Description
1959 Aston Martin DB Mk III Drop Head Coupe – DBD
Built and supplied to Brooklands of Bond Street in January 1959, for delivery to its first owner, Mr Cyril Mann of London, this Mk III DHC is one of just 84 DHC’s built and one of only 14 specified from new, with the more powerful DBD specification triple carburettor engine. Further options fitted from new, also retained to today, include the highly desirable overdrive manual gearbox and twin exhaust system, also said to raise the power output of the engine. Delivered in Peony Red with an Off White VM. 3323 Connolly hide interior and fitted with a Maroon Ever-flex roof covering, all retained today.
This ideally specified example was delivered when new to Mr Mann, registered on the UK registration number DB 123, a distinctive and highly appropriate registration number, which has been retained on the car to today.
This car in particular is well known to Nicholas Mee having been acquired for the Aston Martin co- owner and chairman Victor Gauntlett in the late 1980’s, from the second known owner, a Mr Davies of Dyfed, Wales. Mr Davies had maintained the car with Aston Service Dorset, having previously purchased the car from the Performance Cars Ltd showrooms on the Great West Road in Brentford, London in the 1970s. Davies subsequently had a set of genuine Boranni alloy rimmed spoked road wheels and a DB3S type wood rimmed steering wheel fitted.
Subsequent owners to Victor Gauntlett, include prominent music manager and historic racer Tony Smith, who influenced the highly successful careers of musicians including the band Genesis, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford, during the height of their popularity. The last owner, falling for the exciting specification and low mileage, of this Mk III DHC, acquired the car in 2011 and has continued to preserve and appreciate its undoubted charm and originality, whilst enjoying the car on special occasions and short tours, when not also enjoying his collection of Bentleys.
Retaining its original ‘as built’ specifications and factory optional equipment, this matching numbers car is a testament to its original built quality and its custodians care to date, all who have maintained and kept this handsome Mk III DHC in a good condition. Now showing some signs of age after giving some 66 years of pleasure, a sensitive cosmetic restoration programme in the future may be appropriate, although in its current condition this delightful car remains highly acceptable to many, displaying all the hallmarks of good care, over the cars 66 years of pleasure giving, to its lucky few owners. '.
The current highly useable, mechanical and general condition of the car today, would allow any owner to attend car meetings and events with a sense of pride, whilst allowing others to admire an unmolested, highly original and lightly patinated survivor, spared from the restorers welding torch, perfect high gloss paint finishes and perfect new interior trim, frequently offered today.
Seldom are we able to bring, to the connoisseur collector and enthusiast market, such an opportunity to acquire a rare, interesting and highly original example of the handsome DB Mk lII DHC, optioned from new with the most desirable, rare and valued specifications and with the low recorded mileage, of just 39,000 miles from new.
Driven extensively by Nicholas Mee, when the car had covered some 31,000 miles, including a trip to Le Mans in the late 1980’s, he can without hesitation attest to this DB MkIII’s surprisingly strong performance and capability on the road. The cars originality is little diminished since the late 1980’s, having been respectfully preserved by subsequent owners, all who have used the car on short tours and occasional outings.
With the exciting and high specification optioned in period and in being the first Aston Martin model to fit disc brakes, this highly useable MkIII DHC is available in its current delightfully aged condition, to enjoy as it is or to improve upon, at a later date. Either, would a satisfying proposition for Collectors and Classic car enthusiasts, alike.
Available for the first time in 24 years, interested parties are invited to contact us for further information and to discuss the rare opportunity, of acquiring an exciting original highly specified and rare, low mileage DB Mk III DHC, with an interesting ownership history, in full working order and with the distinctive UK registration number, DB 123 attached.
