One to Buy: ex-works / School for Scoundrels 1953 Aston Martin DB3S
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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 Production-based DB2 racers were superseded by the purpose-built DB3 which was in turn replaced by the further refined DB3S for 1953.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).
