When David Brown purchased Aston Martin in 1949, one of his ambitions was to develop an endurance motor racing program that would mean that the company would forever be associated with achievements in Motorsport.

Some success at national level followed but International wins proved elusive, however, with the DBR1’s introduction in 1956, an outright win at Le Sarthe was David Brown's clear ambition.

Three years of development followed, with a number of well-documented setbacks, however, in 1959 the works DBR1s took an overall first (Shelby/Salvadori) and second (Trintignant/Frere) at the Le Mans 24 Hours on their way to securing that year's World Sports Car Championship.

David Brown immediately announced that the following year’s efforts were being directed towards Grand Prix cars and at a stroke the DBR1, with only five ever built, became a part of history.

Their legendary status never waned and they have been an object of desire ever since.

Some 48 years later, a gentleman by the...