1955 Aston Martin DB3S
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six
- Colour
- Almond green with silver-painted grille
Chassis DB3S/111 is a customer-specification Aston Martin DB3S constructed between August and October 1955, finished at the factory in Almond Green with green leather trim. Displayed at the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show before passing to private hands in 1956, it subsequently compiled a modest but documented competition history through several British owners in the early 1960s. A thorough restoration was carried out between 1990 and 1992 under Aston Service Dorset. The car has since participated in the Mille Miglia Storica and other significant historic events, and is offered with a spare engine block.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €3,380,000 (≈ $3.72M)
- 1955-10-01 → 1956-03-01Factory deliveryAston Martin factorypartial documentation
Retained by the factory after completion; displayed at the 1955 Earls Court motor show and possibly used for press road tests in early 1956.
- 1956-03-01 → 1956-05-01Private saleBrooklands of Bond Streetfull documentation
Dealership that received the car from the factory per period correspondence on file, and sold it to the first private buyer.
- 1956-05-01 →Private saleMr Mackiefull documentation
First private owner; registration SLX 899 recorded in his name in May 1956.
- 1960 → 1962Acquisition unknownMr Doggettpartial documentation
Actively raced the car and also exhibited it at a concours event in 1961.
- 1962 → 1963Acquisition unknownMr W Hampartial documentation
Competed in multiple club races during his tenure.
- 1963 → 1965Acquisition unknownMr Aldersladepartial documentation
Raced the car in club events at Silverstone and Snetterton.
- 1965 → 1973Private saleMr Ivan Carrfull documentation
Heir to a Carlisle-based biscuit manufacturer; purchased the car in poor cosmetic state and had a replacement cylinder head fitted. Kept in Cumbria throughout his ownership.
- 1973 → 1974Private saleMr John Crabtreepartial documentation
Otley, Yorkshire buyer who had verbally agreed the purchase while the car was still with Carr; resold quickly for a profit.
- 1974 → 2014Private saleForshaw familyfull documentation
Roger Forshaw and family, connected to Aston Service Dorset, used the car regularly at owners club events; a full restoration was completed between 1990 and 1992 under the supervision of former Team Lotus technician John Lambert.
- 2014 →Acquisition unknownUS-based ownerpartial documentation
Based in the United States at time of acquisition; the car subsequently returned to Europe and has been used in historic rallies including the Mille Miglia Storica.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownR S Wilkinspartial documentation
Reportedly swapped the standard Weber carburettors for SU units to make the six-cylinder engine more tractable for road use.
Competition
- 19551955 British Motor ShowExhibited on factory stand
Static display at Earls Court; actress Eunice Gayson was photographed with the car at the stand.
- 1960VSCC Pomeroy TrophyDriver: Mr Doggett7th overall
- 1961VSCC Pomeroy TrophyDriver: Mr Doggett1st overall
- 1961Banbury ConcoursExhibited
Static display entry by Mr Doggett.
- 1962BRSCC race, SnettertonDriver: Mr W Ham2nd overall
- 1962Race at SilverstoneDriver: Mr W Ham1st
- 1962LMC race, SnettertonDriver: Mr W Ham3rd
- 1963Race at SilverstoneDriver: Mr Alderslade2nd overall
- 1963SMRC race, SnettertonDriver: Mr Alderslade2nd overall
- —Mille Miglia Storica
Participated after the car returned to Europe post-2014; exact year not stated.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1990RestorationAston Service Dorset
Full rebuild initiated by Aston Service Dorset, encompassing mechanical rebuilding, interior retrimming, and a repaint; work was completed in 1992.
Restoration led by John Lambert, previously a technician with Team Lotus and the John Surtees racing organisation. Commissioned during the Forshaw family's ownership.
- —Modification
Weber carburettors replaced with SU units to moderate the engine's power delivery for everyday road use.
Carried out during R S Wilkins' ownership; documented in Aston Martin Owners Club records.
- —Mechanical
Cylinder head replaced after cracks were found in the original unit.
Undertaken during Ivan Carr's ownership; noted in a period letter on file.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.