One to Buy: ex-works / School for Scoundrels 1953 Aston Martin DB3S (SOLD)
Following his acquisition of Aston Martin, David Brown decided to embark on an international competition programme to raise the company’s profile. Production-based DB2 racers were superseded by the purpose-built DB3 which was in turn replaced by the further refined DB3S for 1953.
Initially the DB3S was reserved for use by Aston Martin’s works team and fulfilled David Brown’s desire for outright wins with victories at the Goodwood 9 Hours (1953), Dundrod Tourist Trophy (1953), British GP Sports Car Race (1953 and ‘54) and Silverstone International Trophy (1954).
More wins followed from 1955 when a batch of customer cars were finally supplied to privateers.
Currently residing in the central London showroom of Fiskens is an early works DB3S with a fascinating history.
Upon completion in 1953, chassis DB3S/5 was initially fitted with an experimental body manufactured from fibreglass instead of aluminium and was used as David Brown’s personal transportation.
In June 1954 the car was commandeered by the competition department, fitted with a new aluminium body and uprated to the latest works specification. Over the next two years it was driven by the likes of Peter Collins, Reg Parnell, Stirling Moss and Roy Salvadori and became a multiple race-winning car.
Later in life, chassis 5 appeared in School for Scoundrels as the new Bellini sports car belonging to rotten cad Raymond Delauney (played by Terry Thomas).
Reprinted below is Fiskens’ description for this fabulous ex-works Aston Martin sports racing car:
The works team car after 1954 Le Mans, debuted in the 1,2,3, sweep at Silverstone with Roy Salvadori
Unparalleled period competition with Collins, Brooks, Parnell and immortalised at Goodwood winning with Stirling Moss
Featured in the 1960 film School for Scoundrels
2014 Aston Martin Works restoration, 2022 Pebble Beach class win
Fresh from a Pebble Beach win, this team car DB3S was extensively raced in period by many of the greatest British drivers of the 1950s, including Sir Stirling Moss, Peter Collins, Tony Brooks, Reg Parnell, and Roy Salvadori. She offers a seldom seen opportunity to acquire a historic works racer in exquisite concours condition.
Originally earmarked for Aston Martin Chairman Sir David Brown with experimental glassfibre coachwork, she was pressed into racing service after the team cars were badly damaged and written off at the 1954 Le Mans. Uprated to works specification and given alloy coachwork, DB3S/5 made her competition debut with Roy Salvadori as part of a 1,2,3 sweep by Peter Collins, Salvadori and Carroll Shelby at Silverstone in July 1954. Through 1955 she appeared in British events for Feltham’s finest, notably with a win for Salvadori at Crystal Palace, and in the XXII Mille Miglia with Peter Collins, only to retire with a thrown rod.
Acquired by Salvadori for 1956, DB3S/5 was entered in most of that season’s events by friend Syd Greene’s Gilby Engineering. At the Goodwood Easter Meeting, she was 1st with Stirling Moss (and captured in one of the most iconic motor racing images ever), before further wins for Salvadori at Silverstone and Aintree. Lent back to the works, she was 2nd with Parnell at the Spa GP, and 5th in the Nürburgring 1,000 km with Collins and Tony Brooks. Sold to Tommy Atkins in 1957, she raced at Goodwood with the young Graham Hill.
Also seen on the silver screen in period, DB3S/5 stars in the classic British comedy School for Scoundrels starring Terry-Thomas and Ian Carmichael. Appearing as the “new Bellini 3.6,” she is the flash car of caddish but beloved bounder Raymond Delauney. Vying for the affections of the beautiful April Smith, she rightly exclaims: “That’s the most wonderful car I ever saw!”
Since retiring from front-line competition, DB3S/5 has been enjoyed by a line of privileged and committed owners including Clive Aston, Bill Lake, Erich Traber and Thierry Lombard. She has amassed an extraordinarily prolific record in historic racing, appearing year after year in the Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic and other events.
More recently DB3S/5 has been the subject of a comprehensive restoration over a three-year period at Aston Martin Works. Completed in time for the 2014 Mille Miglia, these works renewed her for another generation, and included new coachwork to 1955 team car specification. A spares package and an extraordinarily extensive history file accompany the car, the latter containing many period photographs, racing programmes and other ephemera from her racing life, as well as details on the restoration.
The proof and testament to the outstanding condition of DB3S/5 today is her recent win at the 2022 Pebble Beach. Shipped from her British home to the California sun, DB3S/5 secured top honours in the coveted Postwar Racing class against world-class competition.
Designed by Aston Martin’s Willy Watson and clothed in gorgeous gothic arch coachwork by stylist Frank Feeley, the DB3S is a poised 50s sports racer of beguiling beauty that brings the very best out of drivers. With superbly balanced handling, the DB3S can show a clean pair of heels to more powerful D-Type and Ferrari competition on twisty circuits – DB3S/5 will offer the pleasure and exhilaration of such a driving experience to her fortunate new owner.
With her connections to so many heroic and charismatic drivers, DB3S/5 will delight those with a sense of history who want to experience a bit of that vanished age. Offered fresh from her Pebble Beach win, this team car DB3S would star in any of the most discerning collections, and will be enthusiastically welcomed at all the world’s greatest events.
Race History
1954.7.17. Silverstone Salvadori, #21, 2nd
1954.10.2 Aintree International – Daily Telegraph Meeting Salvadori, #52, 5th
1955.4.2. British Empire Trophy Parnell, #22, 3rd
1955.5.1. Mille Miglia Collins, #702, dnf
1955.7.16. British Grand Prix Parnell, #5, 3rd
1955.7.30 Crystal Palace International Salvadori, #81 1st
1955.8.6. Charterhill International Sports Race Parnell, #73, 6th
1955.8.6 Charterhill International Invitational Race Parnell, #73, 1st
1956.4.2. Goodwood Easter Meeting Moss, #59, 1st
1956.4.14. British Empire Trophy Parnell, #30, 11th overall 1st in class
1956.4.21. Aintree 200 Salvadori, #33, 1st
1956.5.5. Daily Express Silverstone Invitational Salvadori, #24, 1st
1956.5.13. Grand Prix Spa Parnell, #32, 2nd
1956.5.27. Nurburgring 1000 kms Collins/Brooks, #9, 5th
1956.6.23 BARC Aintree Salvadori, #33, 1st
