Classic Car Reviews 1960 Aston Martin Db24 Mk111 Saloon
The real name of this car was actually the Aston Martin DB Mark III.
First released and launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1957, the company had decided to drop the 2/4, as the car was always known within the company as the Mark Three.
The car was the 2 + 2 variant of the DB2, and in sport car terms was probably the best of the DB2 series. The 3 litre, 6 cylinder engine was capable of putting out 162bhp, using a 4 speed David Brown gear box (this was perhaps the cars greatest problem, while the David Brown companies manufactured tractors and gear boxes, the gear boxes in the DB models remained very agricultural and rough, they are noisy and can chew through clutches), the car also boasts Power Assisted disc/drum brakes, which really were a cut above the brakes on the previous models.
Total production number of the car was 550 cars, of these 350 of them were sent to the US, with 85 cars also a drophead (convertible).
Comparing the cars to modern cars would be a waste, the cars of the late 50's early 60's were rough, fast and dangerous. Most often the cars were far more powerful than the brakes and with very little in the way of safety equipment (no seat belts and air bags on these cars), the cars could be made fast and light.
Unfortunately, you would never call a DB Mark Three light, at 1340kgs, or about 3000lbs, this car was designed to be a grand tourer in the old sense, it was heavy, and surprisingly comfortable. The car was a 2+2, this meant that the front seat passengers had comfort and sufficient leg room, as for the passengers in the back, it was best if they were small children, double amputees, or good friends. Put a couple of grown ups in the back seat and by the time the journey ended they would be very good friends.
Interior space was excellent for the front seat occupants, people sitting in the back, had to hope the front windows would be open so they could breath. Luggage space was acceptable, but nothing to right home about. There was always enough room for the spare tyre, the fuel tank, a couple of overnight bags and a carefully folded tooth brush.
It is the driving where the car excels, climb in behind the wheel, take the skinny wooden steering wheel in your hands, start the engine (always let them run for a minute or so, to make sure the oil would get into all the galleries and nooks and crannies), depress the clutch and select first gear (eventually, bloody db gear boxes, double clutching was often de riguer with these things), and drive away.
The ride is smooth and almost comparable to a modern sports car, yes, there was bottoming out of rough roads, and the car understeer was very noticeable at speed, but nothing that couldn't be handled, with a little squeeze of the brakes, as you went into a corner.
For a car weighing 3000lbs it was surprisingly quick, but by todays standards it was a big thirsty car, with a 17 gallon fuel tank, at cruising speed the car could attain 20 miles to the gallon.
This car was and still is a gem, I would happily sell my first born child (alright short term lease with a buy back option), to buy another one.
