Gregor Wenner
Specialist Consultant
LOT 126
1957 Aston Martin DB Mark III Coachwork by Tickford Chassis no. AM300/3/1362 Engine no. DBA/987
Sold for €195,500 inc. premium
Lot 126
Fully restored example, Mille Miglia eligible
1957 Aston Martin DB Mark III
1957 Aston Martin DB Mark III
1957 Aston Martin DB Mark III
Coachwork by Tickford
Chassis no. AM300/3/1362
Engine no. DBA/987
Coachwork by Tickford
Chassis no. AM300/3/1362
Engine no. DBA/987
• Matching numbers engine and chassis
• Original left-hand drive model
• One of only 551 DB Mark IIIs made
• Delivered new to California, USA
• Restored in Portugal
Two years after the introduction of the DB2/4 Mark II came the DB Mark III, 551 of which, mainly saloons, were made between March 1957 and July 1959. 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 give the car a more imposing look, while the interior boasted a redesigned dashboard with instruments grouped in a cowled panel ahead of the driver. According to The Autocar: "The latest models – the DB Mk IIIs – have a number of important improvements and, in addition, a subtle crispness and refinement, as compared with the DB2/4, not easily attributed to any one modification."
The 3.0-litre DBA 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. 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 (193km/h).
The DB Mark III is also notable as the first Aston Martin to feature in a 'James Bond' novel, being driven by '007' in Goldfinger. It was also the last Aston Martin produced with the W O Bentley-era six-cylinder engine. Furthermore, as it was built in 1957, this car is eligible for the Mille Miglia.
Its accompanying BMIHT factory record copy reveals that left-hand drive chassis number '1362' was despatched new on 16th September 1957 to the Peter Santori Company Ltd in California, USA. The original colour scheme was Broken White with black leather trim, and the car was delivered equipped with twin SU HV6 carburettors; Alfin brake drums; and Armstrong shock absorbers. The Aston's subsequent history in the USA is not known. In 2005 it was recorded as in France, and since then has had two owners in Portugal.
Those two Portuguese owners restored the car - the first undertaking the major works to the bodywork, engine, interior, gearbox, exhaust, brakes, suspension, paintwork, etc - while the second detailed the car to make it suitable for concours d'élégance contests. At the 2017 Cascais Classic Motor Show the Aston placed 2nd in the concours. This stunning matching numbers engine and chassis is offered with is a Portuguese registration document; a Portuguese Certificado de Automóvel Antigo valid until 2029; and the aforementioned BMIHT certificate.
• Original left-hand drive model
• One of only 551 DB Mark IIIs made
• Delivered new to California, USA
• Restored in Portugal
Two years after the introduction of the DB2/4 Mark II came the DB Mark III, 551 of which, mainly saloons, were made between March 1957 and July 1959. 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 give the car a more imposing look, while the interior boasted a redesigned dashboard with instruments grouped in a cowled panel ahead of the driver. According to The Autocar: "The latest models – the DB Mk IIIs – have a number of important improvements and, in addition, a subtle crispness and refinement, as compared with the DB2/4, not easily attributed to any one modification."
The 3.0-litre DBA 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. 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 (193km/h).
The DB Mark III is also notable as the first Aston Martin to feature in a 'James Bond' novel, being driven by '007' in Goldfinger. It was also the last Aston Martin produced with the W O Bentley-era six-cylinder engine. Furthermore, as it was built in 1957, this car is eligible for the Mille Miglia.
Its accompanying BMIHT factory record copy reveals that left-hand drive chassis number '1362' was despatched new on 16th September 1957 to the Peter Santori Company Ltd in California, USA. The original colour scheme was Broken White with black leather trim, and the car was delivered equipped with twin SU HV6 carburettors; Alfin brake drums; and Armstrong shock absorbers. The Aston's subsequent history in the USA is not known. In 2005 it was recorded as in France, and since then has had two owners in Portugal.
