1960 Tour de France Automobile competitor, the only DB4 GT to enter the gruelling event
1962 Mont Ventoux Hill climb competitor
A well-known DB4 GT with period competition history
Matching Numbers, The fastest production car of its day
One of only 28 LHD Aston Martin DB4 GT’s built, Unique colour combination Aston Martin DB4 GT
The
Aston Martin DB4 GT
Aston Martin had already been working on
the DB4 GT concept for some six to eight months prior to the September 1958
release of the standard DB4. With John Wyer believing the sports-prototype
racing cars were becoming too fast and too disconnected from the production
cars manufacturers were offering, he set about making a competition variant of
the DB4.
The DB4 GT featured a shorter chassis than
the standard DB4, with the wheelbase reduced by five inches. This reduction in
length occurred just behind the front seats, resulting in shorter doors and
roof and new window glass. The rear bulkhead was also moved, resulting in a
near identical amount of space behind the front seats as a standard car. This
space was particularly useful for luggage, as the boot was almost entirely
filled by the competition-specification, 30-gallon fuel tank and spare wheel.
This large fuel tank was placed in the boot to balance the weight of the engine
at the front and improve handling, with Monza competition fuel fillers fitted
atop each rear wing.
The most noticeable external difference
between the DB4 and DB4 GT was the headlights, as the GT’s were set back under
sloping Perspex covers — a more aerodynamic solution that is credited to Bert
Thickpenny and would later become adopted by the DB4 Vantage, DB5 and DB6
series.
Overall, the GT was a more
aggressive-looking machine, befitting of a competition car.
The GT was noticeably lighter than the
standard DB4, with Aston’s engineers removing 185lb, leading to an impressive
power-to-weight ratio. The GT was built from thinner, lighter, 18swg
magnesium-alloy body panels and fitted with Perspex side windows and rear
screen. The doors had aluminium frames, the front seats were considerably
lighter than the standard car and the rear seats were replaced with a luggage
shelf, which all made a difference in weight savings. The GTs were also fitted
with Borrani wire wheels that had alloy rims and three-eared spinners.
The 3.7-litre engine was also heavily
revised, with the main improvement being a twin-spark-plug cylinder head that
was fed by three twin-barrel Weber 45 DCOE carburettors. The compression ratio
was also increased to 9.0:1, due to larger inlet and exhaust valves and
improved camshafts. These improvements resulted in a significantly increased
power output of 302 bhp at 6,000 rpm and a top speed in excess of 150 mph. The
gearbox was a close-ratio, four-speed, all-synchromesh David Brown unit.
This
Aston Martin DB4 GT
The Aston Martin DB4 GT offered here,
chassis DB4/GT/0120/L, was invoiced to French Aston Martin agent Garage
Mirabeau on 11 August 1960, with the guarantee being issued to the first owner,
Mr René Bourrely, a day later. A resident of Nimes in southern France, René
bought the car with his brother, Robert, who was an accomplished racer himself,
having competed regularly with a Gordini since 1953, even entering the Tour de
France Automobile a total of six times!
This DB4 GT is one of only three DB4 GTs
originally finished in Elusive Blue and, of those three, it is the only to be
fitted with a Connolly Blue Grey leather interior — a unique colour combination
for a DB4 GT. The car was fitted with engine number 370/0120/GT and gearbox
number S.432/3/546, both of which are still in the car today. A rear axle ratio
of 3.54:1 with a power-lock differential was chosen, along with a Smiths
speedometer and Avon Turbospeed tyres. On 26 August 1960, this car was
registered with French license plate ‘200 FB 30’.
As one of the earliest DB4 GTs, this car
has several special features, starting with the absence of a number plate
plinth on the front bumper, which, as a consequence, means there are two scoops
to direct air to the brakes and two further intakes for the oil cooler.
1960
Tour de France Automobile
Proud new owners of their DB4 GT, the
Bourrely brothers entered the car in the world’s most famous rally, the Tour de
France Automobile, which, in 1960, was held over 5,075km and comprised of seven
speed tests and seven races, including Le Mans, Nürburgring and
Spa-Francorchamps. The ultimate test of man and machine. René and Robert had
previously competed together at this event in 1959 with another Aston Martin, a
DB MKIII.
The Bourrely brothers were assigned race
number 167, with the event starting in Nice on 15 September and due to finish
in Biarritz eight days later. Within the Grand Tourisme class were 48 crews,
including 10 Ferrari 250 SWBs, one 250 LWB and one 250 Interim! This Aston
Martin was the only DB4 GT to ever enter the Tour de France Automobile —
something Aston Martin even noted on the car’s build records, a copy of which
is included in the history file.
The event was tough, but the Bourrely
brothers and this DB4 GT made a great start. The first speed event was the
ascent of the Braus Pass, a 7.1km climb in which the Aston finished 14th. The
weather was terrible, with persistent heavy rain pouring down as the crews passed
through the Col du Turini on their way to the timed climb up Mont Ventoux. The
weather worsened, with thunderstorms rumbling through the skies, but the
Bourrely brothers displayed great skill and finished a strong 3rd. On this
stage, the only cars capable of matching the Aston’s performance were the two
Ecurie Francorchamps-entered Ferrari 250 GT SWBs driven by Willy Mairesse and
Olivier Gendebien.
