Aston Martin DP214 Recreation

There are no prizes in motor sport for resting on laurels which is why, three years after its celebrated 1-2 Le Mans performance with the 3-litre DBR1s in 1959, Aston Martin felt the need to get back in the game with a new, competitive racing car.

The first attempt, the DP212, combined a DB4GT chassis with lightweight, streamlined bodywork specifically designed for the high speed La Sarthe circuit, where the car briefly led the 1962 race in the hands of Graham Hill (alongside Richie Ginther) before retiring with oil pump failure on the 79th lap.

Knowledge gleaned from 212 led to the more streamlined and aerodynamic, Kamm-tailed DP214, two examples of which were built – with the one driven by Innes Ireland during practice for the 1963 event becoming the first car to be clocked at 300kph (186mph) on the Mulsanne Straight

Bruce McLaren was Ireland’s co-driver, with the other car going to William Kimberly and Jo Schlesser – but mechanical failure again dogged the team with the former entry retiring after 59 laps and the latter after 139, both with piston trouble.

A few notable works successes in other GT races followed, but the cars were subsequently sold off to privateers with chassis 0195 being destroyed in a crash at the Nürburgring in 1964 that killed Brian Hetreed.

That made 0194 the sole survivor DP214 and, following a long-term restoration between the mid-1970s and early ’90s (and despite a major shunt at Goodwood in 2012) it’s still going strong today.

So what of the DP214 pictured here and being offered for sale by the Runnymede Motor Company? That’s a superb, toolroom copy which has been owned by Runnymede founder Martin Brewer for 17 years.

He discovered it as an unfinished project that was destined to become a road car, but Brewer wanted it for a track racer and completed the build to meticulous competition standard complete with a rigidity-improving rollcage and the correct DB4GT six-cylinder engine with 12-plug head and triple 50 DCOE Weber carburettors.

Brewer has since made the car a familiar sight at high-profile events throughout Europe – ranging from the pre-Le Mans Legends race to the Pau Historic – as well as further afield to Laguna Seca in 2011 where it took the chequered flag in both races entered.

More recently, the engine has been rebuilt with a new, lightened flywheel, balanced crank, fresh pistons and a gas-flowed cylinder head to produce a beefy output of 385bhp and making the car “a real joy to drive”, according to Brewer.

With its aerodynamic bodywork making for head-turning looks, and the fact that few people in the world would be able to distinguish it from one of the original cars, this impeccably turned out continuation really does represent a one-off buying opportunity.

Brewer is coy about the asking price, but says something in the “high six figures” should do it – but the teddy bear strapped to the rollcage won’t be part of the deal.

The bear is in fact a good-luck mascot supplied by Brewer’s wife and is required to move with him between cars.

Aston Martin DP214 recreation

On sale with Runnymede Motor Company, Thames Valley. Asking: £POA. runnymedemotorcompany.com

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