The first ever Aston Martin DB4 shown to the public is up for auction. The car made famous by the James Bond franchise was first revealed by Marcel Blondeau of Garage Mirabeau at a private party. Wanting to impress his guests, Blondeau had the Aston Martin on display, the first time anyone outside of the British manufacturer had seen the new version of the car. It then made its debut in public a few days later at the Paris Motor Show in 1958.

One of only 50 Aston Martin DB4s with a left-hand drive ever built, this rare automobile (chassis DB4/102/L) is a collector’s dream. It’s also the first Austin Martin to be fitted with all-wheel disc brakes. Other improvements include a new chassis to support the Superleggera body system, independent front suspension via double wishbones, coil springs, Armstrong shocks, and an anti-roll bar.

A new engine was created for the DB4 and fitted with a four-speed manual gearbox with the ability to produce 240 bhp. The interior is decked out in black leather trim while the paint job is a crisp desert white. 

The DB4 has had several owners over the years, spending most of its life in France. Full documentation of the car’s history is included with the sale. 

The Aston Martin DB4 is currently up for sale via RM Sotheby’s for a cool $1.2 million. 

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