1961 Aston Martin DB4GT

Noted British artist who took delivery of the car new via Ken Rudd's Brooklands Motors in London; died young in 1964 after which the car reverted to the selling dealer.

Purchased from Brooklands Garage; no specific details of his tenure beyond the dates are provided.

Car returned to the dealership following the death of the first owner and was subsequently sold on the same year.

Enthusiastic and fast driver whose hard use led to a serious engine failure; the factory replaced the unit with a reconditioned engine sourced from the Equipe Endeavour Stirling Moss lightweight, with the swap fully documented. Williams died in 1978.

Prominent Ford dealership owner in Kent who paid £5,000 for the car; in 1981 commissioned Aston Martin Newport Pagnell to carry out chassis work and a respray to dark blue.

Car was sold through Classic Lines in the UK to Japan; this owner had it repainted Aston Racing Green and retrimmed in tan leather at a restorer in Tochigi.

Well-known Japanese film actor who was the final owner of the car during its time in Japan.

Acquired the car while visiting Japan in 2012 and brought it back to the United Kingdom.

Shortly after purchase, loaned the car to Aston Martin Works for approximately one year as the reference vehicle for the DB4GT continuation programme; the car was fully dismantled and reassembled during this period, receiving a Works repaint and retrim, and has since been maintained by Desmond Smail.

Prototype DP199 made the sole Le Mans appearance for the DB4GT model; no result details are given in the prose.

This was the first public appearance of prototype DP199; to gain entry the factory had to guarantee the car would enter production.

Chassis remedial work carried out at the factory, accompanied by a colour change from the car's prior finish to dark blue.

Commissioned by owner David Saunderson.

The car was extensively dismantled at Aston Martin Works while serving as the reference vehicle for the DB4GT continuation programme. On reassembly it received a factory repaint in Racing Almond Green and a new interior in Connolly hide.

The car was on loan to the Works for approximately one year. This refurbishment was a by-product of its role as the authenticated reference example for the 25 continuation cars.

Following serious engine failure caused by hard use, the original unit was removed at the Aston Martin Newport Pagnell factory and replaced with a reconditioned, ready-to-use engine (no. 370/0124/GT) previously fitted to the Equipe Endeavour Stirling Moss lightweight DB4GT/0124/R. A new chassis plate bearing the matching engine number was also fitted. Total cost was £352.

Work carried out during David Williams's ownership, which ran from 1967 to 1978; the exact year is not specified. The installation is stated to be fully documented.

Car repainted in Aston Racing Green and interior re-trimmed in tan leather, carried out at Brescia Restorations in Tochigi, Japan, during the first Japanese owner's tenure.

Exact date not recorded; work took place between 1996 and the car passing to its second Japanese owner.

Ongoing maintenance and upkeep carried out by marque specialist Desmond Smail following the Works refurbishment, keeping the car in fine running order.