• The only DB4 GT ever to contest the Tour de France
  
• Just three owners in almost 50 years
  
• One of only 30 left-hand drive examples built
  
• Sympathetically restored and matching numbers
  
• Never before offered openly for sale
  

The DB4 GT is, with the exception of the Zagato, arguably the most sought after of the David Brown Aston Martin road cars. Only 75 were built between 1959 and 1963, and this rare left-hand drive example, which is presented in superb condition with its original matching engine, is the only DB4 GT ever to have contested the 'real' Tour de France.

The GT was, of course, a high performance development of the DB4 sports car that had debuted at the London Motor Show in 1958. The new model's competition potential had been recognised from the outset, and the factory lost no time in developing a lightweight version suitable for racing, the resulting DB4 GT debuting at the 1959 London Motor Show. The car had already been proven in competition earlier that year when the prototype ('DP/199') driven by Stirling Moss won its first race at Silverstone. Extensive modifications to the standard car took 5" out of the wheelbase and replaced the rear seats with a luggage platform on all but a small number of cars. Together with lighter, 18-gauge bodywork, these changes reduced the weight by around 200lb (91kg).

The GT used a tuned engine which, equipped with a twin-plug cylinder head and triple Weber 45DCOE carburettors, produced a claimed 302bhp at 6,000rpm, a useful increase over the standard car's 240bhp. Maximum speed, of course, depended on overall gearing, but 153mph was achieved during testing with a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds recorded. The DB4 GT was also one of the first cars to go from standstill to 100mph and then brake to a dead stop in less than 20 seconds, a tribute, in part, to its up-rated Girling brakes as used on Aston Martin’s competition sports racers of the era. There was a choice of five rear axle ratios and a Powr-Lok limited slip differential, an option on the DB4, was standardised.

Viewed from the front, the GT was readily distinguishable by its faired-in headlamps with Perspex covers, foreshadowing those of the DB4 Vantage of 1961 and the later DB5. The rear screen and quarter windows also were made of Perspex on many examples; bumper over-riders were deleted and the wind-down windows were frame-less within the doors. Twin, quick-release, Monza competition fuel fillers were added atop the rear wings, leading to a 30-gallon fuel tank mounted flat in the boot, which it shared with the spare wheel. GTs were fitted as standard with lightweight Borrani 42-spoke wire wheels with alloy rims and three-eared 'knock-offs'.

The interior was trimmed to full Aston Martin road car specification, with fine Connolly leather upholstery and deep-pile Wilton carpeting. The evocative instrument binnacle on the GT benefited from the addition of an oil temperature gauge to the standard array.

DB4 GTs offered a strong challenge to the prevailing Ferrari dominance in GT racing, examples entered by the works and John Ogier's Essex Racing Stable enjoying numerous victories. Driven by the likes of Roy Salvadori, Stirling Moss, Jim Clark and Innes Ireland, the DB4GT earned its stripes every day on the racing circuit. In December 1959, at the Bahamas Speed Week, Stirling Moss won driving a standard customer DB4 GT 'borrowed' back by the works following the demise of Moss's intended DBR2. The DB4 GT was indeed a true dual-purpose car, equally at ease on both the circuit and Grand Tour.

Chassis number '0120/L' left Aston Martin's Newport Pagnell factory in the summer of 1960 destined for French agent Garage Mirabeau, to whom it was invoiced on 11th August. The car was destined for the Bourelly brothers of Nimes, gentlemen drivers who intended to campaign it in French events. Chassis records show that '0120/L' was ordered in Elusive Blue (ref. 2553) with blue grey Connolly hide trim (ref. VM 3244), a 3.54 rear axle ratio with Powr-Lok differential and Avon Turbospeed P tyres. It was road registered in France on 26th August as '200 FB 30'.
After the demise of Italy's Mille Miglia, Europe's last great roadgoing endurance race was France's Tour de France Automobile, held from 1899 until the last edition in 1986. Five were run before the Great War, a further 13 between the wars and finally, best known of all, 31 races from 1951. The event's formidable reputation resulted from a unique combination of road sections, race circuits, hill climbs and special stages, and the presence of the great marques of the era (among them Ferrari, Jaguar, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Matra and Porsche) and the most famous drivers from all disciplines- formula, rallying and racing.

