This is the 1956 Aston Martin DB3S - Villa d'Este 2025

During the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este I filmed this 1956 Aston Martin DB3S. The Aston Martin DB3S was launched onto the marketplace in 1953 and proved to be the first really successful sports car to come out of the automotive stable based in Newport Pagnell. This car was developed under the aegis of William Watson and Robert Eberan von Eberhorst and the DB3S was powered by an upgraded 2.9 litre inline six-cylinder engine. This power unit was originally developed by W.O. Bentley for Lagonda and it generated an output of up to 230 hp. The DB3S benefited from a lightweight tubular chassis and the aluminium body penned by Frank Feely endowed it with superb aerodynamic streamlining. This made the Aston significantly faster and more manoeuvrable than its predecessor. Quite simply, this frontline racer defined a new benchmark for road holding. Although the racing car was forced to retire at its first Le Mans outing in 1953, the DB3S had convincingly displayed its impressive potential. In the subsequent years, the DB3S ran in the first important racing successes for Aston Martin since the era of the Ulster during the 1930s. A total of 31 examples of the DB3S were built – 11 works cars for the factory team at Aston Martin and 20 vehicles for customers racing as privateer drivers. The DB3S Chassis Number 9 shown here is one of these 11 original works racing cars and one of only two from the final evolution stage with shrouded headlamps. This was a feature developed by the racing department for the Le Mans in 1956 and was designed to reduce the drag coefficient. A full-width windscreen was also created for Le Mans along with a passenger door. The 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956 witnessed one of the closest neck-and-neck contests for victory ever. Stirling Moss and Peter Collins in Chassis 9 engaged in a duel with the Ėcurie Écosse Jaguar D-Type driven by Sanderson and Flockhart. The contest captivated fans and spectators over many laps. The outcome was only decided in the final minutes of the race when the second gear of the DS3S failed and as a result the racer crossed the line in second place. Quite incredibly, the DB3S/9 spent only 7.39 minutes in the pits throughout the entire 24 hours. That same year, Roy Salvadori was victorious in this Aston at Oulton Park and took second place at Goodwood. Tony Brooks came in third at Goodwood in 1957. After a complete factory overhaul, the DB3S/9 was sold to a purchaser in Australia and enjoyed a stellar racing career there up until the early 1960s. In 1990, the DB3S/9 returned to Great Britain and underwent a meticulously authentic restoration. Right through to the present day, this supremely original Aston has always been in the responsible stewardship of dedicated collectors. Join my Notification Squad: click the Bell 🔔 Make sure you like and comment the video, but also subscribe to the channel! *Michael - Automotive Mike* Socials: ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/AutomotiveMike ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/automotive_mike

Added 4 Sept 2026