Donald Campbell’s Aston Martin DB4 GT to be auctioned at the Revival
What sort of car would a speed hero like Donald Campbell drive? In June 1961, after setting six world water speed records and just three years before hitting 403mph in Bluebird in Australia, and grabbing the World Land Speed record, the answer must have been obvious. All many speed-fixated Brits wanted in 1961 was an Aston Martin DB4 GT.
With its aluminium body by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan it was certainly beautiful, and with its Superleggera construction it was light. Its tuned, twin-plug and triple-Weber straight-six boasted 302bhp, 60bhp more than the standard DB4, and a shortened wheelbase endowed it with a lot more agility.
The GT was rare (75 total, 45 in right-hand-drive), and could get from 0-60mph in around six seconds on its way to 150mph and beyond. The DB4 GT might have made a wonderful road car, with its Connolly leather and Wilton carpets, but in the hands of people like Stirling Moss, Jim Clark and Roy Salvadori it also won races. No wonder Donald Campbell fell for it. His was Dubonnet with black hide, and registered 44 MY.
The car, which had been Aston’s factory demo model, didn’t remain with the world’s only water and land speed record holder for long. But surely few names are better than this to appear as first owner in a car’s logbook...
The DB4 GT, re-registered, restored and now repainted green, would go on to have a succession of owners including the car’s current German custodian who has cared for it since 1991. And who is now selling it. The ex-Donald Campbell DB4 GT is one of the headline lots at the Bonhams Revival auction at Goodwood on 14th September.
As well as a famous owner and a reputation as a luxury GT that could win races (and beat Ferraris) on track, this GT boasts a continuous history and splendid condition. A bare-metal restoration and mechanical rebuild was completed in 2001 after six years and bills of around 350,000 Swiss francs.
Any DB4 GT is special, with many boasting incredible provenance which with their rarity makes them valuable items, and this one is no exception. Bonhams estimates it will make between £2.2-2.8 million.