Arguably Britain’s first Gran Turismo worthy of the appellation, the svelte 140mph DB4 made its debut at the 1958 London Motor Show. Successor to the DB Mk III, it was the first production Aston Martin to use both Tadek Marek’s new twin overhead camshaft, all aluminum straight six engine and an aluminum body designed by Touring of Milan, using its Superleggera lightweight construction. Beneath its sleek and beautiful lines, the 3,670 cc engine developed 24 bhp, while the new platform chassis featured independent coil spring/wishbone front suspension, a coil-sprung live rear axle located by Watts linkage and parallel trailing arms with all round disc brakes.

The DB4’s somewhat hasty introduction resulted in various improvements during its five year life; by the time the Series II arrived in 1960 there was also a significant addition, the sensational DB4GT. First shown at the 1959 London Motor Show, the DB4GT was Aston Martin’s answer to the Ferrari 250GT SWB; by then the prototype had already won its first race with Stirling Moss at Silverstone, the first of many notable successes. Although very similar to the DB4, the beautifully proportioned and extremely fast 135mph DB4GT – it was also capable of 0-60 mph and 1-100 mph in 6.1 and 14.1 seconds respectively – differed considerably, with a five inch shorter wheelbase and body length than the Series I DB4, making it a pure two seater. Other major changes were a twin plug per cylinder/twin distributor engine producing 302 bhp, a twin plate clutch, close ratio gearbox, Girling rather than Dunlop brakes and wider Borrani wire wheels. Very much a limited edition, and consequently highly prized, just 94 DB4GTs – of which 19 carried lighter Zagato coachwork – were made before production ended in 1963.

First registered in 1960, this DB4GT first took to the track in the early 1960s and has subsequently become one of the best-known and most successful examples in historic competition. Much of this was due to the efforts of well-known Aston Martin racer John Goate who began campaigning the car in 1971; subsequently his results – and those of his wife who drove the car on some occasions – included numerous 2nd and 3rd places at prestigious British meetings, as well as 1st places at both the JDC’s annual Silverstone meeting in 1977 and the prestigious Le Mans Historic meeting the following year. 1980 also netted 2nd places at Donington Park and Silverstone and a 1st for Goate in the Spa Francorshamps Historic event.

It was four years later that UAX 262 – by then generally regarded as the fastest DB4GT in the world – passed to another well-known Aston Martin racer, Murray Smith in the USA. Once there, it was completely rebuilt by AMVRS, the North American race preparation company owned by former Aston Martin Lagonda co-owner Peter Livanos, and in effect became the sister car to the latter’s own DB4GT which UAX 262 then consistently beat, including Smith’s historic victory over Stirling Moss at Laguna Seca in 1989; in total Smith won no less than 30 races out of 32 entered, a still unequalled record.

The current owner – whose historic car collection is famed for its quality – purchased this Aston Martin in 1993. Subsequently the engine was completely rebuilt by Lanzante Engineering which has maintained the car to the highest standards since. Finished in metallic green with black interior and fully race prepared, this highly desirable DB4GT is offered in excellent condition and comes complete with FIA papers. A rare opportunity to acquire a highly competitive Aston Martin with superb provenance.

This 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Review and Buyer's Guide appeared in the April, 1997 Issue of Sports Car Market Magazine.