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Technology in a racing car (4): Aston Martin DBR 1 from 1959 - A sports car beau for Le Mans

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Created on May 7, 2021

Reading time 4min

Written by:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Tim Scott - Courtesy RM Sotheby's

Aston Martin

Jochen Hätty

Balz Schreier

Jochen Van Cauwenberge

Stuart Adams Photography / stuartfadams.com

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Tim Scott - Courtesy RM Sotheby's

Aston Martin

Jochen Hätty

Balz Schreier

Jochen Van Cauwenberge

Stuart Adams Photography / stuartfadams.com

Archiv

Gesamtsieger der 24 Stunden von Le Mans 1959: Aston Martin DBR1 Nummer #5 mit Roy Salvadori/Carroll Shelby

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1959) - In Le Mans 1959

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1959) - Ein Schluck Champagner für den Sieger

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - Le-Mans-Sieg im Jahr 1959, dank Radabdeckungen war der Wagen 20 km/h schneller

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - einer der schönsten Sportwagen aller Zeiten

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - Effizienz elegant - Eleganz effizient

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - schöner Abgang

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - mit grosser Klappe – Tankraum statt Kofferraum

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - der Rohrrahmen erschwert den Einstieg

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - in der linken Flanke war unter der Fahrertür ein Öltank untergebracht

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - Front-Zentral-Motor-Kunstwerk

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Aston Martin DBR 1 (1959) - grüner Leader - Einsatz in Spa

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Le Mans Legend 2011 - Aston Martin DBR1 1957

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - am Goodwood Revival 2011

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1959) - am Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2012 - Kategorie 'I - Heroes of Le Mans'

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) kurz vor dem Dunlopbogen - Gesamtplatz 2 im Plateau 3 (1957-1961) an der Le Mans Classic 2012

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - Gesamtplatz 2 im Plateau 3 (1957-1961) an der Le Mans Classic 2012

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1959) - im Rennen um die Sussex Trophy am Goodwood Revival 2012

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - im Rennen um die Sussex Trophy am Goodwood Revival 2012

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - legendärer Rennwagen am Genfer Automobilsalon von 2013

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - Traditionspflege am Genfer Automobilsalon von 2013

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - Blick ins Cockpit - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 2013

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 2013

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1957) - Details eines alten Rennwagens - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 2013

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Aston Martin DBR1/2 (1957) - bei den Demonstrationsfahrten anlässlich des Jim Clark Tribute am Goodwood Revival 2013

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Stirling Moss als Beifahrer im Aston Martin DBR1/2 (1957) - bei den Demonstrationsfahrten anlässlich des Jim Clark Tribute am Goodwood Revival 2013

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Aston Martin DBR1 im Rennen um den Salvadori Cup - 72. Goodwood Member Meeting 2014

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1959) - am Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015

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Aston Martin DBR1 (1956) - als Lot 148 an der Versteigerung von RM/Sotheby's in Monterey 2017

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Summary

Enzo Ferrari once said that successful sports cars are usually also beautiful. This was certainly true of the Aston Martin DBR1 of the late 1950s, because as a Le Mans winner and sports car champion, it lacked neither success nor elegant lines. The DBR1 was a solid construction and was particularly convincing as a complete package. This episode of "Technology in a racing car" looks under the aluminum-magnesium dress of the Aston Martin DBR1 and explores its success.

This article contains the following chapters

Almost everything from a single source
Le Mans victory in 1959
From racing success to financial investment

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The years 1958-1978 were the two most creative decades in the history of racing technology. This series of articles portrays the most innovative, pioneering and exotic designs of Formula 1, Indy cars, sports cars and CanAm, and at the same time traces the major lines of development that still have an impact today. The series started with Lotus, one of the most important innovation drivers of these two decades. And the series will also finish with Lotus: With the first ground-effect Formula 1 to win a world championship in 1978, the Type 79. But in this episode, it's the turn of a sports car from Aston Martin.

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