** This listing is part of our Collection Edition 2 Preview event taking place on Saturday, 14th March. Register to attend here. **

Highlights

Highly desirable Series V SS Vantage, which introduced the DB5 style
One of 55 built between September 1962 and June 1963
In the current family since 1971, with known previous history
Matching-numbers 3.7-litre Vantage spec SS 266 bhp engine still fitted
Originally finished in Highland Granite
Same family ownership for 54 years
£7,000 mechanical work in 2022
Voluntary MOT valid to October 2026
Desirable Registration "XDB 4" included

The Appeal

Quite simply, there are Aston Martins, and then there is the DB4 Series V Vantage. The fact that these cars are also known as the ‘Special Series’ gives you a clue. Alongside a healthy jump in power from the Tadek Marek 3.7-litre straight six, these final cars, of which just 55 are generally considered to have been built, received major cosmetic improvements that presaged the later DB5. Those changes introduced a style that continues to influence Aston Martin design to this day.

The Series V Vantage was introduced in September 1962 and built until June 1963. The significant alterations included extending the wheelbase by 9cm to give a sleeker, more balanced and more practical layout, faired-in headlights and a slightly raised roofline. Triple SU carburetors and raised compression helped increase the power to 266 bhp. Inside the Series V got a new dashboard, establishing a classic style that would continue with the later DB5 and 6 models. There is also a direct Bond connection: since the DB5 was not yet available for filming Goldfinger, the producers used a DB4 Series 5 Vantage.

This car’s history from its first registration is known. It has spent much of its life in Cornwall, joining the vendor’s family in 1971, when it was acquired by the vendor's father. It was extensively restored in the late 1970s, changing the colour from blue to red. It left the factory painted in the highly unusual Highland Granite Grey. The interior has been reconnolised many year ago, and now wears patina but the original colour according to the build sheet was White Gold. After restoration, the car was put into storage before being restored again in the early 1990s. It remained in dry storage until recently, when the vendor told us that it was recommissioned by a well-regarded specialist in Cornwall. This work cost £7,000 and covered extensive mechanical work, which is documented below and in photos. The car comes with a very useful voluntary MOT, but re-commissioning is advised before road use. To obtain the test, the car underwent considerable checks and repairs due to recent storage.

This is an exceptionally rare Aston Martin and arguably the most desirable of the classic models. There is scope for the buyer to add value, and perhaps return it to its desirable factory colour combination or enjoy the patinated character.

The vendor says:

“A very good, usable and mechanically original example of this very rare model. Believed to be around 10 chassis numbers away from. The original James Bond DB4 prototype used in Goldfinger. Same family ownership for 54 years.”

History and Paperwork

UK market RHD car first registered 1st May 1963
Chassis number DB41163R confirms car as a RHD UK market example
Engine number 3701155/SS which is confirmed as original by the build sheet.
Original registration number was 2654 PH. Now registered as XD B4.
DVLA records two keepers with current one since April 2025
Due to DVLA record keeping the number of keepers is higher as detailed below
First keeper was a director of Holman Bros, well-known Cornwall mining company
Second keeper was the first keeper's accountant
Purchased by the vendor's father in 1971
Same family ownership for 54 years
Original colour from factory was Granite Grey
Summary of history provided below
Comes with original buff log book
Historic MOT records included
Some invoices present
Current voluntary MOT valid to 9th October 2026 with advisories to note
20,346 miles showing on MOT and 20,358 miles showing in photos
Mileage is on a five digit odometer and is not verified
Folder of history as shown with leather-bound cover
Original log book
Factory handbook
Old photographs of car including photographs of the older restoration
One set of keys
Factory build sheet details provided in photos
Invoices for £7,000 of recommissioning work in February and March 2022
Further work recently undertaken to obtain voluntary MOT below
These are shown in photos and summarised below

This DB4 was first registered in May 1963 to a director of a large mining company in Cornwall. It was originally finished in the rather appropriate colour of Highland Granite Grey with a ‘White Gold’ leather interior. The chassis number ‘R’ suffix confirms it as a UK market RHD, while the engine number ‘SS’ suffix verifies its ‘Special Series’ Vantage status. We’re told that the engine remains matching numbers to this day.

After the car was passed to the first keeper’s accountant, it was acquired by the vendor's father in 1971. At that point, it was painted blue. Since the paintwork was in poor condition, a bare metal respray in red was begun in 1976/77, after which the car was put into dry storage until 1991. In the early 1990s, the vendor told us the car was ‘rebuilt’ and returned to storage in 1997.

The Aston remained in dry storage until around 2022, when it was sent to a Cornish marque specialist for some recommissioning works. These work totalled around £7,000 and was undertaken in February and March 2022. A summary of the work is provided below, with extra details available in the photographs.

The car passed to the current keeper, the previous one's son, in April 2025. The history file is extensive and all contained in a smart leatherbound binder, including the original logbook, factory build details, handbooks, and invoices for the recent work.

