Aston Martin’s Racing Legend: 1955 DB3S/104 Comes to Concours of Elegance

Aston Martin’s celebrated 1955 DB3S/104 will join the line-up at the Concours of Elegance, bringing with it a remarkable competition history spanning Europe, America and some of the world’s most prestigious historic events.

The DB3S ushered in a period of considerable racing success for Aston Martin during the 1950s. First produced in 1953, just 11 team cars were built, numbered DB3S/1–11, alongside 20 customer and privateer examples, numbered DB3S/101–120.

DB3S/104, registered OXE 474, enjoyed an extraordinarily active competition career from almost the moment it was completed. Just six days after completion at Feltham, it was entered by the Kangaroo Stable racing team, alongside chassis 102 and 103, in the 12-hour endurance race at Hyères, France, on 29 May 1955. Driven by Les Cosh and Dick Cobden, “104” immediately made its mark, finishing third. Aston Martin nearly swept the podium, with the Kangaroo Stable taking second, third and fourth places.

The car continued its 1955 campaign with Les Cosh, finishing ninth in the Oporto Grand Prix on 26 June, 11th in the Lisbon Grand Prix on 24 July and 13th in the International Trophy race at Oulton Park on 27 August.

Following the cancellation of motor racing in much of Europe in late 1955 after the tragic accident at the Le Mans 24 Hours race, “104” was sold for USD 7,500 in October 1955 and shipped to California.

Its competition career continued at an extraordinary pace throughout 1956, 1957 and 1958. The DB3S raced competitively every few weeks at venues including Pebble Beach, Laguna Seca, Santa Rosa, Salt Lake City, Buchanan Field, Santa Maria, Seattle, Arcata, Tillamook, Harewood, Pomona, Palm Springs, Watkins Glen, Santa Barbara, Marlboro, Tracy, Lime Rock, Socurru and Elkhart Lake.

The results included several class victories and numerous overall podium finishes, among them first in class at the 1956 Road America 500.

In 1989, “104” was repatriated to the UK and reunited with its original UK number plate, OXE 474. Its remarkable life in historic motoring continued with appearances at numerous rallies and events, including the 1992 Mille Miglia in Italy, the 1992 Mille Miglia in Japan, the 1994 Sicilia Storico, the 1996 Goodwood Festival of Speed and the 2000 Louis Vuitton Classic at the Hurlingham Club in the UK.

The DB3S continued to be raced extensively in more recent years, with appearances including the 2014 and 2016 Goodwood Members’ Meetings, the 2014 Monaco Historique and the 2015 VSCC Spring Meeting at Silverstone.

In 2016, “104” was even driven around the track at Goodwood by Stirling Moss in a celebration of his remarkable driving career.

With a competition history stretching from its debut in France in 1955 through decades of racing and historic events, DB3S/104 represents an important chapter in Aston Martin’s racing story.

Now, this remarkable DB3S will take its place at the Concours of Elegance, offering visitors the chance to see a sports racing car with an extraordinary history — one that has continued to be enjoyed on circuits and at events for more than seven decades.