Launched in 1959, the DB4 G.T. was immediately celebrated as one of the rarest and most revered of all Aston Martins. Evolved from the production DB4 and introduced in the same year Aston Martin scored its historic outright win in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the DB4 G.T. was a true supercar of its day. Shorter, lighter, sleeker and with a more powerful version of the legendary 3.7-litre straight-6 engine, not only was the DB4 G.T. Britain’s fastest passenger sports car, it was a born winner, scoring a debut race victory at Silverstone in the hands of Sir Stirling Moss.
A total of 75 DB4 G.T.s were built between 1959 and 1963. Of these only 8 were lightweight models. Most of which survive today, and values now comfortably exceed £3m (RM16 million).
In celebration of this iconic model, Aston Martin has announced that they will produce a special series of 25 continuation cars built to lightweight specification at the Aston Martin Works facility at Newport Pagnell, home of the original DB4 G.T.
Each DB4 G.T. Continuation will remain faithful to the design of the original 8 lightweight models. Aston Martin Works will employ a mix of “old world craftsmanship and modern techniques”, with the continuation cars to benefit from improvements in engine performance, handling, braking and safety, retaining at the same time the feel and the character of the original.
At its heart is a version of the celebrated Tadek Marek-designed straight-6 cylinder engine with two spark plugs per cylinder, transmitting its 340bhp to the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, just as in the original DB4 G.T. Thanks to its shortened wheelbase the DB4 G.T. is a strict 2-seater blessed with greater agility than the regular 4-seater DB4. Its body follows the original construction, with thin-gauge aluminum panels fitted over a tubular frame. To improve the accuracy and consistency of the panels, the continuation car’s bodywork uses state-of-the-art digital technology, before being hand-finished.
Each DB4 G.T. continuation will carry on from the last original DB4 G.T. ordered VIN number – Chassis 0202R and all of them will be built for track use only hence it is illegal for use on public roads.
Though the DB4 G.T. Continuation will be used exclusively on the track, Aston Martin Works has created a two-year international track driving programme held at a number of the world’s finest race tracks, including the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. Customers will be offered the ‘ultimate arrive-and-drive’ experience under the capable hands of the expert instructors, including Aston Martin Racing’s multiple Le Mans class winner (and Goodwood Revival regular) Darren Turner.
Retailing for £1.5 million (RM10.6 million) all 25 of the continuation DB4 GTs are unfortunately have already been spoken for, with Aston Martin revealing that first deliveries will commence in the third quarter of 2017.
