish 22nd.
He later used the DB3 to win a minor race at Silverstone on June 27th having taken third at Thruxton on May 9th.
However, the DB3 failed to start the British Empire Trophy in Douglas as Downing was unhappy with the brakes.
Soon afterwards, factory driver Reg Parnell found out Downing wasn’t using his unloved DB3 much. Parnell proposed that he race the car at Snetterton on July 25th and the two split any prize money.
Back at the factory, Parnell installed a hot motor and promptly won on his solitary outing with the car. Unfortunately, this had the effect of convincing Downing he had been sold a vehicle that most definitely did not have a works-spec. engine in it.
Downing attended the British Grand Prix Sports car support race at Silverstone but didn’t start owing to ‘car trouble’.
Soon afterwards, Downing decided to retire from motor racing.
Chassis 8 was sold to Duncan Hamilton who then re-sold it to Sir Jeremy Boles.
The young Boles was 3rd Baronet of Bishop’s Lydeard in Somerset. During 1954, he and Don Beauman raced the DB3 as far afield as Italy (Monza) and Pedrables (Spain).
Boles too gave up motor racing when he married in 1955, after which chassis 8 was retired from top level motor sport.
Later, the car passed into the collection of Pace Petroleum founder and Aston Martin chairman, Victor Gauntlett.
Notable History
Sold to Ken Downing
Registered NUV 925
09/05/1953 IND Silverstone International (K. Downing) 22nd oa, 5th S3.0 class (#44)
25/05/1953 IND Thruxton Sports (K. Downing) 3rd oa (#61)
18/06/1953 IND British Empire Trophy, Douglas (K. Downing) DNS (#42)
27/06/1953 IND Silverstone (K. Downing) 1st oa (#22)
25/07/1953 IND Snetterton (R. Parnell) 1st oa (#99)
18/07/1953 IND British GP Sports Car Race, Silverstone (K. Downing) DNS (#20)
Sold to Sir Jeremy Boles
10/04/1954 IND British Empire Trophy, Oulton Park (D. Beauman) DNF (#40)
19/04/1954 IND Goodwood Easter Sports Handicap (J. Boles) ran (#72)
29/05/1954 IND Aintree International (J. Boles) 11th oa, 10th S2.0+ class (#97)
07/06/1954 IND Goodwood Handicap (J. Boles) 1st oa (#35)
19/06/1954 IND Snetterton Aston Martin Handicap (J. Boles) 2nd oa (#??)
19/06/1954 IND Snetterton Unlimited (J. Boles) 4th oa (#??)
27/06/1954 IND Monza Supercortemaggiore (D. Beauman / J. Riseley-Pritchard) DNF (#30)
15/08/1954 IND Zandvoort International (D. Beauman) 5th oa, 1st S3.0 class (#42)
23/10/1954 IND Penya-Rhin GP, Pedralbes (D. Beauman) ran (#36)
Later sold to Victor Gauntlett
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Steel Wings - https://www.steelwings.com/
