Pair of Spellbinding Aston Martins to go on show at Hampton Court Palace this September
The Concours of Elegance, presented by A. Lange & Söhne, is delighted to announce that a pair of historic Aston Martins will grace this year’s event: a 1932 LM8 competition car, and a 1955 DB3S Coupe. Only three examples were produced of each, and these automotive treasures rank as two of the rarest and most significant Aston Martins in existence.
They will star at Europe’s leading concours d’elegance event, held at Hampton Court Palace from September 5th to 7th. The pair will join 60 of the world’s rarest and most significant motor cars in the main concours display, all drawn from leading private collections across the globe. The palace will also play host to hundreds of other classics over the course of the weekend, drawn from the country’s leading car clubs. This will include a display from the Aston Martin Owners’ Club, on the second day of the event, Saturday 6th September.
1955 Aston Martin DB3S Coupe
The DB3S Coupe that will be appearing, DB3S/119, is one of just three closed DB3S models built and the last to be completed. Conceived to be a more aerodynamic version of the open DB3S racer, the coupe combined racing pedigree and startling performance with road-going refinement. The shapely machine, with beautiful bodywork styled by Frank Feely, was a match for the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing in a straight line, the hypercar of its day. Built on a tubular steel chassis, it powered by a 2.9-litre straight-six putting out 225bhp; it could accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and hit over 140mph flat out. It was also remarkably nimble, with advanced suspension and a David Brown four-speed manual gearbox.
As David Brown chose to focus on more touring models, like the DB2 and DB4, the DB3S remained a rare thing, a case of what might have been for the marque, proof of what they could achieve had they launched a sustained challenge on Jaguar, Ferrari and the more established sports car players. Despite the obvious appeal of the DB3S Coupe, due to financial limitations of Aston Martin in the mid-‘50s, the car never entered series production, and only three were produced.
Chassis DB3S/119, that car that will be on show at the Palace, was first delivered in 1956, finished in Battleship Grey with red leather. It is one of only two-fixed head cars to survive. As such, it represents a prized piece of Aston Martin’s legacy. Now restored to its original specification, it resides in one of the world’s leading private collections, and was displayed at Pebble Beach in 2013. It is ready to delight crowds at this September’s show, standing out as a compelling fusion of engineering excellence, motorsport heritage and supremely elegant design.
Aston Martin LM8
Also appearing will be a wonderful Aston Martin LM8 race car, which dates from a significant moment for the brand, a time when it was intent on renewing its motorsport offering. It was one of just three “second series” Works racing cars built by Aston Martin in 1932 following lessons learned from earlier competition efforts. These cars – LM8, LM9, and LM10 – featured numerous improvements overseen by Augustus “Bert” Bertelli, Aston Martin’s designer and, unusually, also its works racing driver. Development of the car was significantly aided by the fact that Bertelli had firsthand experience behind the wheel – not just in testing but also in the heat of competition.
The LM8 was part of an ambitious, and hurried development program that saw Aston Martin build three competition cars in just eight weeks ahead of the start of the ’32 racing series. These new “second series” cars were conceived to move the game on from the Aston LM models that had emerged up to this point. LM8, LM9 and LM10 featured numerous improvements over their predecessors, including a redesigned chassis, a more slippery competition 2-seat body with tapered tail, and a distinctive low-radiator design.
Technical innovations included a greatly improved cylinder head, with particular attention given to the evolution of the inlet manifold, which now housed two 1⅜” side draught carburettors. This, combined with high-lift camshafts and a 4-branch exhaust manifold, gave the competition machine more punch – key to the gruelling Le Mans, with its long straights. The engines were dry-sumped, with lightened timing gears and shafts, while the gearbox was made of magnesium alloy, with drilled gears for weight reduction.
Before heading to Le Mans, the new cars – their paint barely dry – were entered in the Brooklands “1000 Mile Race” as a test run. This proved fortunate, as handling issues were discovered by Bertelli the designer-driver, this was linked to the front suspension. The cars were quickly withdrawn and modified before being dispatched to France just two weeks later for the centre piece of the motorsport calendar: Le Mans.
What makes the LM8 truly special is its significant achievement at the famed La Sarthe Circuit, where it claimed a highly impressive 7th place overall and won the prestigious Rudge Whitworth Cup – a triumph for the small British manufacturer against formidable international competition.
At Le Mans, the LM8 was piloted by an exceptional driver pairing: the car’s designer Bert Bertelli himself and renowned Brooklands racer Patrick Driscoll. Against stronger and larger-engined competition, the Aston Martin performed flawlessly, securing 7th place overall and clinching the coveted Rudge Whitworth Cup.
The car has been meticulously cared for by its current owner, and presents in glorious condition; ready to appear in public at Hampton Court Palace.
James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming these two highly significant Aston Martins to Hampton Court Palace this September. Supremely rare, they embody a golden age when small British manufacturers could triumph on the world stage through ingenuity and determination. We’re thrilled to showcase these important pieces of automotive history at Europe’s leading concours d’elegance event, where they will undoubtedly captivate our guests.”
The Aston Martins will star alongside 60 other concours cars, drawn from leading private collections across the globe. Outside of the main Concours display there will special features, including the Levitt Concours – dedicated to the most passionate female owners – the 30UNDER30, which celebrates enthusiastic owners under 30 years of age and the Club Trophy, which gathers the very best examples of models from the nation’s best car clubs.
Aside from the automotive displays, the Concours of Elegance 2025 will assemble an engaging ensemble of luxury and hospitality partners, meaning guests and visitors can enjoy the ultimate garden party atmosphere, with champagne provided by Charles Heidseick and picnics by Fortnum & Mason. Leading names in the worlds of fashion, art and jewellery will be showcasing their fine luxury goods across all three days, while presenting partner A. Lange & Söhne will be presenting its most refined and intricate timepieces.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://concoursofelegance.co.uk/tickets/