Produced from September 1961 to October 1962, the Aston Martin DB4 Series IV differed from earlier models with rear lights recessed into the body, a lower bonnet scoop, and a new front grille featuring seven vertical bars. The penultimate DB4 series was styled with continual factory tweaks focusing on reliability, with this version generally regarded as one of the more desirable iterations. To coincide with the release of the Series IV, Aston Martin treated the DB4 to the Vantage treatment. The high-performance DB4 Vantage featured SS engines with a triple-SU carburettor set-up and gained special cylinder heads, which increased power to 266 horsepower—a 10 per cent increase compared to the standard car.

The DB4 Vantage was built until the DB5 was introduced in 1963, in which time 136 were made, including the example offered here, chassis DB4/970/R. According to the accompanying copy of the Aston Martin factory build sheet (available to view on file), the DB4 Vantage was bought new via the agent Brooklands of Bond Street and prepared for one L. Cottrell of Westmorland, with delivery noted as taking place on 12 June 1962. Further to its attractive Vantage specification, the car was configured with an oil cooler and DB4 GT instrument panel—both regarded as highly desirable and extremely rare upgrades—further to a 3.31:1 rear axle ratio with wide-ratio gearbox. The Aston Martin left the factory in right-hand-drive, finished in Black Pearl over a Terra Cotta Connolly leather interior, and was shod in Dunlop R55 tyres.

The accompanying period service record notes continued maintenance throughout the first few years of the car’s life and by July 1964 the car had covered in excess of 15,000 miles. Around this time, a change of ownership is noted, with the DB4 acquired by A. L. Baker of Portslade, West Sussex. In November 1965, the car was bought by Tudor Accessories Ltd of Hayes, Middlesex, and by August 1966 it had been sold to Bernadette Films Ltd of London.

Over the 1970s and 1980s, the Aston Martin changed hands five further times: first to A. M. K. Gross of Crawley Down, Sussex, followed by Melvyn Davies of Wargrave, Berkshire. Notes from Mr Davies (on file), who purchased the DB4 in September 1971, list the car’s mileage then at around 62,000 and allude to preparation work for a paint respray—it is believed that the DB4 was subject to restoration work in the 1970s. Subsequent owners include Kenneth Boyd of Kingston, Surrey; P. Hardstaff of Truro, Cornwall; and R. P. Deacon of Buntingford, Herfordshire. Under Mr Deacon’s tenure, which began in November 1987, the owner retained the car for almost 25 years, moving it onto its next owner in March 2011. Between this time and 2016 it was fully restored by Clark & Carter Restorations Ltd. of Cressing, Essex.

The consigning owner acquired the DB4 Vantage in 2016 and the Aston Martin was soon subject to further work, completed by Clark & Carter. The workshop oversaw significant specialist trimming jobs, including the removal and strip-down of seats, the remanufacture of seat cushion foam and seat covers, as well as making a fuel tank cover for the boot. At this point a faulty speedometer was removed and sent for repairs. Focussing on mechanical work, the coolant was replaced and the heater matrix repaired. At the end of the process, the car was prepared to concours standard and taken to the 2016 edition of Salon Privé, where it was proudly exhibited. The bill for this work totalled £10,867.

Subsequently enjoyed in the collection of the consignor, the Aston Martin later returned to Clark & Carter for further work. In March 2024, a workshop bill that totalled £9,244 covered mostly mechanical repairs to return the car to good running condition—the full invoice is available to view on file. Today, the car presents in an attractive shade of blue over a tan leather interior, and is known to retain its matching-numbers Vantage engine uprated to 4.2-litre displacement with fast road camshafts.

This fascinating DB4 Vantage is accompanied by a copy of its Aston Martin build sheet with period maintenance record, further to old copies of an FIA Historic Vehicle Identify Form, a FIVA Identity Card, and British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) certificate. One of the finest DB4s in existence, chassis DB4/970/R would surely make a benchmark addition to any sports car collection.