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Classically proportioned and instantly recognisable from themoment of its introduction in 1958, the Touring-styled AstonMartin DB4 established a look that would survive, with only minorrevisions, until 1970. Designed by Tadek Marek and already provenin racing, the DB4’s new twin-cam six-cylinder engine displaced3,670cc while the gearbox was a new David Brown four-speedall-synchromesh unit. An immensely strong platform-type chassis,designed by Harold Beach, replaced the preceding DB2/4’s multitubularspaceframe, the latter being considered incompatible withTouring’s Superleggera body construction. The DB2/4’s trailinglinkindependent front suspension gave way to unequal-lengthwishbones while at the rear the DB4 sported a live axle located by aWatts linkage instead of its predecessor’s Panhard rod.Boasting disc brakes all round and with 240bhp on tap, the DB4was the first production car capable of accelerating from a standingstart to 100mph and back to rest again in under 30 seconds. At atime when few family saloons were capable of exceeding 70mphand took an age to get there, this staggering performance made theDB4 just about the fastest thing on the road, easily the equal of itsItalian rivals.The DB4 was available only as a closed coupé until September1961 when the convertible version was unveiled at that year’sMotor Show. Priced at £4,449, it was £250 more expensive thanthe coupé. Passenger space was little changed, though there wasmore headroom than the coupé could offer.Its accompanying copy guarantee form shows that ‘247 EXN’ wassold new in March 1963 to Wrinton Vale Nurseries of Congresbury,Somerset and was delivered finished in Caribbean Pearl withdark blue Connolly hide interior trim. There are no non-standardfeatures listed and the only other owner recorded is a G V Helmerof The Hilltop Inn, Commercial Road, Southampton (no date given).The car’s recorded history recommences when it was sent forrestoration to Aston Martin Works Service at Newport Pagnell in thelate 1980s.Motor Cars | 1134