Complete Description
- Owned by David McNeil for 40 years
- Delivered new in France, clear history
- Good condition
This lovely Aston Martin DB4 has the distinction of having been owned for 40 years by David McNeil, the author, composer, singer and songwriter, and son of the painter Marc Chagall. Originally metallic grey with a beige interior, it was restored some 30 years ago and the colour changed to an elegant raspberry red with black leather upholstery.
It arrived at the Garage Mirabeau in Paris, the Aston importer in France, on 1 June 1959. Three days later, it was delivered to the company La Française d’enterprises et canalisations in Paris and registered as 437 JA 75. In November 1960, it was offered for sale on commission by Roger Loyer, a racing driver and sports car dealer, and after a brief spell in the Bouches-du-Rhône, it was taken into stock in 1961 by the Garage Mirabeau, registered as 685 LJ 75. It kept the same number with its next two owners, the Société nogentaise d'imprimerie and then Édouard Lemercier from December 1963 to December 1967. After being put up for sale on commission in Paris, it was sold in October 1970 to M. de Farcy de la Villedubois, from the Ille-et-Vilaine department, and registered as 5472 QJ 35. When its current owner bought the car, it was registered in the Yvelines. The engine was replaced by a unit of the correct type before David McNeil bought the car and registered it in Monaco. For the first few years, he enjoyed it as he had bought it, before having a full mechanical and body restoration carried out. As part of this, he chose the elegant deep red paintwork with a black leather interior. It is one of the few DB4s built with left-hand drive and sold new in France.
Very well preserved since it was restored, with its body built following the ‘Superleggera’ method by the Italian coachbuilder Touring and its luxurious and welcoming interior, it is powered by the 3.7-litre straight-six. Combining Italian elegance and British refinement, this Aston Martin DB4 epitomises how English tourists of the 1950s liked to travel when they drove down to the Riviera to enjoy its charms and warm, sandy beaches. A pleasure that lies in store for the new owner …
Photos © Alexis Ruben
