1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1
- Engine
- 2,992cc straight-six twin-cam RB6, triple Weber 50DCO carburetors, ~301 bhp at 6,500 rpm
The Aston Martin DBR1/1 is the most celebrated of the five DBR1 works sports-racing cars built, having competed at the highest level of international motorsport between 1956 and 1962. It contested Le Mans, the Nürburgring 1000 KM, Sebring, and the Tourist Trophy, accumulating victories alongside drivers including Stirling Moss, Roy Salvadori, and Carroll Shelby. Its 1959 Nürburgring win, driven largely by Moss, was decisive in securing Aston Martin's World Sportscar Championship title. After works retirement it passed through several private owners and underwent significant restoration work before reaching its present state.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$22,550,000
- 1956 → 1959Factory deliveryAston Martin Works (factory racing team)full documentation
Built and campaigned as a works entry in international sportscar racing. Withdrawn from competition in August 1959 following the championship-winning season.
- 1960 → 1962Acquisition unknownEssex Racing Stablespartial documentation
Ran the car in the Nürburgring 1000 KM on two occasions before Aston Martin sold the car onward in 1962.
- 1962 → 1963Private saleHon. John Dawnay and Hon. James Dawnayfull documentation
Purchased from Aston Martin at end of 1962 season together with the 2,992-cc engine. Both brothers raced the car until James crashed at Silverstone in 1963, causing significant front bodywork damage. John Dawnay later became the 11th Viscount Downe and a long-serving Aston Martin Owners Club president.
- 1963 → 1976Acquisition unknownRS Williams (Aston specialist)partial documentation
Car was returned to Feltham Works after the crash, body salvaged from scrapping, then transferred to this Aston specialist where it sat unworked on for roughly twelve years.
- 1976 →Private saleGeoffrey Marshpartial documentation
Aston enthusiast and race entrant who undertook bodywork restoration, fabricating a new front section using a buck made from DBR1/2 and refurbishing the remaining original bodywork.
Competition
- 1956Le Mans 24 Hours 1956DNF — bearing failure after 20 hours
Car ran under reduced 2,493-cc engine capacity to comply with prototype regulations. Performed well before mechanical retirement.
- 1957British Empire Trophy 1957Driver: Roy Salvadori2nd
- 1957Easter Goodwood 1957Driver: Roy Salvadori2nd
- 1957Spa 1957Driver: Roy Salvadori2nd
Tony Brooks won in DBR1/2; Salvadori finished second in DBR1/1 at the same event.
- 1957Nürburgring 1000 KM 1957Driver: Roy Salvadori6th
Co-driven with Les Leston. Brooks and Cunningham-Reid led throughout in DBR1/2.
- 1957Le Mans 24 Hours 1957Driver: Roy SalvadoriDNF — fractured oil pipe
Co-driven with Les Leston. Brooks crashed DBR1/2 while running second.
- 1957Belgian Grand Prix support race 1957Driver: Roy Salvadori4th
The Belgian GP that year was run for sports cars. Brooks won in DBR1/2.
- 1958Sebring 12 Hours 1958Driver: Roy SalvadoriDNF — cracked chassis
Co-driven with Carroll Shelby. Moss set a new lap record in DBR1/2 before that car also retired.
- 1958Nürburgring 1000 KM 1958Driver: Carroll ShelbyDNF — gearbox failure
Co-driven with Salvadori. Moss won the event outright in DBR1/3.
- 1958Le Mans 24 Hours 1958DNF
One of three DBR1s entered; this car retired with a broken gearbox while another crashed and the third failed while leading.
- 1958Tourist Trophy 1958Driver: Roy Salvadori2nd
Co-driven with Jack Brabham at Goodwood. Moss and Brooks won in DBR1/2; Shelby and Lewis-Evans were third in DBR1/3.
- 1959Sebring 12 Hours 1959Driver: Roy SalvadoriDNF — clutch failure
Co-driven with Carroll Shelby. Car now fitted with updated 2,992-cc engine and 50DCO Webers.
- 1959World Sportscar ChampionshipNürburgring 1000 KM 1959Driver: Stirling Moss1st
Co-driven with Jack Fairman, who completed only eight laps. Moss broke the lap record sixteen times in a celebrated drive. This victory was pivotal in securing the 1959 World Sportscar Championship for Aston Martin.
- 1959World Sportscar ChampionshipTourist Trophy 1959practice car only
Used solely as a practice vehicle at Goodwood. Aston Martin clinched the 1959 World Sportscar Championship title at this event.
- 1961Nürburgring 1000 KM 1961Driver: Jim ClarkDNF — con-rod failure
Co-driven with Bruce McLaren for Essex Racing Stables. Running fourth when the engine failed at the 500 KM mark.
- 1962Nürburgring 1000 KM 1962Driver: Bruce McLaren4th
Co-driven with Tony Maggs for Essex Racing Stables. Final works-associated race entry before the car was sold.
- 1963Silverstone 1963Driver: Hon. James DawnayDNF — crash
James Dawnay crashed the car, causing extensive front bodywork damage. This ended the car's racing career for many years.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1963RepairAston Martin Feltham Works
Car returned to the Feltham Works following the Silverstone accident; the damaged body was removed and narrowly saved from disposal.
The body sat detached for close to a year before being transferred to an outside specialist.
- 1976BodyworkGeoffrey Marsh
A body buck was taken from DBR1/2 and used to fabricate a replacement front section; the surviving original bodywork was refurbished.
Marsh was simultaneously undertaking a full rebuild of DBR1/2, enabling him to produce an accurate front section for this car.
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