Aston Martin is commemorating what is considered perhaps its greatest victory, the 1-2 finish at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the DBS 59.
The limited-edition DBS Superleggera was commissioned by Aston Martin Cambridge and created by Q by Aston Martin, the brand’s bespoke division. Only 24 cars will be produced, one for each of the twice-around-the-clock race’s hours, won in 1959 by the DBR1/2 of Roy Salvadori and Caroll Shelby, leading the DBR1/4 of Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frére, both 25 laps ahead of the third-place finisher.
The engineering team chose Aston Martin Racing Green following a careful study of the DBR1’s exterior, contrasting the body with a carbon fibre roof panel and bronze grille-trim, brake callipers, 21-inch forged satin wheels and Superleggera script badging. The tribute is furthered by individually numbered roundel painted just behind the wheel on each front fender, tire-wall arrow decal and a bronze foil inlay with an outline of the DBR1’s shape, chassis number and engine number.
The interior is likewise a study in modern conveniences inspired by the original’s materials, such as the Chestnut Tan leather seats that features the weave of the seatbacks, and the door trim. Bronze trim again permeates, mirroring the exterior trimmings in items such as the shift paddles and seatback embroidering of 59 Edition.
Trimmed in Obsidian Black, the interior also features an embroidering of the Le Mans circuit on the rear speaker cover, a sun-visor commemorative embroidery of the date of the race and the laps completed, and replicas of the 1959 racing helmet, blue suit and racing gloves
“The ‘DBS 59’ strikes a careful balance between a timeless design that respects our history and a modern take that celebrates our future,” said Simon Lane, Aston Martin Director – Q and VIP Sales. “The DBS Superleggera is the most powerful production car ever produced by Aston Martin and so it is fitting that the ‘DBS 59’ special editions have been commissioned to mark 60 years since our iconic 1-2 win at Le Mans.”
Other Q by Aston Martin commissions include the Red Arrows Edition Vanquish S, the Cygnet V8 and the North Coast 500 series of six DB11 GTs.