>>Aston Martin DB3S

Aston Martin DB3S

Aston Martin DB3S

An Aston Martin DB3S, at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2008
Category	Le Mans Racer Sports car racing
Constructor	Aston Martin Lagonda LTD
Designer(s)	Willie Watson, Frank Feely (Body)
Technical specifications
Chassis	Twin-tubular, space frame design, aluminium body, open two seater
Suspension (front)	Torsion bar and trailing arms
Suspension (rear)	Torsion bars, trailing arms, De Dion tube and central slide
Length	12 ft 10 in (3,910 mm)
Width	4 ft 11 in (1,500 mm)
Height	3 ft 5 in (1,040 mm)
Axle track	4 ft 1 in
Wheelbase	7 ft 3 in (2,210 mm)
Engine	Lagonda 2,992 cc Straight six, Twin OHC, (later a twin-plug head), FR Layout, 3 twin-choke Weber 35 DCO carburettors
Transmission	David Brown S430, 4-speed Manual, 9" single clutch
Weight	1,850 lb (840 kg) dry 1,940 lb (880 kg)
Tyres	16 x 6
Competition history
Notable entrants	David Brown
Notable drivers	Tony Brooks,  Reg Parnell,  Roy Salvadori,  Noël Cunningham-Reid,  Carroll Shelby,  Stirling Moss
Debut	1953 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Aston Martin DB3S was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin as a replacement for the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3. In total 31 cars were made, with 11 works cars and 20 cars being sold for customer use. The DB3S was introduced in 1953 and it proved somewhat more successful than the Aston Martin DB3. The DB3S was later replaced in 1956 by the DBR1.

Chassis numbers

The 11 works cars had chassis numbers from DB3S/1 to DB3S/11, with the 11th works car never being raced by Aston Martin. The 20 customer cars had three digit chassis numbers, from DB3S/101 to DB3S/120.

Coupé's

Originally two works Aston Martin DB3S fixed head coupé's were made. The change was to make them more aerodynamic than the open top bodied cars. However, they were unstable at high speeds and both crashed at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both coupé's were then rebuilt as open bodied cars.

Three of the customer cars were also fitted with similar coupé bodies.

Chassis information

Included are a list of victories by each chassis under Aston Martin.

• DB3S/1
  • 1953 Charterhall
  • 1953 British Empire Trophy
  • 1953 Charterhall(2)
  • 1953 Castle Coombe
  • 1954 Silverstone
• DB3S/2
  • 1953 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
• DB3S/3
  • 1954 Silverstone
• DB3S/4
  • 1953 B.R.D.C. Silverstone
  • 1953 Ulster TT Dundrod
• DB3S/5 - Converted from David Brown's road car
  • 1954 B.O.C. Prescott
  • 1955 B.A.R.C. Crystal Palace
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Aintree
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Aintree(2)
• DB3S/6 - Originally a coupé, rebodied as an open top car.
  • 1955 B.R.D.C. Silverstone
• DB3S/7 - Originally a coupé, rebodied as an open top car.
  • 1955 B.A.R.C. Aintree
  • 1955 Silverstone

An Aston Martin DB3S at Silverstone Classic 2007

• • 1955 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
• DB3S/8
  • 1955 Spa Production Sports Car race
  • 1955 Oulton Park
• DB3S/9 - Featured an aerodynamic headrest
  • 1956 Daily Herald International Trophy - Oulton Park 
  • 1958 Australian Tourist Trophy - Mount Panorama, Bathurst 
• DB3S/10 - Featured an aerodynamic headrest
  • None
• DB3S/11 - Not raced under Aston Martin
  • None