Finding out about DB4s
Discussion
Try Tim Cottingham's website on [url]www.astonmartins.com[/url]. Also try Robert Edwards book and DB4s, 5s and 6s - really cracking and full of useful stuff.
Edited as href screwed up!
>> Edited by dougbarker on Thursday 9th December 22:54
>> Edited by dougbarker on Thursday 9th December 22:54
Edited as href screwed up!
>> Edited by dougbarker on Thursday 9th December 22:54
>> Edited by dougbarker on Thursday 9th December 22:54
Andrew Noakes said:Ok ok... but appart from the engine specs, gearboxes, oil systems, brake systems, dimensions, equipment, glass and body construction, what else did David Brown ever do for us
the difference betweeen DB4s, 5s and 6s are largely cosmentic.
Yes... apart from the different engine specs, gearboxes, oil systems, brake systems, dimensions, equipment, glass and body construction they were all the same!
Interested to know what they drive like really.
After toying with the idea of getting another modern car, I've realised I really want a classic.
250 GT SWB's being somewhat out of my price range (and being my no1 favourite car of all time), and being too tall for Lambo Miuras (which is a complete pisser as one would be in range now, no2 car of all time), I'm almost set on a Daytona (no3 car is more difficult as there are a few ties, a couple of which I'm lucky to own).
Then I bought Classic Cars and saw an Aston DB4 at Runnymede. It looks like it's partly race prep'd, with a 4.2 "Fast Road" engine (whatever that is - I thought these had lower capacity engines).
And it looks bloody lovely (apart from the front seats which aren't to my taste, but easily changed).
It's an overall slower car I'm sure, and quite a bit older than the '70 Daytona I'm going to try and track down, but it's an Aston. And something that bit different and special...
Andrew Noakes said:
[quote=The Car Finder]the difference betweeen DB4s, 5s and 6s are largely cosmentic.
They use the Superlegerra body construction, all have big rubust sills that rot at an alarming fashion due to the felt (sponges) tucked up inside the arches. I have owned 3 DB6's. Make sure the chassis work has been done unless its never been out in the wet, as you have to peel the lower body off to repair the sills.
Aha!! "A method of lightweight construction patented by Touring of Milan. Put simply, the body frame is made up of a cage of small diameter tubes which is covered by hand made aluminum body panels. This method of construction was used on the DB4 and 5"
From that SUPERB site listed at the foot of this thread, the indy one. Wow! Now THAT is what I call dedication.
Want one of them ..... Any body near Liverpool fancy meeting up somewhere to compare drives?
From that SUPERB site listed at the foot of this thread, the indy one. Wow! Now THAT is what I call dedication.
Want one of them ..... Any body near Liverpool fancy meeting up somewhere to compare drives?
thepickle said:
Here’s a pic of the car that prompted shadowfax’s question, I took it at the Tatton Park show at the weekend. Please excuse my ignorance but can anyone say exactly which model this is? It had the Superleggera bonnet badging
From the size of the bonnets cope, it looks like a DB4 GT. I'd need a chassis number or numberplate to be sure, as quite a few DB4's are lookalikes these days.
The DB4 GT was a short wheelbase, lighter version of the DB4, built primarily for racing. The modern equivilent would be a "vantage spec"...er no sorry. That would be up until the early 2000's. Now it would be the GT or "S" again, since they devalued the vantage name by putting it on the least powerful car in the range.
The DB4 GT was up against the Ferrari 250SWB in competition, and had plexiglass windows and a large fuel tank taking up all the boot space. 19 of the cars had their bodywork done not by "Touring" but by "Zagato"- hence the very famous DB4 GT Zagato. These were even lighter, and were quicker. But by then Ferrari had their 250GTO and Jaguar the lightweight E-type, and it needed a prototype Aston- the DP212/214/215 to compete with them. The DP215 scored a famous victory over the 250 GTO at Monza with Roy Salvadori driving. It also (I still believe this is true) holds the record for the fastest front engined car at le Mans- 197mph-odd.
And to think I only own 2 anoraks....
williamp said:
And to think I only own 2 anoraks....
Thanks for the detailed reply 
Interestingly, I just put the reg (755 MUP) through the rac website checker thingy, and it only came back with the year, 1961, and the engine, 3670cc. It didn’t give the make or model. Maybe that suggests it is some kind of recreation 
...or I could just be talking rubbish and deeply offending the owner of a beautiful original Aston It is difficult to tell. The car is almost certainly a DB4, despite the faired in lights. I would guess either DB4 Seieries 5 or, more likey as WilliamP suggests a DB4 GT. The proportions of the car look different to a standard DB4, which would lead me to think it had the shorted GT chassis.
Definitly a DB4 GT or indeed a car built to that spec. Twin monza caps, no rear seats, proportions look right as do the scoops, also has the correct number plate light ( same as DB4 GT Zagato).
Absolutely stonking cars
Williamp - I believe you are bang on about the Le Mans record. Obviously shortly afterwards most cars went to mid engine but also they started to B*gger around with the mulsanne straight!
Absolutely stonking cars
Williamp - I believe you are bang on about the Le Mans record. Obviously shortly afterwards most cars went to mid engine but also they started to B*gger around with the mulsanne straight!
Edited by v12Aston on Wednesday 23 August 16:02
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