Period Factory Vantage Upgrade and Overdrive Gearbox
1961 Aston Martin DB4 'Series III' Vantage Specification Sports Saloon

• Unique build specification
• Matching chassis, engine and gearbox numbers
• Special Series engine upgrade by Aston Martin in 1964
• Overdrive gearbox from new
• Cosmetically restored in the 2000s

Bonhams is delighted to present this exciting DB4 Series Ill restoration opportunity. Completed in 1961, chassis number 'DB4/646/R' is an original right-hand drive 'Series III' saloon, built with the rare and desirable overdrive gearbox and subsequently converted by Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell to the later 'Special Series' engine specification (in 1964). The copy guarantee form on file records a truly unique original build specification, and a notable first owner, which we cover in more detail below.
'DB4/646/R' was delivered new on 6th May 1961 finished in Caribbean Pearl paintwork with Dark Blue Connolly leather interior. The vehicle was ordered by Oei Tjong Tjay, son (and one of 26 children!) of Chinese-Indonesian shipping tycoon Oei Tjong Ham. Founder of the Kwian Gwan shipping company, Tjay's father was known to be the wealthiest man in Asia at the turn of the 20th Century, which earned him the nickname of the 'Man of 200 Million'.
Oei Tjong Tjay specified this DB4 to his exacting requirements. The guarantee form lists extensive options including an engine oil cooler; Marchal front fog lamps; indicator side repeaters to both front wings; electric windows; chrome wheels; heated rear window; an oil temperature gauge; pockets to the front seat backs; yellow headlamp bulbs; a loudspeaker wired to the rear bulkhead; and the aforementioned overdrive gearbox. After research by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust, it has been confirmed that of the 165 Series Ill DB4s produced, only 11 were finished in Caribbean Pearl with Dark Blue leather. It would be fair to assume only a handful of these were built with the rare overdrive option such as '646/R'.

The DB4 was sold directly to the first owner by AML and registered in Amsterdam where the shipping company's headquarters was located. In February of 1964, at 19,182 miles and while still owned by Oie Tjong Tjay, '646/R' returned to Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell for an engine upgrade to the later triple-carburettor 'Special Series' engine known to have been first offered in 1962. This upgrade included a Vantage specification cylinder head. During this upgrade work at Newport Pagnell, the DB4 was instructed to be repainted in Fiesta Red.

After relocating to the USA, the Aston was sold in 1971 to its second owner, known to be a US Army Officer, then later acquired in 1979 within the USA by Mr Mark Strachan, who retained the car until 1990. The history file continues in May 1990 when '646/R', at that time still painted in Fiesta Red, was repatriated to the UK under the ownership of AMOC member Mr Hugh Clarke-Williams, who commissioned a cosmetic restoration back to the original Caribbean Pearl body colour, plus a cylinder head rebuild and other works. Mr Clarke-Williams made a special effort to contact ICI, the original paint manufacturers, for their formulation of Caribbean Pearl, such was his attention to detail, while the re-trim in Parchment leather was entrusted to Connolly at their Wimbledon headquarters. Mr Clarke-Williams' illustrated history of the car and its restoration is on file (inspection recommended).

The history file shows that '646/R' was sold at auction to a classic car dealer in 2001 before being acquired by the most recent owner in 2003. During the last nine years the Aston has been enjoyed by the owner's family on European tours.

Having returned to Newport Pagnell once more in 2022, the DB4 was thoroughly assessed by Aston Martin's Heritage Workshop and it was noted that the engine number and gearbox number both match the guarantee form. Worthy of closer inspection, this unique DB4 Series Ill represents an exciting opportunity for the next custodian to restore or recommission it to the highest standards, with the utmost regard for its unique build specification.