What's this then?

Fifty years ago next year Aston Martin won its only outright victory at the Le Mans 24-hour race, and it's making a special series of the DBS Superleggera coupe to celebrate the anniversary.

That victory was won by the Aston Martin DBR1. The DBR1, described by Stirling Moss as 'the most important car Aston Martin ever built', won Le Mans in the hands of Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori, before going on to take first in the sportscar world championship for 1959, following a dramatic win at the Goodwood TT, even surviving a fire in the pits.

The DBS 59 will be built in an exclusive series of just 24 cars, all specially commissioned by Aston's Cambridge dealer, and will be sold through that dealership. The cars will be painted in an exclusive shade of Aston Martin Racing Green, topped off with burnished bronze detailing for the radiator grille surround, the Superleggera and Aston Martin badges, and the Q badge on the front wings - the cars are being designed and built by Aston's bespoke Q department experts. There are also discreet little white roundels with racing numbers, painted on down by the front wing vents.

Inside, the cabin is covered in a combination of Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan leather and, on the backs of the front seats is fabric inspired by the interior of the original DBR1 race car that took the chequered flag all those years ago at Le Mans, plus a DBS 59 logo stitched into the headrests.

The link is underscored by the helmet pods, finished in saddle leather, behind the front seats. Those will be filled with special 'DBS 59' crash helmets, race suits and gloves. You can also have period blue race overalls complete with Aston Martin and 'DBS 59' logos; replica string-backed racing gloves modelled on those worn by 1959 Le Mans-winning driver Carroll Shelby; a replica 1959 race helmet; bespoke two-piece luggage set to match the interior trim; and a bespoke car cover in Aston Martin Racing Green featuring white roundels with specific edition number.

The basic mechanical spec of the car hasn't been changed, but then basic isn't really the word. You get a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V12 engine with 715hp and a top speed of 215mph. So not basic at all, then.

Speaking of the DBS 59, Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Sproule said: "When Aston Martin Cambridge expressed a desire to create a limited run of DBS Superleggeras inspired by the DBR1's famous Le Mans victory we knew it had to be something special. The soft metallic hue of the Aston Martin Racing Green paintwork is classy and timelessly beautiful; the level of thought and detailing is exceptional. My favourite element on the 'DBS 59' are the seat backs that feature fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material, but there are countless touches that will intrigue and delight."

Neil Briscoe - 1 Nov 2018