AStOn mARtIn VAnqUISh AStOn mARtIn V8 EFI AStOn ... - The Seen

FEATURE : ROAD RACER
AS reguLAr fuLLbore reAderS ANd ViSitorS to our
webSiteS wiLL kNow, we At NiChoLAS mee & Co Are
keeN to Promote our SerViCiNg, rACe PrePArAtioN
ANd reStorAtioN SerViCeS.
Periodical servicing is usually a straightforward procedure, but
although race prep and restorations differ greatly, there’s often
an interesting tale to tell. So here’s the story of a car – specifically
a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series 2, chassis no. DB4/411/R – and its
road-spec to race-spec and back again restoration project. But
first some background on the DB4 and this car in particular.
the db4
First unveiled at the Paris Motorshow in 1958, every major
component in the ground-breaking DB4 was new. Designed
by Carrozeria Touring of Milan, it employed the Superleggera
(super-light) system by using alloy body panels affixed to a
tubular frame. The Tadek Marek-designed 3.7-litre straight-six,
dohc engine produced 240bhp and the model remained in
production until June ’63, by which time there had been five
distinct series and a total of 1,110 had been built. The 140mph,
2+2 DB4 launched Aston Martin straight back into competition
with the exotic Continental brands.
15
thiS db4
From the 1970s DB4/411/R was owned by Nicholas Harris of
Fulham, London. Prior to Mr Harris moving abroad, the car was
acquired in a tired state by Nicholas Mee in November 2001, who
then prepared it for racing with the Aston Martin Owners Club.
The AMOC’s B1 regulations allowed few modifications and
this meant a 4-litre capacity limit with standard carburetion,
although an upgrade to triple SU carburetion was allowed.
Other permitted modifications included uprated suspension
and brakes, but the interior trim and fittings had to remain in
place, and there was a minimum weight limit which prohibited
the removal of road car equipment.
Driven by Karsten le Blanc and Christiaen van Lanschot the car
was used for some track and test days, and raced in B1 spec for
two seasons, but for the 2005 season it was further modified to
B2 regs. These allowed for a reduction in weight and a 4.2-litre
engine with 48mm Weber DCOE carbs. Marque specialist RS
Williams built the engine using Carrillo forged steel con-rods,
Cosworth competition pistons, a steel crankshaft, competition
camshafts, a gas-flowed cylinder head, a strengthened engine
block, tuned equal-length exhaust manifolds and a Tilton multiplate
competition clutch. With a ‘soft cut’ rev limiter installed, the
fuLLbore
‘THE AMOc’S B1 rEGUlATIONS
AllOwEd fEw MOdIfIcATIONS’