About DB4GT lightweight
and DP207 & DP209 DB4GT Zagato


You all know that the DB4GT was created (and presented in September 1959 at the London Motor Show) in a way to offer a high performance version of the DB4. It featured twin plugs, three twin-choke Weber 45 DCOE carbs and a compression ratio of 9:1.
It had a power output of 302 b.h.p. at 6,000 rpm (331 h.p. SAE). Remember the DB4 was rated 240 b.h.p. at 5,500 rpm (and had a 8.25:1 CR).
It was a very potent car with impressive performances and competition minded.

A DB4 did about 9 sec. and 20 sec. for acceleration from 0-60 and 0-100 m.p.h. and a standing quarter mile in a little more than 16 seconds.
A DB4GT is good for 6.4 for 0-60, 14.2 for 0-100 and can do the quarter in 14 seconds. Impressive indeed ! (A Zagato even got 6.1 ...)
Nevertheless, for competition use, it suffered from being considered as too heavy by some. Indeed it was only 85 kg (185 lb.) lighter than a series 2 DB4 with a kerb weight of 1,269 kg (2,798 lb.).
You must remember that the DB4GT was fully loaded of full luxury equipment.

Hence, five lightweight cars have been built : 0124, 0125, 0151, 0167 and 0168. More about these anon.

In October 1960, the DB4GT Zagato appeared at the London Motor Show. Even more power (314 b.h.p. thanks to a 9.7:1) and a very nice shaped that was also quite efficient. Some weight was gained too : around 20 kg.

As the DB4GT Zagato not yet appeared as the ultimate weapon, further refinements were imagined, described under code names DP207 and DP209.
The DP207 is a reshaped and lightened DB4GT Zagato that had been called DP209 for years until the AMOC corrected this.
In Ted Cutting's correspondence, evidence suggested that the DP207 were lightweight racers with a special suspension set-up whereas DP209 was a very special Zagato project that was stopped.

We'll have a look at those DP207 later on this page. Two cars were produced as DP207s : 0191/R and 0193/R. Two lightweight Zagatos (but with "ordinary" body) were built 0182/R and 0183/R, the latter being converted to DP207.

Of course, all those cars are not to be confused with DP212, DP214 and DP215 which were works racing cars of a different nature.

Here we go for a one by one look ...


DB4GT/0124/R (587 GJB)

Engine 370/0163/GT. Lightweight chassis.

Some early racing history :
1960 B.AR.C. Goodwood (Moss), 1st overall, 83.03 m.p.h.
        Lancs, and Cheshire Oulton Park (Sears), 1st overall, 79.43 m.p.h.
        B.R.S.C.C. Brands Hatch (Sears), 1st overall, 77.56 m.p.h.
1961 Long Marston Speed Trials (Fry), 2nd.
        Dyrham Park Hill Climb (Fry), 2nd.
        Castle Combe Speed Trials (Fry), B.T.D.


DB4GT/0125/R (18 TVX)

Engine 370/0151/GT. Lightweight chassis. Delivered to Essex Racing Stable.

Some early racing history :
1960 Round 4 Hour G.P. (Sieff), 6th overall, 84.59 m.p.h.
        Tourist Trophy, Goodwood (Salvadori), 2nd overall
        1,000 kms. de Paris, Montlhéry (Salvadori/Ireland), 6th, 84.74 m.p.h.
1962 B.A.R.C. Oulton Park (Pitt), 4th
        Notts S.C.C. Silverstone (Cussons), 2nd overall, 76.71 m.p.h.
        750 M.C. Oulton Park (Cussons), 1st
        B.A.R.C. Goodwood (Cussons), 4th and 7th overall
1963 B.A.R.C. Oulton Park (Cussons), two 2nds, overall


DB4GT/0151/R (17 TVX, 739 WMB)

Engine 370/0125/GT. Lightweight chassis. Delivered to Essex Racing Stable.

Some early racing history :
1960 Tourist Trophy, Goodwood (Ireland), 3rd overall
        1,000 kms. de Paris, Montlhéry (Clark/Maggs), retired (valve)
1961 Lombank Trophy Meeting, Snetterton (Salvadori), 3rd overall, 87.56 m.p.h.
        B.A.R.C. Goodwood (Ireland), 2nd overall, 82.67 m.p.h.
        Tourist Trophy, Goodwood (Ireland), 5th overall, 85.15 m.p.h.
    