The next stage was a 14km hill climb along
the Rousset Pass. Once again, the Aston Martin performed well, finishing 9th.
The rain was now wearing the crews down and rendering windscreen wipers
useless, with some teams even cutting holes in the floor of their cars to let
the rain water out! The next event was at the Nürburgring, after a non-stop
1,000km road section.
The fearsome Nürburgring played host to an
hour-long race, held in dry conditions, with the Aston Martin finishing a
strong 12th — don’t forget, there were more than 110 crews who took to the
start ramp in Nice! The Aston Martin was proving itself to be a worthy
competitor in the more established field. With many crews failing to finish the
Nürburgring test, the remaining competitors were pleased when everyone
completed the next challenge at the fast Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium,
which saw this DB4 GT finish in 6th, over 3km in front of the Ferrari 250 LWB
Interim of Edgar Berney and Jean Gretener.
The next race was held at the
Linas-Montlhéry circuit, just outside Paris, with the competitors’ road section
passing through Boulogne-sur-Mer and Dieppe before the 90-minute event. The
Bourrely brothers continued to impress with this DB4 GT, finishing 7th, which
was followed by an 11th-place finish in the following race at the Circuit de
Rouen-Les Essarts. At the famous Circuit Du Mans, this Aston Martin’s
impressive competition debut would end with a blown head gasket, one of four
cars to retire in this stage with the same problem. The 1960 Tour de France
Automobile had shown the tremendous potential the Aston Martin DB4 GT had, as
it regularly beat the Works-supported Ferrari 250 GT SWBs throughout the race.
1962
Mont Ventoux
As well as noting the 1960 Tour de France
Automobile entry on the build records, Aston Martin also noted the issue: “No.1
Piston burned, cylinder head gasket blown due to cylinder head nuts not being
tightened and cylinder head face distorted. .030; two exhaust seats found
loose; cylinder head reconditioned and engine rebuilt by Garage Mirabeau at
owner’s expense”. Later in October 1960, it’s also noted that the car received
a new fuel tank and engine mounts, with mileage noted as 7,690km. Clearly the
Bourrely brothers were enjoying ownership of their new DB4 GT, and in June
1962, they entered the famous Mont Ventoux Hill Climb, finishing 18th in class
and 32nd overall, reaching the top in a time of 14 minutes 30.8 seconds.
Post
Competition
For many years, the Bourrely brothers
maintained ownership of the car, with it rarely being seen in public, before
selling it to Bertrand Brun in July 1967. A copy of Mr Brun’s title it
contained within the cars extensive history file. A year later, the car was
photographed near Montpellier, France, displaying its new license of ‘550 MS
63’, again, a copy of the image
accompanies the car.
In January 1986, the DB4 GT was sold to Guy
Constans, as noted on the Aston Martin build records. A resident of
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, northwest Paris, Constants re-registered the car with
the license plate ‘2120 RV 78’.
The fourth owner, Robert Sarrailh, also a
resident of Paris, bought the car in May 1997 and, in 2001, allowed three-time
Formula One World Champion Sir Jack Brabham and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Roy
Salvadori to drive the car in the Tour Auto.
In 2009, the car moved to its fifth owner,
Jean-Pierre Slavic, who quickly embarked upon a thorough and complete
restoration, which included engine, gearbox, rear axle and brake system
rebuilds. The bodywork was also stripped and repainted in the original and
elegant Elusive Blue.
In 2013, having moved into the ownership of
a Belgian collector, UK-based Aston Martin specialist RS Williams was entrusted
to retrim the driver and passenger seats and refurbish the wheels. The original
seat leather was preserved and still accompanies the car.
The car is now UK-registered, having
recently been serviced and MOT’d by RS Williams, and is presented as it was at
the start of the 1960 Tour de France Automobile — finished in its unique DB4 GT
colour combination, fitted with its original engine and gearbox and accompanied
by an impressive history file.
Thanks to this actual car being the sole
DB4 GT to have contested the original Tour de France, all Aston Martin DB4 GTs
are eligible for the world’s most famous rally, now known as Tour Auto. The DB4
GT is almost unmatched for its blend of performance and usability, and as such,
it’s eligible at competition events around the world, including the Goodwood
Revival, Colorado Grand and Le Mans Classic, and would be a welcomed entrant at
many concours d’elegance, including Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach.
Price
Upon Application
Want more details on this car?
Our passion, knowledge and expertise gained from over 40 years of experience offers you a subjective opinion when considering either the sale, or purchase of a car potentially costing millions of pounds.
We are a dynamic, young, friendly team, focused on ensuring our clients always receive the unrivalled service they have come accustomed to from the Girardo & Co. team.
Consign your car