2,992cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder 'DBA-Spec' Engine
2 SU Carburetors
162bhp at 5,500rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
Front Disc – Rear Drum Brakes

*Offered from more than 30 years of current ownership
*Original French delivery, left hand drive example
*An exceptionally rare model, with matching numbers
*A 'barn find' project

THE DB Mark III

"Many Aston Martin enthusiasts regard the DB Mark III as the most desirable of the early Feltham cars." - Paul R Woudenberg, Aston Martin Buyers' Guide.

The need to widen the appeal of the already-successful DB2 resulted in the launch in October 1953 of the 2+2 DB2/4. Extensive revisions to the car's rear end arrangements made room for two occasional seats and more luggage, the latter being accessed via a hatchback rear door - one of this now-common feature's earliest applications.

Two years after the introduction of the mildly restyled DB2/4 Mark II came the DB Mark III - the '2/4' suffix being dropped - 551 of which, mainly saloons, were made between March 1957 and July 1959, some 55% of which were exported. Externally the most obvious change was the adoption of a DB3S-style grille, establishing the 'hallmark' look of subsequent Aston Martins, which had been drawn up by Tickford designer, Bert Thickpenny. This restyled nose gives the car a more imposing look while the interior boasted a redesigned dashboard with instruments grouped in a cowled panel ahead of the driver.

The 3.0-liter engine benefited from an extensive redesign by Tadek Marek (newly arrived from Austin) and featured, among other improvements, a stiffer block, stronger crankshaft and a new cylinder head with bigger valves. A maximum output of 162bhp was available with the single-pipe exhaust system, 178bhp with the optional twin-pipe version. Elsewhere there were improvements to both clutch and gearbox; Laycock overdrive became available and front disc brakes were standard rather than optional after the first 100 cars had been built, commencing at chassis '1401'. Despite the inevitable weight increase, the Mark III was faster than any of its predecessors with a top speed of 120mph. Total DB Mark III production amounted to 551 cars, of which 85 were drophead coupés and four were fixed-head coupés.

Unbeknown to many, the DB Mark III is another 'James Bond' Aston Martin, appearing in Ian Fleming's novel Goldfinger, though by the time the book made it to the screen the DB5 was the current model so that was used instead.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

A mere 85 Drophead Coupes were built on the Mark III chassis and of those it is thought that only half, if that, would have been to left hand drive specification, making this exceptionally rare.

As new, according to a copy of the factory records, it was delivered to M. Jean Labreveux of Rue Galilee in Paris, France and wore the understated scheme of Moonbeam Grey paintwork, with a beige interior and black top. As a later example, the full specifications included front disc brakes. Supplied through agent Mirabeau, it was likely registered then with the Parisian plate which it still carries of '971 TTA 75'.

As it turns out, the late Judson Lutz had been an Austin-Healey salesman in the 1960s and the story goes that in the mid-late 1980s he read a local advert that said an Austin-Healey Convertible was coming up in an Estate Sale. Out of curiosity he decided to go along to the auction, and reminisce his youthful job only to discover that the advert was wrong and in fact it was an Aston Martin! The car fascinated him and he decided to acquire it regardless.

It is not known how long the Aston remained in France, or Europe, but a small annotation to the records of Aston Service Dorset confirms that Judson Lutz, the late owner from whose estate it is now offered was already its owner by 1990. By then it had received a repaint in the present bright metallic green hue and the interior had been retrimmed in black, but importantly it was remarkably complete, including retaining its original engine. It had always been his intention to return the car to its former glory, but ultimately this would allude him.

The Drophead represents a mouthwatering prospect for an Aston collector, providing the basis for a restoration which will then provide them with one of the rarest, and in our opinion one of the best looking of all Aston Martin derivatives.