1963 Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage ‘SS’

History

This late production DB4 is one of fifty series five ‘Vantage’ coupes that represented the final iteration of the DB4. The term ‘Vantage’ when referring to this model simply denotes the body style, which is easily identifiable by its covered headlights, it does not necessarily mean a high performance engine specification, unlike the later DB5/6/S Vantage models

The DB4 Vantage was available in standard form with a regular DB4 engine with twin SU carburettors but was also available with a high performance ‘Special Series’ (SS) engine featuring a higher state of tune, with the fitment of triple SU carburettors, raised compression ratio 9:1, bigger valves and an oil cooler. It is believed just nineteen of the fifty cars were supplied with SS engines  

Delivered by main agents St Helier Garages Ltd of Jersey on 2^nd March 1963, this right hand drive DB4 was registered ‘J 142’ and was originally finished in Snow Shadow Grey coachwork with a Blue interior. Supplied from new with an SS engine and chrome wheels and delivered to the first owner Mr J.O.E.Hood of Masion des Pres, St Peter, Jersey

By 1967 the car was acquired by Mr Keanes of Romford, Essex and became an active participant at AMOC events with the first at the 1967 Fort Belvedere Concours, where it achieved 2^nd  in class. Shown again in 1968 at Fort Belvedere and Belfry Concours and once more in 1969, achieving 2nd in the Elite class at Belfry before winning the best post war class at the 1970 Crystal Palace concours

Retained by Keanes until 2^nd May 1984, when it was sold to Mike Lamplough of High Wycombe, Bucks, and maintained during his ownership by Vic Bass engineering of Queens Circus, Battersea and lifelong Aston Martin stalwart Ian Mason. In September of 1986 the DB4 was sold to respected Belgian collector Hubert Fabri and joined his eye watering collection of Aston’s and vintage Bugattis

Fabri was a very active member of the Aston Martin Owners Club and commissioned Ian Mason to prepare the car to compete in the ‘Category A’ of the Aston Martin Owners Club championship, for use in hill climbs and circuit events and the car retained a fairly standard appearance compared with the other DB4 racers, but was a very capable machine

Fabri competed successfully for many years with the car and I can remember seeing it race many times as a child with my father at the AMOC race meetings. The history file contains extensive documentation and invoices relating to the preparation and maintenance during Fabri’s ownership

Acquired by noted Aston collector Chris Clegg of Chipping Camden on 20^th October 1995, he continued to compete within the AMOC series for many years after and the file contains photographs of him racing at Brands Hatch. In 1996 Clegg sent to the car to Aston Martin Works to remove corrosion from the chassis and it was later restored in 1998/99, staying in race specification with a full roll cage, balanced and lightened crankshaft, Carillo rods, DB4GT cams, 10:1 compression ratio, adjustable Koni suspension etc

On 6^th March 2012 the DB4 was sold to the current owner, who commissioned a no expense spared total ‘body off’ restoration by respected marque specialists Aston Engineering. The brief was to return the car back to its original factory specification but retain the competitive spirit with an upgraded 4.2 litre engine by R.S.Williams and Aston Engineering handling kit

The restoration was completed in September 2016 and the entire process is documented in a book produced by Aston Engineering, accompanied with invoices and a CD with images of the work. The DB4 was returned to its original Snow Shadow Grey coachwork and beautifully trimmed in Black connolly leather, fitted with electronic power assisted steering, electric window lift kit, Borrani wire wheels and Becker Mexico hifi system

Without doubt one of the rarest and most desirable of all DB4 variants, our car is supplied with extensive historical and maintenance records, previous FIA papers, race results and aforementioned restoration documents. This Vantage SS drives and presents exceptionally well and is available for immediate viewing at our West Sussex showrooms by appointment