Understanding the DB4

Well written article. Thank you for sharing. Perhaps because I own a DB4, I find the styling to be more timeless and Italian with the round fenders/headlights than the DB5.

 

I recently switched my desktop to a db4. beautiful car
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That's a DB 2/4

 

oh, never mind then.

 

the DB4 GT Zagato, in my top 10!!
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11 standard convertibles only? Didn't know that figure was so small. I still have the original sales brochure on it

Best,

Jack.

 

1960 AM Zagato is my all time favorite car. Still looks contemporary today.
Just cannot afford several M purchase one, but always fun to look at.

 

Here's a couple of Zagato DB4s I captured at Goodwood revival 2 weekends ago

Gary
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One of my favorite DB4 Zagato is the dark blue car with Headlights that look closer to the original DB4 - or, as some say, to a 250 SWB. It's a gorgeous car, but very rarely seen. Registration number 29 ALY.
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that is gorgeous! looks different from the other AM DB4 Zagato pictured (like previous posts)? the front end in particular looks different

 

Very good paper, although, needs a clarification of misused terminilogy.
I have restored more than one of each of the series and a number of GT's, so I should be given the freedom to explain and add other changes of the series.

o The (Vantage) has been misused by many as the so called vantage engine was designated as SS ( special series) Aston used this in two ways, although on the DB4 it was used for coachwork,ie, covered headlights. It was later used on the DB 5 as engine upgrade
designated a either V or VC. This is the same misuse as referring a 2/4 Mk111 as a DB 3.

o Just to add to the identity challenge I offer the following data:

1.Not all of the cars fitted with the SS engine had covered headlights, ie, the Vantage coachwork.
2.Some of the last series 5 had dual fuel fillers, like the GT's.
3.Three of the Series 3 cars were fitted with GT engines, four of the series 4 had GT's engines, five of the series 5 had GT engines.
4. Alloy fan cowls fitted after first 100 cars.
5. Oil sump capacities increased for 15 pts-17pts then to 21 pts, after engine # 370/571 all were fitted with the larger sump.
6.Oil coolers were offered on series 2,3, cars-designated as PP (pre production)
33 series 3 cars fitted,55 to series 3. It was then standard equipment.
7. series 3,4,5 had 5 demister vents on dash instad of three.
8. Series 4,5 had single instead of dual stalk switches.
9. series 3,4,5 had electric tachometers.
10. The ash tray was relocated to the gear box cover beginning with series 4.
11. Series 5 was first to be fitted with cold air box on carburetors.
12. Gt instruments fitted to all except first 50 cars, previously only fitted to cars with GT engines.
13. First 150 DB4's produced had frameless door and 1/4 lite windows and no bumper overriders
.
14. Series 1 had back hinged bonnets

Just to invoke a little mystery, the DB 6 was badged as (superleggera) however it was not of the superleggera construction, it was only allowed by a fluke in the Touring licensing. agreement.
Only one DB4/GT had fuel fillers opening from the rear to the frount.

cheers kdl

 

I failed to mention the DB4/Gt Bertone Supersonic # 0201 the last Gt Produced is my all time favorite, I saw it in the late 80;s in San Francisco and it was so rusty that you could literally see through it, as it had a steel body. I had a telephone agree to buy it with Dr. Al Stemmer the current owner, however I was unable to reach Stemmer again to conclude the deal.
Later saw it at Newport Pagnell and last at Pebble Beach with a new owner a Mr Weidman if my spelling of the name is correct.
cheers kdl

 

failed to catch in the last post regarding the Gt engine option, it was way more that just three webers, as the GT engines were twin plug heads, dual ignition and special camshafts.
kdl

 

Yes. 29 ALY is, I think, one of the earlier Zagato cars, and had that design as per first owner's request, I believe.

http://www.byroninternational.com/cardetails.php?carid=3

 

So the SS was single plug heads, single distributor and 3 Webers instead of SUs ?

 

There were thee engines the std-2 SU's, the SS-3SU's, and the DB4/Gt- Twin plug, twin ignition and three DCOE Webers.

 

Regarding the Post by Phillip Jones. It fails to mention that I was the one that first had contacted Mike Tuck for the sale of the car and I turned Phillip Jones onto the car then in Redwood City, Ca and drove him to see the car. Phillip then went behind my back and purchased the car directly from Mike Tuck, and thus let me out of the loop of compensation.

 

That's very sad.

Can you tell us more about the car's history?

 

Do not have a lot of history other than my lst contact with owner by Mike Tuck of Redwood City, Ca and formerlyowned by O Franz of USA.
It was sold as chassic only to Zagato, therfore the unusual frontal treatment-bonnet scoop and vertical headlights. First registered OKC 597M, later SUA 50-this number first appeared on LML 518 and later on DB4/516R.

This was chassis # DB4/GT/0188/L engine # 370/188/GT

kdl

 

Anyone! please advise if you would like to hear about the Sanction 11 So called Zagatos and the Project cars or even if you would like me to stand pat, the Sanction 11's were not even built by Zagato