One to Buy: ex-Les Cosh / Kangaroo Stable 1955 Aston Martin DB3S
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The DB3S was Aston Martin’s second purpose-built sports racing car after the original DB3.
It was based around a traditional tubular steel spaceframe draped in a gorgeous two-seat aluminium body. Torsion bar suspension was independent up front with a De Dion arrangement out back.
In the engine bay was a three-litre DOHC straight six topped with three massive Weber carburettors. This was in turn hooked up to a David Brown four-speed ‘box. Peak output was circa 210-230bhp in a package weighing a little over 800kg.
Chassis DB3S/104 was among the first of the 20 DB3S customer cars delivered. It was purchased by Aussie driver, Les Cosh, who raced it around Europe for the remainder of the 1955 season. Two fellow Australians also purchased DB3S Aston Martins for the campaign; together, Cosh (chassis 104), Tony Gaze (chassis 102) and Tom Sulman (chassis 103) raced under the Kangaroos Stable banner.
Co-driven by Dick Cobden, Cosh made a a big splash with a third place finish at the ultra high speed Hyeres 12 Hours on May 29th. Further outings followed in Portugal and England.
For the 1956 season, chassis 104 was sold to Rod Carveth in California. He raced it until 1959, at which point the car was stored away prior to its restoration in 1976.
