1961 Aston Martin DB4GT
- Engine
- 4.0L inline-six, triple Weber carburettors, ~302 bhp (original block replaced; remainder of engine original)
- Colour
- Dubonnet (original color; later repainted dark green)
Chassis DB4GT/0157/R is one of only 75 production Aston Martin DB4GTs, distinguished by its 'Type 2' specification and the rare factory fitment of two occasional rear seats — one of just three DB4GTs so configured. The car gained celebrity through its appearance in the 1961 Peter Sellers comedy film 'The Wrong Arm of the Law', after which Sellers himself is believed to have owned it briefly. Subsequent history includes a class win at the 1967 AMOC Curborough Sprint, a period in New Zealand during the 1980s, and a comprehensive body-off restoration completed in the early 2000s costing in excess of £100,000.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate £3,000,000 – £3,400,000
- 1961-03-01 →Factory deliveryKen Ruddfull documentation
Brooklands-based dealer who took initial delivery of the car; served as the first registered recipient.
- 1966 →Acquisition unknownJ Melville Smithpartial documentation
Registered owner by 1966; participated actively in club events with the car.
- → 1973Acquisition unknownUnidentified intermediate owner or ownersnone documentation
The car passed through multiple hands between Melville Smith's tenure and its appearance in a club publication in 1973, at which point the original colour had been changed to dark green.
- 1975 → 1990Acquisition unknownKen Mosespartial documentation
Purchased the car in 1975 and shipped it to New Zealand in 1981; minimal additional mileage was accumulated during his ownership, totalling roughly 5,000 miles over approximately fifteen years.
- 1999 →Acquisition unknownKevin Reganpartial documentation
Initiated a comprehensive body-off restoration costing over £100,000, using specialist contractors for chassis, bodywork, paint, engine, and gearbox work.
- 2026-05-21 →AuctionEmmapartial documentation
Birthday present for my friend
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPeter Sellersnone documentation
Believed to have owned the car after filming concluded; as a well-known automotive enthusiast who rarely kept cars long, his tenure was likely brief — probably under a year.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Acquired the car after the Regan restoration; has displayed it at multiple UK events in well-maintained condition.
Competition
- 1967AMOC1967 AMOC Curborough SprintDriver: J Melville Smith1st in class
Maintenance & restoration
- 1963Engine rebuild
Following damage to the engine block during filming — and evidence suggesting a subsequent fire — the original block was replaced with a 4.0-litre unit sourced from the Lagonda Rapide production sequence. All other engine components are believed to be original. The service record explicitly notes repairs completed after a fire on this date.
Research by DB4GT historian Stephen Archer, drawing on Aston Martin engine shop records, places block no. 85 (Rapide sequence) as having been completed in early February 1963 and fitted to this car around that time.
- 1990ServiceDavid Silcock, Motor Engineers
Comprehensive preparation work carried out ahead of the car's return to the UK from New Zealand, ensuring it was fully operational for repatriation.
- 1999RestorationBodylines (chassis and bodywork); Spray-Tec (rebuild, refit, and paint)
Full body-off restoration encompassing chassis work, bodywork, respray, and interior refit. The project spanned approximately four years and exceeded £100,000 in cost.
Restoration initiated by owner Kevin Regan.
- —Engine rebuildRex J Woodgate
Engine and gearbox fully rebuilt by an Aston Martin specialist following the body-off restoration, confirming the car's mechanical integrity.
Carried out in conjunction with or shortly after the main restoration programme.