One to Buy: 1955 Aston Martin DB3S (SOLD)
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.
Reprinted below is Fiskens’ description for this superb Aston Martin sports racing car:
Days after completion, DB3S/104 was raced as part of the Kangaroo Stable by drivers Les Cosh and co-pilot Dick Cobden to a 3rd place finish in the Hyeres 12 Hour races
Sold at the end of the season to Californian Rod Carveth, 104 participated in 22 races in the 1956 season which included a 3rd place finish at the 1956 Harewood Acres races and subsequent 10th at the 1957 SCCA National in Palm Springs, and 7th in the 1957 SCCA National at Laguna Seca
Further race seasons in 1958 and 1959 were marked by 3 more Laguna Seca appearances before 104 was garaged until a 1976 nut-and-bolt restoration
Offered from the collection of a well-known gentleman driver - road, race and rally prepared
Eligible for prestigious historic racing events, with results at the Goodwood Revival, Members Meeting, VSCC Silverstone and more