18 TVX has been painted pale plus and navy blue at a time...
Note the different registration number (source AM Magazine vol 24 no 103).


DB4GT/0167/R (40 MT)

Works experimental and demonstration car. Lightweight chassis. Engine to "Zagato" specs.
Engine 370/0206/GT fitted for nine months in 1962.

Replaced DB4GT/0157/R (41 DPX) for final shots in the film "Wrong Arm of the Law" because its engine had blown up during the film !
Here is a link on the IMCDB website about this 1963 film for more info and photos of DB4GT/0157/R.


DB4GT/0168/L

Lightweight chassis.

Surely delivered in the USA. No early racing history known.


DB4GT/0182/R (1 VEV)

Engine 370/0182/GT. Lightweight chassis. Delivered to Essex Racing Stable.

Some early racing history :
1961 Le Mans 24 Hours (Fairman/Consten), retired 2 ½ hours (gasket)

Both 1 VEV and 2 VEV at Le Mans. 1961
(Source : BRITLM)

1961 Tourist Trophy, Goodwood (Salvadori), 3rd overall, 85.7 m.p.h., team prize
        Inter Europa Cup, Monza (Maggs), 2nd overall, 3 Hour Race
1962 BA.R.C. Oulton Park (Maggs), 3rd overall, 2nd
        B.A.R.C. Goodwood (Warner), 4th in class
        Tourist Trophy, Goodwood (Warner), retired (piston damaged by broken valve)

5 speed gearbox fitted in 1972.


DB4GT/0183/R (2 VEV)

Lightweight chassis. Delivered to Essex Racing Stable.

Original engine 370/0183/GT. Then had 370/M/03 (magnesium block), and 370/1288/01 (which was DP214 chassis DB4GT/0195/R third engine)
Current engine 370/0122/01, which at first had heads from 370/1288/01. Those heads were later put back on 370/1288/01 block when this one was fitted to DB4GT/0200/R ('Jet') in 1964.

Some early racing history :
1961 Le Mans 24 Hours (Davison/Stilwell), retired 2 ½ hours (gasket)

Both 1 VEV and 2 VEV at Le Mans. 1961
(Source : BRITLM)
1961 B.A.R.C. Aintree (Davison), 1st overall, 81.86 m.p.h.
        Tourist Trophy, Goodwood (Clark), 4th overall, 85.34 m.p.h., team prize
1962 Le Mans practice (Dewez & Kerguen) with undeveloped racing 4 litre engine (described as the "ex-Ogier" car). Works support.
        The "ex-Ogier" was lent to the Ecurie Nationale Belge.
        R.A.C. de Spa G.P. (Bianchi), crashed (lap 4) when leading.
           First use of magnesium block in 3.7 engine (370/M/03) for racing.
           Car rebuilt with new body and other parts. DP207 style.
        Clermont-Ferrand (Maggs), 6th overall (the block of 370/M/03 failed).
        Tourist Trophy, Goodwood (Clark), crashed lap 60.
        1,000 kms of Paris, Montlhéry, (Clark /Whitmore), retired when 2nd overall
1964 1,000 kms of Paris, Montlhéry, (Hedges/Turner), retired


DB4GT/0191/R

DP207. Lightweight chassis.

Some early racing history :
Much raced by David Skailes during 1963-1964.
Crashed at Castle Combe in 1965 and rebuilt in 1970-1971.


DB4GT/0193/R

DP207. Lightweight chassis.
Engine 370/0193/GT. Later 400/0193/GT.

Some early racing history :
1962 Le Mans 24 Hours (Kerguen/Franc), retired 11 ½ hours (burnt exhaust valves)

Le Mans. 1962.
(Source : BRITLM)

1963 Dakar Six Hours (Kuerguen/Duffour), 2nd overall
        Le Mans 24 Hours (Kerguen/Dewez), retired (axle)
        Auvergne Trophy (Kerguen), 18th overall
1964 Snow & Ice Rally (Le Guezec/Dewez), 1st
        Rally Routes du Nord (Le Guezec/Dewez), 1st overall



                                                           
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