The Aston Martin DB3S is one of the rarest and most desirable of all the sports racing cars from the golden era of 1950s motor racing, featuring a race winning chassis and engine combination, and clothed with great style by the celebrated designer Frank Feeley.
From only a handful of factory race cars there followed a number of production models that were campaigned with vigour across the world. Chassis DB3S/115 is one of those twenty production cars built by the factory. Delivered new to US West Coast privateer, Joe Lubin, on the 26th March 1956, '115' made its racing debut at Bakersfield on the 20th May.
Painted in the distinctive American racing colours of white with two blue stripes, '115' quickly established itself as the most recognised of all the competition cars in the thriving California race scene.
Lubin continued to campaign the car during 1957 with Richie Ginther, Rob Oker and Bill Love sharing the driving. At the time Ginther was a rising star, later competing in Formula One and claiming Honda’s maiden grand prix victory in Mexico in 1965. And it was in Ginther’s capable hands that '115' claimed its greatest success with second overall at Pomona.
In early 1958 Lubin sold '115' to Bill de Creeft who repainted the car blue before racing it at eight events during the 1958 season. With a new decade came a new owner, Ron Keil, who made minor modifications to the Aston Martin to make it more compliant for road use, regularly using it on the streets of California.
In 1965, '115' was bought by Alan Selby and remained in Selby's ownership for over forty years - culminating in a ground up restoration in the late 1990's.
2008 saw the Aston Martin's repatriation to the UK, where it was purchased by a well known historic racer. Since then, '115' has been a regular participant at the Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic and successfully competed in the 2017 Mille Miglia.
An exceptionally original example, DB3S/115 retains its original chassis, body and period engine and is currently fitted with a Rex J Woodgate race/rally engine.
