1961 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible Series V SS
- Engine
- Twin-cam inline-six, triple SU carburettors, 9:1 compression, 266 bhp at 5,750 rpm (Special Series spec)
- Colour
- Black Pearl with red leather interior (exterior: black)
Chassis DB4C/1082/L is a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible, one of only 33 examples fitted with the high-output Special Series engine and one of eight left-hand-drive Series V convertibles. Uniquely finished in Black Pearl over Red leather from new, it was despatched to a California distributor and displayed at the 1963 Los Angeles International Motor Show. After passing through several American and European owners, the car received a comprehensive bare-metal restoration by Classic Motor Cars of Shropshire in the early 2020s, including an Oselli-rebuilt numbers-matching engine bored out to 4.2 litres.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,500,000 – US$1,800,000
- —Auction saleSold €1,130,000 (≈ $1.24M)
- 1963 →Private saleWheeldex Simpla Corporationpartial documentation
First retail owner, based in Los Angeles; acquired the car after its display at the 1963 LA International Motor Show. Company known as inventors of the Simplawheel.
- 2008 → 2022Acquisition unknownMiddle Eastern private collectionpartial documentation
Described as a prominent collection; held the car from 2008 until early 2022.
- 2022 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Purchased the car in early 2022 and commissioned a comprehensive restoration by Classic Motor Cars of Shropshire, UK, returning the body to its original Black Pearl finish and rebuilding the engine through Oselli Ltd.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownForrest Moorepartial documentation
Based in Aptos, California; believed to have acquired the car in the late 1970s. Commissioned a restoration in the mid-1990s by Aston Martin specialist Kevin Kay of Redding, California, during which the body was refinished in green.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownEric Jeffriespartial documentation
Aston Martin collector from Cincinnati, Ohio who acted as broker; facilitated the car's sale through Bob Fountain at The Aston Workshop in the UK at the Techno Classica Essen event.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownT.J. Bahrpartial documentation
German owner; one of two successive recorded German custodians following the Techno Classica Essen sale.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownWolfgang G. Koehnepartial documentation
German owner; followed T.J. Bahr in the recorded ownership chain.
Competition
- 19631963 Los Angeles International Motor Show
The car was displayed at this show prior to its sale to the first recorded owner; an event program from the show is included in the sale documentation.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationKevin Kay
Comprehensive restoration commissioned by Forrest Moore and carried out by Aston Martin specialist Kevin Kay of Redding, California; the body was refinished in green during this work. Photo documentation exists.
Work undertaken in the mid-1990s; Kevin Kay was noted as an award-winning marque specialist at the time.
- —RestorationClassic Motor Cars
Full bare-metal restoration commissioned by the consignor, covering stripping to bare shell, chassis refinished in correct red oxide, new suspension components, brakes, and complete electrical renewal. Body refinished in factory-correct Black Pearl, interior retrimmed in genuine Red Connolly Vaumol leather and grey Wilton wool carpets, and new Avon Turbosteel tyres fitted to Borrani-style wheels. Photo documentation exists.
Work commenced following the consignor's purchase in early 2022; carried out by Classic Motor Cars of Shropshire, UK.
- —Engine rebuildOselli Ltd
Numbers-matching Special Series engine rebuilt by Oselli; cylinders bored to accept larger pistons, increasing displacement from 3.7 to 4.2 litres for additional power output.
Work was part of the broader consignor-commissioned restoration; Oselli are based in Milton Keynes, UK.
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