Note: photos are clickable to see them in a much larger
size.
The Aston Martin DB MkIII is the last of the Feltham era. It's
also the last evolution based on the DB2 body. There are nonetheless complains
because
its engine is somewhat more fragile. Indeed it is more tuned and its
casting is of a lesser quality (because of the material used in fact).
As the last of the 50s, it also means it is the last of the
sportscar type which were
meant to accelerate on small, twisty roads before 60s sportscars rather
more built for motorways.
Well, the DB MkIII had several engine options to choose from with code
engines ranging from DBA, DBD, DBB and finally DBC
The DBC engine ranks among the Aston Martin myths. Indeed,
the "C" stands for competition and it is rated at 217 hp !
For the record, DBA engines have 162 bhp, DBD 178 and DBB 195.
Also of interest, the DBC is surely more powerful than the engine found
in early MkIII racing
cars such as AM300/3A/1317
which had triple Weber 40s instead of 45s on the DBC engine.
But there is one other reason why, for many years, the DBC engine has
been a myth: indeed when you look at the AMOC register there is
"It was recorded as fitted
to only one car (AM300/3/1708,
delivered to Havana in October 1958)"
and under AM300/3/1708, it says:
"The only car fitted with the DBC
engine as original equipment." More
about this anon.
And this car was not really recorded. Still in Cuba?
Yes as it surfaced in November 1994 Classic
& Sportscars issue (thanks a lot Alex for the scan):
Here is the article:
Poor 1708 looks a little sad and it's not sure the DBC still lurks
under the bonnet (hood, for you American readers)...
Many, many years later, I read about the DBC that "one (maybe two) cars were fitted with
the DBC engine"...
In fact, this was true and not a contradiction to "The only
car fitted with the DBC engine as original equipment."
describing
AM300/3/1708...
Well, now for a fantastic find. REALLY FANTASTIC!
This discovery was sent by Nick
and is an excerpt from THE VANTAGE POINT Magazine, copyright
2010, with permission of Aston Martin Owners Club - East of North
America. Many, many thanks for that.
So, here is AM300/3A/1325...
As you can see, this is a "3A" on
the chassis but a "3" on the chassis plate! Even if it's, on that same
plate, a type "DB2/4
MK111A"...
Just to add confusion, here are the
original documents:
Type is now a "DB2-4 Mk111"...
Beside this confusion, you must have noticed engine number: DBA/944
DBA not
DBC !
In fact, here is the full history of the car (Vantage Point PDF article mentioned
at the beginning):
You'll discover that 1325 was born as a red car with DBA engine with
twin exhausts but that it has later been uprated to DBC at works.
So for the title of this page: one and half built ! One
built with a DBC and one built with an engine later uprated as a DBC...
Here is a photo of this fantastic engine, with specs very close to
those of a DB3S engine:
Look at those gorgeous 45 Webers ...
AM300/3A/1325 is one of the most desirable
Feltham cars as it is
very good condition, unrestored and equipped with an almost unique
competition engine! More history,
particularly competition history, of
the car is sought after.
Maybe the car entered Tulip Rallye and Rome-Liege-Rome events of 1957,
1958 and 1959.
I will forward, should you had
something about it.
