1952 Aston Martin DB3

Offered by Bonhams | Chicester, U.K. | September 27, 2022

The DB3 was Aston Martin’s sports racing car for the early ’50s, with the cars being built in 1951 and 1952. It was their first post-war purpose-designed race car and was usurped by the somewhat-prettier and more famous DB3S in 1953. This car is number five of 10 built, and the the first five were all Aston team race cars. The remainder of the run were sold to privateers.

The first cars were powered by a 2.6-liter Lagonda inline-six, and later cars got a 2.9-liter version of the same powerplant that was good for up to 163 horsepower. This chassis has period competition history as a works racer, including:

• 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans – 19th, DNF (with Lance Macklin and Peter Collins)
• 1953 12 Hours of Sebring – 2nd (with George Abecassis and Reg Parnell)
• 1953 Mille Miglia – DNF (with Abecassis)

The nose was damaged during the Mille Miglia DNF. The entire body was removed, and the rolling chassis was sold to a driver who fitted a closed body. It wasn’t until 1990 that the car was restored with an original-style DB3 body. Now, this incredibly rare 1950s race car is offered with “estimate upon request.” You can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold.