ArtHitParade
ArtHitParade on X
  • Home
    • Contact
  • Calendar
  • Top 10
    • Origin
    • From 600 BCE to CE
    • Years 1 to 1000
    • Years 1000 to 1400
    • 15th Century >
      • Years 1400-1429
      • Years 1430-1459
      • Years 1460-1479
      • Years 1480-1499
    • 16th Century >
      • Years 1500-1519
      • Decade 1520-1529
      • Decade 1530-1539
      • Years 1540-1569
      • Years 1570-1599
    • 17th Century >
      • Decade 1600-1609
      • Decade 1610-1619
      • Decade 1620-1629
      • Decade 1630-1639
      • Decade 1640-1649
      • Decade 1650-1659
      • Years 1660-1679
      • Years 1680-1699
    • 18th Century >
      • Decade 1700-1709
      • Decade 1710-1719
      • Decade 1720-1729
      • Decade 1730-1739
      • Decade 1740-1749
      • Decade 1750-1759
      • Decade 1760-1769
      • Decade 1770-1779 >
        • 1776
      • Decade 1780-1789 >
        • 1787
      • Decade 1790-1799 >
        • 1792
    • 19th Century >
      • Decade 1800-1809
      • Decade 1810-1819
      • Decade 1820-1829
      • Decade 1830-1839
      • Decade 1840-1849
      • Decade 1850-1859
      • Decade 1860-1869
      • Decade 1870-1879 >
        • 1877
        • 1878
        • 1879
      • Decade 1880-1889 >
        • 1880
        • 1881
        • 1882
        • 1884
        • 1885
        • 1887
        • 1888
        • 1889
      • Decade 1890-1899 >
        • 1890
        • 1891
        • 1892
        • 1895
        • 1896
    • 20th Century >
      • Decade 1900-1909 >
        • 1901
        • 1902
        • 1903
        • 1904
        • 1905
        • 1906
        • 1907
        • 1908
        • 1909
      • Decade 1910-1919 >
        • 1910
        • 1911
        • 1912
        • 1913
        • 1914
        • 1915
        • 1916
        • 1917
        • 1918
        • 1919
      • Decade 1920-1929 >
        • 1920
        • 1921
        • 1922
        • 1923
        • 1924
        • 1925
        • 1926
        • 1927
        • 1928
        • 1929
      • Decade 1930-1939 >
        • 1930
        • 1931
        • 1932
        • 1933
        • 1934
        • 1935
        • 1936
        • 1937
        • 1938
        • 1939
      • Decade 1940-1949 >
        • 1941
        • 1942
        • 1943
        • 1945
        • 1946
        • 1947
        • 1948
        • 1949
      • Decade 1950-1959 >
        • 1950
        • 1951
        • 1952
        • 1953
        • 1954
        • 1955
        • 1956
        • 1957
        • 1958
        • 1959
      • Decade 1960-1969 >
        • 1960
        • 1961
        • 1962
        • 1963
        • 1964
        • 1965
        • 1966
        • 1967
        • 1968
        • 1969
      • Decade 1970-1979 >
        • 1970
        • 1971
        • 1972
        • 1973
        • 1974
        • 1975
        • 1976
        • 1977
        • 1978
        • 1979
      • Decade 1980-1989 >
        • 1980
        • 1981
        • 1982
        • 1983
        • 1984
        • 1985
        • 1986
        • 1987
        • 1988
        • 1989
      • Decade 1990-1999 >
        • 1990
        • 1991
        • 1992
        • 1993
        • 1994
        • 1995
        • 1996
        • 1997
        • 1998
        • 1999
    • 21st Century >
      • Decade 2000-2009 >
        • 2000
        • 2001
        • 2002
        • 2003
        • 2004
        • 2005
        • 2006
        • 2007
        • 2008
        • 2009
      • Decade 2010-2019 >
        • 2010
        • 2011
        • 2012
        • 2013
        • 2014
        • 2015
        • 2017
        • 2018
      • 2020 to now >
        • 2021
        • 2022
  • Ancient Painting
    • Flemish Art >
      • Pieter II Brueghel
      • Jan Brueghel
    • Rubens
    • Rembrandt
    • Early Still Life
    • Oil on Copper
  • 18th Century Painting
  • Ancient Drawing
  • Art on Paper
  • Sculpture
    • Bust
    • Ancient Sculpture >
      • Roman Sculpture
    • Italian Sculpture
    • French Sculpture >
      • Rodin
    • Sculpture by Painters
  • Women Artists
    • Ancient Art by Women
    • O'Keeffe
    • Lempicka
    • Martin
    • Mitchell
    • Yayoi Kusama
    • Brown
  • Furniture
    • Chairs and Seats
    • Colonial Furniture
    • Ancient French Furniture
    • Modern Furniture >
      • Art Deco
      • Modern Tables
  • Prints
    • Ancient Prints
    • Modern Prints
  • Photo
    • Old Photos >
      • Travel Photos
      • Early French Photo
    • Photos 1900s 1910s
    • Photos 1920s 1930s
    • Photos 1970s 1980s
    • Sherman
    • Gursky
  • The Man
  • The Woman
  • Children
  • Man and Woman
  • Groups
  • Self Portrait
    • Self Portrait 2nd page
  • Nude
  • Abstract Art - 2nd page
  • Landscape
    • Alps
  • Cities
    • Venice
    • Paris
  • Flowers
    • Bouquet
  • Animals
    • Bird
    • Cats and Lions
    • Horse
  • Tabletop
  • Music and Dance in Art
    • Music in Old Painting
  • Sport in Art
  • Orientalism
    • Orientalism 1830-1900
  • France
    • French Painting before 1860
    • Manet
    • Degas
    • Cézanne
    • Monet >
      • Monet before 1879
      • Monet 1879-1887
      • Series by Monet
      • London and Venice
      • Bassin aux Nymphéas
    • Renoir
    • Caillebotte
    • Gauguin
    • Seurat
    • Signac
    • Lautrec
    • Matisse
    • Léger
    • Klein
    • Lalanne
    • Post War French Art
  • Italy
    • Canaletto
    • Modigliani
    • Fontana
    • Mappa by Boetti
  • Swiss Painting
  • Giacometti
    • Giacometti 1947-53
    • Femme Debout
  • Bacon
    • Bacon before 1963
    • Bacon 1963-70
    • Later Bacons
    • Head Triptych
  • UK - 2nd page
    • Ancient England
    • George III
    • British Royals
    • Turner >
      • Watercolor by Turner
    • Freud >
      • Early Freud
    • Hockney
    • Doig
    • Hirst
    • Banksy
  • Richter
    • Richter before 1983
  • Germany - 2nd page
    • Ancient Germany >
      • Cranach
    • Marc
  • Van Gogh
  • Mondrian
  • De Kooning
  • Magritte
    • Early Magritte
  • Belgium 2nd page
  • Ancient Spain
  • Picasso
    • Picasso before 1907
    • Picasso 1907-1931
    • Marie-Thérèse
    • Picasso later 1930s
    • Picasso 1940-1960
    • Picasso in Mougins
    • Prints by Picasso
  • Gris
  • Miro
  • Klimt
  • Schiele
  • USA
    • US Independence
    • Development of USA
    • US Civil War
    • US Painting before 1940 >
      • Sargent
    • Hopper
    • Rockwell
    • Calder
    • Rothko >
      • Early Rothko
      • Rothko 1957-70
    • Still
    • Newman
    • Guston
    • Pollock
    • Diebenkorn
    • Lichtenstein >
      • Lichtenstein after 1965
    • Warhol >
      • USA by Warhol
      • Celebrities by Warhol >
        • Elvis and Liz
      • Later Warhols
      • Prints by Warhol >
        • Warhol Prints 2nd page
    • Twombly
    • Johns
    • Ruscha
    • Koons
    • Marshall
    • Wool
    • Basquiat
    • Bradford
  • Wild West
  • Central and South Americas
    • Mexico
  • China
    • Ritual Bronzes
    • Song
    • Yuan
    • Ming
    • Early Qing
    • Qianlong
    • Modern China >
      • Qi Baishi
      • Zhang Daqian >
        • Zhang Daqian before 1965
      • Fu Baoshi
      • Sanyu >
        • Sanyu before 1950
      • Li Keran
      • Wu Guanzhong
      • Zao Wou-Ki
      • Cui Ruzhuo
    • Chinese Porcelain >
      • Song to Yuan Porcelain
      • Ming Porcelain
      • Qing Porcelain
    • Chinese Art
    • Mountains in China
    • Chinese Calligraphy
    • Chinese Furniture
    • Imperial Seal
    • Chinese Dragon
    • Jadeite
  • India
    • Gaitonde
    • Modern India
  • Persia
    • Safavid Carpets
  • Yoshitomo Nara
  • Russia and Eastern Europe
    • Russia 1700-1900
    • Kandinsky
    • Brancusi
    • Chagall
    • Soutine
    • Ghenie
  • Munch
    • Prints by Munch
  • Egypt
  • Tropical Africa
    • Congo
    • Gabon
    • Mask
  • Tribal Oceania
    • Easter Island
  • Australia
    • Colonial Australia
  • Islam
  • Buddhism
    • Early Buddhist Sculpture
    • Tibet and Nepal
  • Judaica
  • Christianity
    • Madonna and Child
  • Cars
    • Birth of Automobile
    • Cars of the 1910s
    • Cars of the 1920s
    • Cars of the 1930s >
      • Cars 1930-33
      • Cars 1934-35
      • Cars 1936-37
      • Cars 1938-39
    • Post War Cars
    • Cars of the 1950s >
      • Cars 1953-54
      • Cars 1955
      • Cars 1956-57
      • Cars 1958-59
    • Cars of the 1960s >
      • Cars 1960-61
      • Cars 1962-63
      • Cars 1964-65
      • Cars 1966-67
    • Cars 1970s 1980s
    • Supercars
    • Hypercars
    • Ferrari >
      • California Spider
      • Big Five
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • Porsche
    • Aston Martin
    • Jaguar
    • McLaren
    • Bugatti
    • French Cars
    • Duesenberg
    • Ford and Shelby
    • Cars in Movies
  • Motorcycles
  • Jewels
    • White Diamond
    • Pink Diamond
    • Blue Diamond
    • Jewels - 2nd page
    • Cartier
  • Silverware
    • Old Silverware
  • Coin
    • Antique Coins >
      • Roman Coins
    • Coins 1000-1775
    • Coins 1776-92
    • Coins 1793-1819
    • Coins 1820-49
    • Coins 1850-69
    • Coins 1870-99
    • 20th century Coins
    • US Gold Coins
    • Silver Dollar
    • Cent and Dime
    • British Coins
    • Japanese Coins
    • Chinese Coins
  • Paper Currency
  • Medal and Decoration
  • Time Pieces
    • Clocks >
      • Old Clocks
    • Mechanical Craft ca 1800
    • Jaquet-Droz and Followers
    • Modern Watches
    • New Watches >
      • OnlyWatch
    • Patek Philippe >
      • Patek Philippe before 1950
      • World Time
      • Perpetual Calendar
    • Rolex
    • French Time Pieces
    • Daniels
  • Glass and Crystal
    • Glass before 1900
    • Tiffany Studios
  • Terracotta and Porcelain
    • Meissen
  • Textiles
  • Books
    • Incunabula
    • 16th Century Books
    • 17th Century Books
    • Fine Books 1700-1850
    • The Birds of America
  • Literature
    • Literature in French
  • Poems and Lyrics
  • Autograph
  • Manuscript
    • Paleography
    • Illuminated Christian Manuscript
  • Political Writing
  • Comic Books
  • Illustration Art
    • Tintin
  • Travel
  • Ancient Maps
  • Space
  • Movies
  • Screen Worn
  • Music
  • Musical Instrument
    • Stradivarius
    • Violin 2nd page
    • Guitar
    • Chinese Instrument
  • The Beatles
  • Poster
  • Sport
    • Sport Equipment
    • Sport Document
    • Sport Rewards
    • Sport Cards >
      • Sport Images before 1942
      • T206 Wagner
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Sport Cards 1942-92
      • Topps Mantle
      • Modern Sport Cards
    • Baseball >
      • Baseball Bat
      • Baseball Jersey
      • Babe Ruth
      • Lou Gehrig
    • Basketball >
      • Michael Jordan
      • Kobe Bryant
    • Ice Hockey
    • Sport 2nd page
  • Olympic Games
  • Origins of Sports
  • Historical Arms
    • Blade and Armour
    • Colt in Lifetime
    • Later Colts
    • Winchester
    • Firearms
  • Toys
  • Doll
  • Games
  • Stamps
    • US Stamps
    • Inverted Jenny
  • Inventions
  • Leica
  • Sciences
    • Ancient Science
    • Sciences 1600-1800
    • Astronomy
    • Physics
    • Medicine
  • Dinosaur
  • Computing
  • Nobel Medals
    • Nobel in Medicine
  • Whisky
    • Whisky 2nd page
  • Wine
  • Plus
    • Plus 17C Art
    • Plus 18C Art
    • Plus 1910s
    • Plus 1982 Basquiat
    • Plus Ferrari
    • Plus US Cars
    • Plus Qing Porcelain
    • Plus Tribal
  • Work in Progress

Cars 1962-63

Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
​See also : Cars  Cars of the 1960s  Ferrari  California Spider  Ford and Shelby  Aston Martin  Italy
Chronology : 1962
Cars 1960-61

Ferrari 250 GT California Spider

​1
​1962
2023 SOLD for $ 18M by Gooding

A late production California Spider SWB was prepared in a rare and spectacular Azzurro Metallizzato color by Ferrari to be exhibited by Chinetti at the 1962 New York International Auto Show. It has been fitted with some options including the covered headlights. All its subsequent story was in California.

Sheltered in 1971 by a specialist of wrecked cars after a high speed skidding, it was treasured afterwards in only two collections. Restored in its original color in 2004, it won a platinum award at the 2006 Pebble Beach concours d'elegance.

Still fitted with its original chassis, coachwork, engine, gearbox and rear axle, it was sold for $ 18M by Gooding on March 3, 2023, lot 164. It is illustrated in the pre sale press release. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

2
​1963
2024 SOLD for $ 18M by Mecum

The 250 GT roadster known as California Spider was a success for Ferrari. The 106th and final example, completed in February 1963, is the 56th to use the Short Wheel Base chassis.

This 250 GT SWB California Spider keeps its original chassis, body, engine and gearbox. It was sold for $ 18M by Mecum on January 13, 2024, lot S195.3.

Ferrari was reluctant with the spiders, pushed by Chinetti for the American market. The next trial, in 1967, is a commission of 25 by Chinetti for a 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder, reduced to 10 units when marketing difficulties became obvious. There was no further follow.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
​Intro

It is not enough to be the prettiest berlinetta of its time to win Grand Touring competitions, especially when Jaguar, Aston Martin and Shelby apply ambitious development programs. The Ferrari 250 GT SWB is no longer competitive with its oblique front that lifts at 250 km/h.

A team around Giotto Bizzarrini designs a low body with a tapered front hood. To facilitate the homologation, the new chassis has the same size as the SWB. The studies are validated in wind tunnel. The lowered engine remains a 3-liter Colombo V12 while incorporating several improvements from the 250 TR.

Thus was born the 250 GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) at the beginning of 1962, coachworked as a berlinetta by Scaglietti. Its perfect geometry has also been improved after wind tunnel tests.. 33 cars are built in 1962 and 1963 according to this first model, which is a high figure for a commercial upscale Ferrari. They immediately dominate endurance and hill competitions. However Bizzarrini had left the company after a disagreement with Enzo Ferrari.

Extremely competitive without being exceptionally rare, the 250 GTO is the preferred model of the auto enthusiasts from the high society, functioning as an informal club with media covered exclusive meetings. Cars are transmitted like a talisman by each owner to his handpicked successor.  28 units remain with the 3-litre engine from its original design.

1
Series I
2014 SOLD for $ 38M by Bonhams

Coming from a deceased estate, a 250 GTO which had not changed hands for nearly half a century was sold by Bonhams on August 14, 2014 for $ 38M, lot 3.

This car has accumulated an interesting competition record after a bad start. Made in 1962, it was much damaged at Montlhéry on October 7 of the same year, killing one of its co-owners the ski champion Henri Oreiller. Repaired in 1963 at a time when the production chain of the 250 GTO was in full operation, it is an authentic unit.

2
upgraded in 1964 to Series II
​2018 SOLD for $ 48M by RM Sotheby's

The technological challenge goes on. The approval of the 250 LM will be refused. While waiting for better days, Ferrari requires Mauro Forghieri and his team to modify the 250 GTO according to the aerodynamic improvement of the LM. Three 250 GTO Series II are built in 1964.

Four Series I cars are upgraded in 1964 to the Series II specifications. One of them was sold for $ 48M by RM Sotheby's on August 25, 2018, lot 247. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

This car had been in 1962 the third GTO produced. Tested in May by Phil Hill at the Targa Florio, it is sold by Ferrari a few days later to a friend of Enzo Ferrari, Edoardo Lualdi-Gabardi, who gets excellent results in hill climbing with this car. In April 1964 Corrado Ferlaino leads it to First In Class in the Targa Florio, thus brilliantly validating the transitory concept of the Series II.

The price of a Ferrari 250 GTO depends on its results in period and on its crash history. The car for sale was not damaged. For reasons of preservation, the original engine was removed a few years ago. It is sold with the car.

In May 2018 a price of $ 70M in a private transaction was reported for a 250 GTO with a better race history including the victory at the 1964 Tour de France.

3
​330 LM
2023 SOLD for $ 52M by Sotheby's and RM Sotheby's

While Ferrari was developing the 250 GTO with a 3 liter engine, the FIA once again changed some rules for the 1962 season, introducing the new International Championship of Manufacturers exclusively applicable to GT production car racing classes. Larger displacement prototype race cars would be allowed to participate in some events, but not for points.

Ferrari was certainly not appealed as they built a single 4 liter example in 1962, to be used as a works car. Assembled with the 250 GTO chassis and body, this car is referred as the 330 LM or sometimes the 330 GTO.

It was raced twice in 1962 by the Scuderia Ferrari, finishing second overall and first in class at the 1000 km Nürburgring and not finishing at the 24 hours of Le Mans. It was sold in 1962 to a privateer who changed the engine to a 250 P in the next year. Finished in rosso cina, it was sold for $ 52M in a single lot auction by Sotheby's and RM Sotheby's on November 13, 2023. It had won the Best of Show of the 2012 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.


A similar GTO was made in 1963, in parallel to a series of four 330 LMB with a body similar to the 250 Lusso. It was rebuilt in 1965 after a heavy road accident. 
Cars
cars of the 1960S
Italy
Ferrari
1962
California Spider

1962 250 GT SWB by Bertone
2015 SOLD for $ 16.5M by Gooding

Enzo Ferrari would never cooperate with Carrozzeria Bertone. The reason is simple: this workshop in Turin had contributed to the success of the Giulietta range of Ferrari's arch-rival Alfa Romeo.

Enzo Ferrari had also friends. When he developed the chassis 250 GT SWB in 1959, he accepted that one of the first units should be reserved to Dr. Wax. This Italian industrialist loved the spectacular coachworks. Rather than going to regular contributors of Ferrari, Pinin Farina and Scaglietti, he selected Bertone for creating a one-off berlinetta.

The choice was significant. Nuccio Bertone was one of the visionaries of the Italian design. The Wax Ferrari was conceived by Giorgetto Giugiaro, hired in the same year by Bertone at the age of 21, who was to become one of the most famous designers.

This first SWB by Bertone and Giugiaro already displays their vision to create berlinettas with the aggressive shapes of a Grand Prix car. This car was sold for $ 7M by RM Auctions on November 21, 2013.

In 1962 Nuccio Bertone purchases a 250 GT SWB chassis with the target to demonstrate to Enzo Ferrari that he is able to create a product competing through its modernity with Pinin Farina's classic design.

In the previous year in Grand Prix, the Ferrari 156 F1 had inaugurated a new angular shape with a shark nose front side. From drawings by Giugiaro, Bertone built a berlinetta inspired by the 156 F1. It may be considered in its daring as a precursor of the road supercars.

Bertone exhibits his car extensively throughout 1962 but fails to be entrusted with additional chassis by Enzo Ferrari. Each one of the two Berlinetta Speciale bodied by Bertone will remain unique. Both have been certified by Ferrari Classiche in 2009.

The 1962 Speciale was sold for $ 16.5M by Gooding on August 15, 2015, lot 039. Here is the link to the press release.

1962 Shelby CSX 2000
​2016 SOLD for $ 13.7M by RM Sotheby's

Carroll Shelby wisely stops competition for health reasons in 1960. He can now focus on a visionary project : to create a car that will be capable of defeating the Europeans. He will succeed where the major American brands had failed.

The basic idea of ​​Shelby was simple : assemble a powerful engine on a small chassis. The difficulty of reaching the suitable stability needed all the experience of a champion. Going small had also ensured the success of Porsche.

Shelby is not yet an entrepreneur. He looks worldwide for the chassis and the engine that will best meet his request.

In England, the small AC Cars company is facing a major issue : the engine used on their AC Ace chassis is no longer manufactured. Shelby's project comes at the right time to start a cooperation. Ford is working at the same time on the development of lightweight engines. Shelby borrows an AC chassis and has a V-8 engine 221 cubic inches assembled by Ford in Dearborn. The feasibility is assured.

Shelby must now work out the technical details. He requires the modifications to the AC chassis that will generate the AC Cobra, and chooses a Ford V-8 260 cubic inches engine (4.2 liters). The prototype is assembled in February 1962 in California by Shelby helped by Dean Moon.

