DB4/552/R was originally supplied on 4th March 1961 by Charles Sidney, of Yorkshire. Used as a hill climb car at AMOC events from 1980–1982, the car was fully rebuilt to lightweight specification from 1986 to 1990 by Ian Mason, Tickfords, and ADA Engineering. Fitted with a 4,200-cubic centimetre engine at that time, DB4/552/R went to Japan and was raced there by Koji Nakauchi for 10 years, before returning to the UK in 2000.
A programme of further development ensued to prepare the car to the latest competitive specification, with the engine being upgraded to a 4,500-cubic centimetre unit by Aston Engineering in 2005, followed in 2007 by a new 4500-cubic centimetre race engine and Hewland gearbox internals, with the work again performed by Aston Engineering.
Campaigned extensively in the hands of late and greatly respected Conor O’Brien, alongside John Bussel and Charlie Kemp from 2003–2012 and prepared without regard to cost by Colin Blower Motorsport and Aston Engineering, DB4/552/R has been a successful veteran of Aston Martin Club racing, competing in over 95 races during that period, of which it finished all except three, thanks to its excellent preparation.
An exhaustive record of its race history and preparation is supplied with the car, and it was the subject of a very recent track test in Octane magazine, with experienced Aston Martin driver and journalist Paul Chudecki at the wheel. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a well proven and competitive race-prepared lightweight Aston Martin in readiness for the 2013 season at a fraction of the cost of an original DB4 GT
