Engine No. 370/1051/SS

The Aston Martin DB4 Convertible is among the most exclusive models from the DB era, with only the Zagato-bodied variant being rarer. Production was limited to 30 Series IV and 40 Series V examples—the latter featuring an extended wheelbase and larger wheels—before the arrival of the DB5 in September 1963.

According to its factory build sheet, this noteworthy DB4 Convertible, chassis DB4C/1082/L, was completed on 21 September 1962 and promptly shipped to Peter Satori, Aston Martin's distributor in Los Angeles. This particular Convertible is distinctive for several reasons as one of 12 left-hand drive Series V examples, and of these, one of just eight cars equipped with the “SS” engine featuring triple carburetors, higher compression, larger inlet valves and revised camshaft. It is also thought to be the sole example finished in stunning Black Pearl with a Red leather interior according to the Hertiage Trust Registrar.

After its debut at the 1963 Los Angeles International Motor Show, the car was purchased by Wheeldex Simpla Corporation, known for inventing a predecessor to the Rolodex. Remaining in California, the car passed Forrest Moore of Aptos in the late 1970s. Moore would later commission a complete restoration in the mid-1990s by Kevin Kay, a respected Aston Martin specialist, during which the car was repainted green and trimmed with a black leather interior.

The DB4 subsequently changed hands several times, passing through owners in Ohio, Germany, and Kuwait. In early 2022, under new ownership, the Convertible underwent a second comprehensive restoration, this time by Classic Motor Cars in Shropshire, U.K. Their work encompassed a bare metal repaint in its original Black Pearl finish, while the interior was luxuriously appointed in correct Vaumol Connolly hides, restoring the original Red color scheme, complemented by new Grey Wilton wool carpets. Attention to detail extended beneath the surface, with a full suspension rebuild incorporating new bushings and consumables as required. Similarly, the braking system saw a complete rebuild, and the electrical systems were modernized with a new wiring loom. The Special Series engine was entrusted to the specialists at Oselli Ltd., who rebuilt the matching-numbers unit with an increase in displacement to 4.2 liters for increased power.

The car comes complete with various documents and accessories, including a copy of the factory build sheet, period-correct tools, DB4 Instruction Book, and literature from its 1963 Motor Show appearance. Given its rarity, matching-numbers engine, and recent high-quality restoration, this DB4 Series V Convertible represents one of the most exquisite and desirable examples to come to market in recent years.