The Condition

Older restoration in red with paintwork in fair condition showing some age in photos
Superleggera construction with aluminium panels built over tubular steel frame
Paintwork shows microblistering, some cracks and chips to various panels
Some stone chips to note to front of car
Bodywork is generally very straight with good panel fit which you can check in the photos
Vendor states that all body-to-chassis meeting points are in good order with no corrosion from moisture
Some reaction between the steel hinge and the aluminium door panel at the passengers lower door hinge
Chromework is complete and in reasonable condition with some tarnishing to note
Chrome wire wheels with light tarnish to note
Matching Avon tyres fitted
‘White Gold’ leather interior has been reconnolised at some stage, showing cracks and creases.
Carpets in black with evident deterioration to floors through cabin and boot areas
Correct updated DB4 Series V dashboard that established style for later DB models
Interior retains three-spoke wheel and classic period radio

The Series V introduced the longer, more elegant style that would be only marginally altered for the DB5. The changes over earlier models included the faired-in headlamps that became such a distinctive feature of Aston’s 60s GTs. It is unquestionably beautiful, one of Carrozzeria Touring’s best designs, with those later improvements arguably creating a much more timeless style than the earlier cars.

The DB4 also adopted Touring’s patented ‘Superleggera’ construction system, a lightweight design combining aluminium panels over a tubular steel frame. Given this structure, the trick with any DB4 is to check the panel fit. The photographs of this car show flush door, bonnet and boot fit and straight side lines.

The car is painted red following an older restoration. The paintwork has microblistered during storage and shows some chips and cracks. This is most noticeable up close; from a distance, the car remains very presentable and therefore usable. The helpful MOT, which runs to October, reassuringly contains no structural advisories and confirms that the underside has been protected with underseal.

Inside, there is what the vendor describes as mainly original interior. The leather has been painted but shows some age, as do the carpets. There is scope to improve this car’s cosmetics, and this example would make a very rewarding restoration project, or could be recommissioned and used as is.

The Mechanics

Tadek Marek ‘Special Series’ Vantage specification 3.7-litre (3,670cc) 266 bhp straight-six engine
Triple SU carburetors
Four-speed manual transmission with overdrive
Matching-numbers engine still fitted
Vendor states that the car starts and drives well
Overdrive said to be in full working order
We are told that the engine pulls strongly and doesn't have any irregular noises
Slight oil leak from the top rear of the engine advised by the seller
Clutch release bearing has a slight whirring noise we are told

Thanks to a higher compression ratio and triple SU carburetors, the Series V Vantage delivered a 10% power hike over the previous model, raising it from 240bhp to 266bhp. Known appropriately as the ‘Special Series’ engine, these units carry a ‘SS’ suffix, which this car has. We are told it is a matching numbers engine. It is also fitted with the factory 4spd manual gearbox, equipped with working overdrive.

The history dates back to the first registration, and it has been in the vendor’s family since 1971. There is a healthy history file, nicely contained in a bespoke leather-bound folder. The car has been in storage for long periods of its life, recently emerging and receiving maintenance work. This is shown in the photos and is detailed below.

Summary of recent work:

Old Castrol R oil was warmed and drained
Collapsed oil filter was replaced and the engine was flushed
Bores inspected with plugs removed with only minor surface corrosion observed, cylinders pre-lubed
Distributor, dynamo and water pump checked for free movement
Engine turned gently by hand
Once started, engine quickly built healthy oil pressure (c. 110 psi on external gauge, ~90 psi on dash)
After warm-up to ~50°C, oil and filter changed again with fresh 20W/50 classic oil
Steering, suspension and underside inspected
Underbody has a protective coating
Car passed its MOT and is now in strong mechanical health, with systems operational according to the vendor

Ignition system:

Ignition system recommissioned
Defective coil and ballast resistor replaced
Correct 12V coil and copper-core HT lead fitted
Terminals cleaned to achieve a strong spark
Triple SU carburetors stripped, cleaned and re-gapped
Float heights set to 7/16", needles freed, pistons unstuck
Cooling system flushed repeatedly

Fuel System:

Old fuel supply isolated and replaced with a clean remote source for initial run-up
Tank drained and flushed
Twin SU fuel pump replaced, and an inline pre-filter added
Fuel pickup/solenoid assembly rebuilt
Long brass pickup tubes had split full length (likely corrosion from evaporated fuel)
Fuel lines bored out, replaced, and a new brass filter fabricated

Electric System:

Electrical system tested progressively using a donor battery with inline trip for safety
Faulty accessories identified (lights/fan/horn) and corrected where necessary
Correct-size battery installed and isolator serviced

Compression Test (after recommissioning):

Cyl 1: 125 psi
Cyl 2: 125 psi
Cyl 3: 130 psi
Cyl 4: 125 psi
Cyl 5: 130 psi
Cyl 6: 130 psi

Brakes, Clutch & Chassis:

Both clutch and brake hydraulics were initially seized
Master cylinders and clutch slave rebuilt with new seals
All flexible hoses replaced (original hoses had swollen internally and were restricting flow)
Servo and non-return valve stripped, serviced and reassembled for correct assistance.
Rear discs skimmed (0.004" per face) and pads machined to full, even contact; handbrake linings profiled

** Interested parties should note this lot is currently on view near Winchester, Hampshire. Vehicles must be collected by 28th March 2026 (subject to payment of the lots). From 28th March, vehicle storage charges apply to the buyer.

Charges: £ 14 + VAT for the first 14 days. Thereafter, £ 50 + VAT per car per week.

Buyers should satisfy themselves that they have collected all relevant log books, documents and keys relating to their lot(s) at the time of collection. **

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