Those two Portuguese owners restored the car - the first undertaking the major works to the bodywork, engine, interior, gearbox, exhaust, brakes, suspension, paintwork, etc - while the second detailed the car to make it suitable for concours d'élégance contests. At the 2017 Cascais Classic Motor Show the Aston placed 2nd in the concours. This stunning matching numbers engine and chassis is offered with is a Portuguese registration document; a Portuguese Certificado de Automóvel Antigo valid until 2029; and the aforementioned BMIHT certificate.
Footnotes
Exemplaire entièrement restauré, éligible aux Mille Miglia
1957 Aston Martin DB Mark III
Carrossée par Tickford
Châssis n° AM300/3/1362
Moteur n° DBA/987
• Matching numbers moteur et châssis
• Conduite à gauche d'origine
• L'une des seulement 551 DB Mark III produites
• Livrée neuve en Californie
• Restaurée au Portugal
Deux ans après le lancement de la DB2/4 Mark II arriva la DB Mark III, dont 551 exemplaires, essentiellement des berlines, furent produits entre mars 1957 et juillet 1959. Son évolution d'aspect la plus évidente tenait à sa calandre, désormais dans l'esprit de celle de la DB3S dessinée par Bert Thickpenny, le styliste de Tickford ; elle créait la référence esthétique des Aston Martin à venir. Son avant redessiné lui donnait une allure plus imposante et son intérieur affichait un nouveau tableau de bord dont les instruments se regroupaient dans un combiné situé face au conducteur. Selon The Autocar : "Les derniers modèles, les DB Mk III, bénéficient par rapport à la DB2/4 de nombreuses améliorations et aussi d'une netteté et d'un raffinement qu'on ne saurait attribuer à une seule évolution."
Son moteur DBA de 3,0 litres avait été profondément remanié par Tadek Marek, tout juste arrivé de chez Austin, et il présentait, entre autres améliorations, un bloc cylindres rigidifié, un vilebrequin renforcé et une nouvelle culasse à soupapes agrandies. Il délivrait 164 ch en échappement simple et 181 ch avec l'échappement double disponible en option. L'embrayage et la boîte de vitesses avaient également progressé et un overdrive Laycock était disponible. Les freins à disque à l'avant étaient montés en série, à partir du châssis n° 1401, après ne l'avoir été qu'en option sur les cent premiers exemplaires. Malgré son inévitable prise de poids, la Mark III était plus rapide que toutes ses devancières et atteignait une vitesse de pointe de 193 km/h.
La DB Mark III présente par ailleurs la particularité d'avoir été la première Aston Martin à figurer dans un James Bond : c'était, dans le roman Goldfinger, la voiture de 007. C'était aussi la dernière Aston Martin construite avec le six-cylindres de l'époque de W. O. Bentley.
Elle est munie d'une copie des archives de l'usine délivrée par le BMIHT qui révèle que ce châssis 1362 à direction à gauche fut livré neuf le 16 septembre 1957 en Californie à la société Peter Santori Company Ltd. Son harmonie de teintes d'origine était blanc Broken White avec intérieur en cuir noir. La voiture était équipée de deux carburateurs SU HV6, de freins à tambour Alfin et d'amortisseurs Armstrong. On ne sait pas ce qu'a été son historique aux Etats-Unis, mais sa présence en France en 2005 est attestée et elle a connu, depuis, deux propriétaires au Portugal.
Ces deux derniers l'ont restaurée, le premier s'étant consacré aux travaux lourds sur la carrosserie, la peinture, l'habitacle, le moteur, la boîte, l'échappement, les freins, la suspension, etc., et le second aux finitions, pour mettre la voiture en état de participer à des concours d'élégance. Lors du Cascais Classic Motor Show de 2017, elle se classa deuxième. Ce magnifique exemplaire aux numéros châssis et moteur concordants est vendu avec un document d'immatriculation portugais, un Certificado de Automóvel Antigo portugais valide jusqu'en 2029 et le certificat du BMIHT déjà cité.
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