One to Buy: ex-works 1958 Aston Martin DBR1
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Despite the passing of almost 70 years, Aston Martin’s most impressive on-track achievement remains that famous 1-2 finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1959 with the DBR1. Of almost equal importance, the victory at la Sarthe came in the midst of a three-race winning streak that included first place finishes at the Nurburgring 1000km and Goodwood Tourist Trophy which meant Aston also claimed the 1959 World Sportscar Championship (beating Ferrari and Porsche by six points).
In total, five copies of the DBR1 were built between 1957 and ‘59, the first four of which were reserved for works use while the fifth was supplied to privateer, Graham Whitehead.
Currently on offer at the Tom Hartley Jnr. showroom in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, is the last of the four works cars and the second place finisher from the ‘59 Le Mans race: chassis DBR1/4.
DBR1/4 started life in 1958 as a DBR3: a one-off DBR1 chassis/body with a short stroke 3-litre DB4 GT engine and front wishbone suspension derived from the DBR4 F1 car. In this configuration, it was raced just once, at the 1958 Silverstone International Trophy, where Stirling Moss elected to retired from second place when the engine began to tighten.
Having been converted to DBR1 trim, chassis 4 was next seen at the 1959 Le Mans Test weekend where Carroll Shelby set fifth fastest time. The car then appeared at the 24 Hour race two months later. While Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby emerged victorious in chassis 2, Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frere came home second in chassis 4 having been told to hold station.
Chassis 4’s other outing for the works team in 1959 came ten weeks later at the last World Championship contest of the year: the Goodwood Tourist Trophy. On this occasion, Trintignant and Frere bagged fourth overall as team-mates Shelby, Fairman and Moss took the win.
According to Tom Hartley Jnr.: “The car remained with Aston Martin long after its 1959 success and returned to Le Mans in 1961 with Works support, driven by Roy Salvadori and Tony Maggs. It remained in Aston Martin ownership until 1975 before passing through the hands of a small number of significant collectors.
Driven in period by some of the greatest names in motor racing, including Stirling Moss, Roy Salvadori, Paul Frère and Maurice Trintignant, DBR1/4 represents an extraordinary piece of Aston Martin competition history. Its complete life history has recently been independently researched and documented by noted Aston Martin historian, Stephen Archer, and the car is offered complete with a spare engine.”
For more information visit the Tom Hartley Jnr. website at: https://www.tomhartleyjnr.com/
