We have an exceptionally important new arrival at THJ, the 1958 Aston Martin DBR1/4. One of only four DBR1 Works team cars constructed, it finished 2nd overall at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans and played a pivotal role in Aston Martin securing the 1959 World Sportscar Championship.

DBR1/4 has a particularly fascinating history as it was originally constructed in 1958 as the one and only DBR3. Built as an experimental development car and raced by Stirling Moss at Silverstone, it was subsequently converted to DBR1 specification ahead of the 1959 season.

Its first race as DBR1/4 was the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it was driven by Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frère. The pair put in a superb performance, finishing 2nd overall and just one lap behind the winning sister DBR1 of Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby, giving Aston Martin a famous 1-2 finish.

Later that year, DBR1/4 competed in the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, the deciding round of the World Sportscar Championship. During an eventful six-hour race, DBR1/4 led for 16 laps before eventually finishing 4th, contributing to the result that saw Aston Martin crowned World Champions.

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.

“The Aston Martin DBR1 is one of the all-time great competition cars, a model that won both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1959 World Sportscar Championship. It’s also an incredibly important part of British motor racing history and to be entrusted with the sale of DBR1/4 is a huge privilege and with opportunities to acquire a DBR1 being so incredibly rare, we are very excited to be able to bring this car to the market.”

– Tom Hartley Jnr