This prototype named CSX 2000 from its chassis number enters the legend. It serves both the technical development and the marketing. Shelby does not have the financial means to assemble other cars : his unique prototype is painted in a different color for each presentation to the specialized press in order to suggest that a production line is already operational. The performance of the CSX 2000 pleases Ford. What will follow is a remarkable American success story.

Carroll Shelby had kept the CSX 2000. It is intact and retains traces of the tools from the settings by Shelby and Moon. A friend of Rob Myers, Shelby had required that the CSX 2000 is auctioned by RM after his death. It was sold for $ 13.7M by RM Sotheby's on August 19, 2016, lot 117. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

An image of CSX 2000 taken in 2010 is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : 
Jaydec at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Shelby AC Cobra, CSX2000
Ford and Shelby

1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
​2021 SOLD for $ 9.5M by RM Sotheby's

The penultimate DB4 GT Zagato had been ordered to Aston Martin by a demanding customer with some unique features such as a slightly heavier aluminum gauge for adding robustness, much chrome for protecting the brass components, and special anti-dust brake covers.

In May 1962, before its completion was declared by the factory, the car was entrusted to Roy Salvadori for testing it in a real competition, the BRSCC race at Brands Hatch.

Salvadori, who was a Formula One driver, had a long experience with Aston Martin in endurance racing, entering each year from 1953 to 1961 the 24 hours of Le Mans with a car of that brand. In association with Carroll Shelby, he had been the winner of the 1959 event in a DBR1. That feat accelerated the availability of the shorter wheelbase for both the DB4 GT and the Ferrari berlinetta.

The Brands Hatch test was highly satisfactory. The Zagato finished second overall behind a 250 GTO and first in class.

Fitted with its original engine and keeping most of the original bespoke goodies, it was sold for $ 9.5M by RM Sotheby's on August 12, 2021, lot 120.

1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
2023 SOLD for $ 9.5M by Gooding

Beside the Competizione variety, the Lusso berlinetta is the basic model of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB.

One of them was finished in 1962 in grigio metallizzatto. In a superb never-restored original condition and maintained in good working order after 53,000 km from new, it retains its beige leather original upholstery with the patina of its age. The glass, seat belts and Borrani wire wheels are original and the grease pencil markings bearing the chassis number are intact underneath the trunk lid.

It was sold for $ 9.5M by Gooding on August 18, 2023, lot 40. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

1963 Aston Martin DP215
​2018 SOLD for $ 21.5M by RM Sotheby's​

Aston Martin was brilliant in competition in 1959 but failed in 1960. The owner, David Brown, does not take the risk of losing money. He terminates his competition team while maintaining his development abilities around manager John Wyer, chief engineer Ted Cutting and engine mechanic Tadek Marek.

Competition rules change frequently. The 1962 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is favorable to prototypes. Aston Martin is interested. The Design Project 212 is an evolution of the DB4 GT with a unique car incorporating a 4-liter 6-cylinder in-line engine and a lightened bodywork validated in the wind tunnel.

For 1963 Aston Martin prepares the DP214 for the GT class with two cars. This project, similar to the DP212, incorporates bodywork modifications to mitigate the risk of rear lifting.

John Wyer appreciates the motivation and skill of his teams. Under the reference DP215 he requests an additional car for the same competition, with other characteristics for the prototype class. Engineers have two months left to accomplish this feat, with an extremely limited budget.

DP215 has an engine of the same model as DP212 and the five-speed gearbox from the DBR1. The chassis is new, to receive a possible V8 engine. The engine position is lowered.

At the Le Mans practice, the DP215 driven by Phil Hill and Lucien Bianchi is the first car timed at more than 300 Km/h at Mulsanne. Both DP214 achieve a similar performance. None of the three cars finish the 24 hours : at the beginning of the third hour, the transmission of the DP215 is broken.

During its next race at Reims it becomes obvious that the gearbox is undersized for the engine power. After a demonstration run in the same year at Brands Hatch, DP215 abandons the competition. In November 1963 the Aston Martin Racing Department is closed. John Wyer had already left the company.

Its current owner commissioned a gearbox copying that of the DP212 and recovered its original engine that had been installed in the only DP214 survivor. The DP215 was restarted into a working condition close to the original configuration including the spare DP214/215 bodywork built in period by Aston Martin. It was sold for $ 21.5M by RM Sotheby's on August 23, 2018, lot 141.

Please watch the video prepared by the auction house. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution By Redsimon [CC BY 3.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin DP215 frontt
Aston Martin
Cars 1964-65
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.