Aston Martin DB4 Series V £440,000
This DB might be standard looking, but it packs a 4.7 RS Williams motor, says Paul Hardiman
This DB4 was restored in 2005 by RS Williams. At the time, the owner chose a number of upgrades including 4.7-litre Vantage-spec engine and Harvey-bailey handling kit. It was originally Fiesta (red), as shown by a picture in the history file, and has always had overdrive with 3.77:1 differential.
It was in the US for a period until 1988, and its new UK owner went to some lengths to track its history in California, with some success. Bills once back in the UK start with new seats, carpets and wheels at Aston Service Dorset in 1988, followed by Fulham Workshop, and RS Williams bills begin in 1991.
Even 13 years after the restoration its appearance is excellent, with straight body panels, good fits and nice paint and chrome. The only blemish we could find is a small section of paint lifting on the scoop-to-bonnet blend. Underneath it’s all straight and solid, with good jacking points and a stainless exhaust. The spokes all ring evenly when subjected to the pen test, and tyres are Avon ZZS with lots of tread, plus an older orphan on the steel spare.
Inside, the leather still looks fresh – unused in the back, slightly creased on the passenger side and more so on the driver’s seat. Carpets are still almost like new, headlining is excellent and the dash is very good, probably with its original covering because there are one or two wrinkles at the edges and the stitching is discoloured – or ‘period’ if you prefer. A modern stereo remains, with a CD player in the boot, but Mee & Co hasn’t reverted this to a periodstyle radio yet, leaving the choice up to the new owner, and will resolve the holes in the leather trim above it at the same time.
The motor is clean, with the paint just starting to burn off the exhaust manifolds, and there’s a little paint melted off the scuttle under the brake reservoir. The triple SUS wear K&N filters, and there’s an electric fan on the front of the radiator complementing the standard mechanical item, as well as a small modern alternator. Coolant is a strong blue and full in the header tank, and oil is golden and to the full mark. The motor itself was dynotested after build by RSW at 320bhp and 330lb ft, up from the original 3.7’s 240bhp and 240lb ft – and which does rather make you wonder about the alleged 325 horses of a 4.0-litre Vantage-spec DB5 engine… It starts easily, and drives nicely with a taut ride and nice brakes. There’s plenty of torque but it’s also happy to rev, and is quick enough to go M5-baiting. The synchromesh is good (though the gate is typically wide and you have to learn your way around it), and the overdrive clicks in and out promptly. Oil pressure is at least 80psi when warmed through, when temperature is 85-90 degrees. Oh, and the clock works. Windows are manual so no electrics to worry about.
This is a delightful mix of originality, upkeep and upgrades that looks standard, and costs about the same as a standard, restored (or incredibly original, for which read borderline tatty) earlier DB4.