1959 ASTON MARTIN DB 2/4 Mk III
Reg: 229 XVT (originally 2 JPK)
First registered on 06/04/1959
Original Dealer Langley Motors – a former BMW dealership in Thames Ditton, formerly run by Le Mans 24 Hour winner Roy Salvadori.
The first real ‘James Bond’ Aston Martin
A really fabulous specimen
– The Mark III – described as “one of the world’s outstanding sports models” by The Autocar – incorporated lessons learned on the race track with a fundamental redesign of W.O. Bentley’s 3-litre engine by Polish engineer Tadek Marek.
– It would be the last of the DB models to be powered by the twin-cam six-cylinder engine of Lagonda origin.
– It was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland and it was the company’s first road car to feature the classic Aston Martin grille with a sleek new front end that gave a better view of the road ahead.
– Girling disc brakes were optional at first but became standard after 100 Mark IIIs had been built. The Mark III was, incidentally, the first ‘James Bond’ Aston Martin, described as a ‘DB III’ in Ian Fleming’s 1959 novel ‘Goldfinger’!
– This stunning Mark III is undoubtedly one of the finest examples available. The car was sold new via Langley Motors to Thos. S. Penny Limited of Taunton, Somerset in April 1959.
– It was originally specified with it’s current Masons Black coachwork with off-white Connolly leather interior,, albeit now with an arguably more elegant with light tan Connolly hide interior.
– From Somerset, the car went to Leicestershire before leaving British shores in 1963 to live in New Zealand where it remained for more than 50 years.
– When it was discovered in 2018, it was a true barn-find. It was brought back to England and works began in earnest to return the car to its former glory and it has now been restored to true concours standards.
– The car has had a bare-metal repaint, an outstanding retrim and extensive mechanical works which means that not only does it look truly breath-taking, it also drives astonishingly well, giving a more exhilarating, sporting experience than the DB4 which replaced it. The sound emitted by the car’s twin exhausts is thoroughly addictive.
– The car truly typifies the beauty that makes the Mark III such a desirable model. Despite being far from the first Aston Martin model produced in their long history, it’s probably one of the earliest models that most people would recognise as an Aston Martin.
– The most distinguishing feature is the iconic Aston Martin grille, replacing the taller, squarer grille of the DB2. It also featured a dashboard layout which would be continued by all subsequent Aston Martin models until the DBS, the detail of particular note being the instrument binnacle that was shaped to mirror the grille.
– The car’s tail was also partially redesigned, with modifications made to the subtle tailfins along with new Cathedral taillight units which replaced the previous triangular units that formed the end of the fins.
– These Cathedral lights could be seen on many of the finest British cars of the era, namely coach-built Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds, Bentley S-Series Continentals and Alvis cars to name but a few.
– The fastback shape not only makes it incredibly stylish but also, being a hatchback, incredibly practical for a car of its type. The extensive brightwork on the car stands bold against the gleaming black coachwork.
– All in all, the Aston Martin DB Mk III was and remains one of Aston Martin’s finest hours, both from a styling perspective and as an outstanding grand tourer. The car’s considerable rarity only makes it even more special, being one of just 551 cars ever produced. The example that we are so proud to present to you today, is certainly one of the best examples that exists today.