1960 Aston Martin DB4

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys The Monterey Auction event, 13 - 15 August 2026.
$400,000 - $500,000 USD

• One of 73 left-hand-drive Series I DB4s produced; retains numbers-matching engine
• Originally delivered to prominent sportsman Philip A. Litchfield
• Later owned by noted enthusiast Tom Larsen
• Numerous desirable performance upgrades; an ideal rally mount
• Veteran of the Copperstate 1000

Between October 1958 and January 1960, just 149 examples of the early Series I incarnation of the Aston Martin DB4 were produced. Of those, a mere 73 were configured in left-hand drive for the export market.

The example offered here was built in left-hand drive with the four-speed manual transmission, overdrive, and 3.77:1 Powr-Lock rear differential, and delivered on 10 April 1961 to Philip A. Litchfield of Katonah, New York. A descendant of the developer of the Gowanus Canal, the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope, and Prospect Park, Mr. Litchfield was a professional portrait photographer and passionate outdoorsman. He was also obviously a man who appreciated fine machinery and moved in the proper circles to do so; he would subsequently also own a Ferrari 250 GT SWB, acquired on the advice of NART backer George Arents. The Aston Martin appears to have remained in his ownership for a full 30 years.

It subsequently passed through a British caretaker and then to Michael Brinkert of Recklinghausen, Germany, for whom it is believed to have been restored in the early 2000s. Afterward the numbers-matching engine, number 370/233 as noted on the cars build sheet, was rebuilt to 4.2 liters with Cosworth pistons and larger valves by the noted Aston Engineering, invoices for which are on file.

After returning stateside in 2004 in the care of Joseph Tavolacci of Salisbury, Connecticut, the car was acquired by noted East Coast Aston Martin specialist Tom Papadopoulos, who retained it in his personal use for 10 years. Maintenance in this ownership is documented by a collection of service records on file, noting that the car was upgraded with triple SU carburetors as well as the fitment of a Harvey Bailey suspension package. Following its decade in the Papadopoulos stable, it was then sold to the renowned sports car enthusiast, Tom Larsen, who used it with his typical vigor in the 2016 Copperstate 1000, and exhibited it at numerous New England events, most prominently in 2015 at the Sunday in the Park Concours at Lime Rock Park, receiving a class award.

Acquired by its present owner from the Larsen collection, the car is accompanied by its manual, tool roll, jack, and a collection of documentation, including the aforementioned invoices and copies of its British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate and build sheet. It is a delightful example of a most desirable Aston Martin model, benefiting from long-term care with enthusiasts who loved it and enjoyed it as indeed will its next owner.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo26/.