The 1960 Tour de France was scheduled for 15th-23rd September that year, starting from Nice on the Côte d'Azur and finishing at the resort of Biarritz on the Atlantic coast after a gruelling 5,075km. As usual, Ferrari was out in force with a formidable showing of ten 250GT berlinettas, those of fierce Belgian rivals Gendebien and Mairesse predicted as favourites in the GT class. Among the Touring entries, the duel between Consten and Baillie, both in MkII Jaguars, attracted much press coverage.

Into this melée arrived our handsome blue Aston Martin, standing out as one of the most civilised competition cars on that year's Tour de France, a British GT contender in a sea of Italians. Those who were present many years ago still remember the spectacle of the DB4 GT thundering up hillclimbs and around circuits in torrential rain and thunderstorms, giving a spirited account of itself despite its size and power proving less than ideally suited to the narrow and slippery French roads.

After the initial Col de Braus hillclimb, where the wet weather saw the Ferraris outpaced by a Porsche Carrera Abarth, the entrants lined up to tackle the famous Mont Ventoux ascent. Historian Maurice Louche recalls: "This second timed climb saw Ferrari take the upper hand...In rain, storms and fog, Mairesse and Consten remain untouchable. Both relegate Gendebien and Lego respectively. Following in the GT class, Bourelly looks very comfortable in his Aston Martin on a road he knows well."

The 14km Col du Rousset followed, with a non-stop 1,000km drive to Germany's unforgiving Nürburgring circuit immediately afterwards; our British bulldog remains in contention throughout, despite unrelenting weather conditions responsible for a multitude of retirements including future TdF winner André Simon's Ferrari 250GT SWB, demolished after aquaplaning at 150km/h. Belgium's high speed Spa circuit was next, where Mairesse and Gendebien battled door-to-door until the chequered flag, lowering the lap record one after the other (Mairesse prevailing at an average of 192.4km/h), before the racing car convoy wound its way back into France, via Boulogne-sur-Mer, until the Montlhéry circuit near Paris to do further battle.

Still the Bourelly brothers' Aston Martin remained unfaltering, taking them to the Rouen-les-Essarts track where for an hour they led Consten's powerful Jaguar through the corners, and finally on to Le Mans. Here, for two hours at night and in the rain, the entrants again fought it out in what Maurice Louche termed "the theatre of a chase rich in emotions". Retirements were numerous, including (both with burnt pistons) the Berney/ Gretener Ferrari berlinetta and, alas, the Bourrelly/ Bourrelly Aston Martin, the end of its valiant challenge.

The 1960 Tour de France Automobile was won by Mairesse (Ferrari) in the GT class and Consten (Jaguar) in the Touring class. After its moment of glory, the Bourelly's Aston Martin disappeared into obscurity, remaining in the family's ownership for over two more decades until sold to Monsieur Guy Constans of Conflans-St Honorine in November 1985. Re-registered '2120 RV 78', still it appeared rarely in public, and again changed hands into the current (believed third) French ownership in May 1997.

Loaned to veteran Grand Prix drivers Sir Jack Brabham and Roy Salvadori for an appearance in the retrospective Tour de France in the early 2000s (which they completed with a warm welcome along the route), the car was again put into storage until a complete mechanical restoration was undertaken in 2006-7. The engine has been completely rebuilt together with the gearbox, back axle and brakes. The coachwork was stripped (photo documentation available) and repainted in the original Elusive Blue, whilst the interior retains its original leather which is still well preserved after almost fifty years.

Fitted with its correct engine and bumpers, and presented 'ready for immediate use' but thankfully not deprived of all traces of its colourful past, this is the only Aston Martin DB4 GT to have ever contested the original Tour de France: it is solely thanks to 'DB4GT/0120/L' that others are eligible for the prestigious (and heavily oversubscribed) retrospective event today. Aston Martin built a mere 75 DB4 GTs (plus another 19 Zagato-bodied variants, one Bertone-bodied special and five 'Team' or 'Development Project' GTs). Of the 75 examples, 45 were supplied in right-hand drive form and just 30 were left-hand drive. Despite its tremendous rarity and value, the DB4 GT remains a popular entrant at major historic racing and touring events such as the Goodwood Revival and Colorado Grand not to mention concours d'élègance including Villa d'Este and Pebble Beach.

Amongst the most beloved of all Aston Martins, the DB4 GT remains unmatched for its unique combination of performance and usability and 'DB4GT/0120/L' is surely one of the most richly historied examples.
Photo Credit: Maurice Louche