Rare Car Archive

Makes › Aston Martin United Kingdom › DB4 › DB4 Convertible · Rare specification Extremely Rare

Aston Martin
DB4 Convertible

Factory convertible DB4 (Series IV/V), some Vantage-engined

Aston Martin DB4 Convertible (Wikimedia Commons: Aston Martin DB4 Convertible (1962-63))
Aston Martin DB4 Convertible (Wikimedia Commons: Aston Martin DB4 Convertible (1962-63))
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
70BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
70 Built
Years
Not yet verified
Engine
DOHC inline six, all-aluminium · 3,670 cc / 3.7 LFactory: 3,670 cc
Power
179 kW / 243 PSFactory: 240 hp · converted
Top speed
225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Carrozzeria Touring (body); Harold Beach (chassis); Tadek Marek (engine)
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The DB4 Convertible was the factory open version of the DB4, with a Carrozzeria Touring-designed body. Only 70 were built, and some were ordered with the more powerful Vantage engine.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityExtremely Rare 70 · Built1
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productionDB4 Convertibles built 701 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The Convertible was announced at the 1961 London Motor Show, and the Vantage engine specification became available from September 1961. It shared the DB4's Harold Beach-designed chassis and Tadek Marek's all-aluminium 3,670 cc twin-cam six, rated at 240 bhp in standard tune, with a four-speed manual gearbox and overdrive. The DB4 was described as the first production car able to go from 0 to 100 mph and back to rest in under 30 seconds.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard DB4 Convertible.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutDOHC inline six, all-aluminium2
Displacement 3,670 cc / 3.7 LFactory: 3,670 cc2
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 179 kW / 243 PSFactory: 240 hp · converted2Standard tune per text; Vantage said to add 26 hp. Catalogue spec and text disagree on carburettor fitment.
Power at 5,000 rpm3RM Sotheby's and Bonhams quote 240 bhp at 5,500 rpm for the standard engine and 266 bhp at 5,750 rpm for the Special Series engine.
Torque 325 NmFactory: 240 lb-ft · converted3
Torque at 4,200 rpm3

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxFour-speed manual with overdrive2
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisPressed-steel platform chassis4 Independently researched
Front suspensionUnequal-length wishbones (upper and lower control arms), coil springs, anti-roll bar4,5 Independently researched
Rear suspensionLive axle with trailing links, coil springs and Watt linkage4 Independently researched
BrakesDunlop servo-assisted front and rear solid discs3
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionTouring Superleggera: aluminium panels on a tubular frame3
Wheelbase 2,490 mmFactory: 98 in · converted2
Length 4,480 mmFactory: 4,480 mm3
Width 1,676 mmFactory: 1,676 mm3
Height 1,323 mmFactory: 1,323 mm3
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,308 kgFactory: 1,308 kg3Factory page lists one weight for the DB4 range without naming the weight basis or body style.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted3
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 9 s3
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

DB4 Convertibles carry chassis numbers with a DB4C prefix and an L or R suffix for drive side, for example DB4C/1082/L and DB4C/1108/R. Engines with an SS suffix, such as 370/1051/SS, are the Special Series (Vantage) unit with triple SU carburettors, larger valves and 9:1 compression, rated 266 bhp. The body is Touring's Superleggera construction, aluminium panels over a tubular frame on a platform chassis. The convertible was announced in 1961 with the Series IV cars; about 40 are Series V, and only 21 convertibles were left-hand drive.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    1961 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage Convertible (lot 126) Level B RM Sotheby's
    • 3,670 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder
    • 3,670 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder Vantage engine
    • 240 bhp
    • four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive
    • Wheelbase: 98"
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3
    Aston Martin DB4 & DB4 Convertible Level A Aston Martin Lagonda
    • DOHC Straight six, 3670 cc, 240 bhp @ 5000 rpm 240 lbs-ft @ 4200 rpm
    • 240 lbs-ft @ 4200 rpm
    • Dunlop Servo assisted brakes with front and rear solid discs
    • aluminium panels are fixed to a tubular frame built onto a substantial platform chassis
    • 4480 x 1676 x 1323 mm (Convertible)
    • 1308 kg
    • 140 mph
    • 0 - 60 mph: 9 sec
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  4. 4
    1961 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage Convertible (chassis 1068L), Salon Prive Level C RM Sotheby's
    • a new pressed-steel platform frame
    • upper and lower control arms, coil springs and anti-roll bar
    • live rear axle with trailing links, coil springs and Watt linkage
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  5. 5
    1963 Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage 4.2-Litre Convertible, chassis DB4C/1108/R Level C Bonhams · 2011-05-21
    • unequal-length wishbones
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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