The Aston Martin DB3S was a sports

Sports car

A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....

 racing car built by Aston Martin

Aston Martin

Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...

 as a replacement for the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3

Aston Martin DB3

The Aston Martin DB3 and later DB3S were racing cars built in the 1950s. Although they used some DB2 parts, they were quite different, being designed especially for racing...

. In total 31 cars were made, with 11 works cars and 20 cars being sold for customer use. The DB3S was introduced in 1953 and it proved somewhat more successful than the Aston Martin DB3

Aston Martin DB3

The Aston Martin DB3 and later DB3S were racing cars built in the 1950s. Although they used some DB2 parts, they were quite different, being designed especially for racing...

. The DB3S was later replaced in 1956 by the DBR1

Aston Martin DBR1

The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time...

.

Chassis numbers

The 11 works cars had chassis numbers from DB3S/1 to DB3S/11, with the 11th works car never being raced by Aston Martin

Aston Martin

Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...

. The 20 customer cars had three digit chassis numbers, from DB3S/101 to DB3S/120.

Coupé's

Originally two works Aston Martin DB3S fixed head coupé's were made. The change was to make them more aerodynamic than the open top bodied cars. However they were unstable at high speeds and both crashed at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans

1954 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 22nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 12 and 13 1954. It was also the fourth round of the World Sportscar Championship.-Official results:-Not Classified:...

. Both coupé's were then rebuilt as open bodied cars.

Three of the customer cars were also fitted with similar coupé bodies.

Chassis information

Included are a list of victories by each chassis under Aston Martin.

• DB3S/1
  • 1953 Charterhall
  • 1953 British Empire Trophy
  • 1953 Charterhall(2)
  • 1953 Castle Coombe
  • 1954 Silverstone
• DB3S/2
  • 1953 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
• DB3S/3
  • 1954 Silverstone
• DB3S/4
  • 1953 B.R.D.C. Silverstone
  • 1953 Ulster TT Dundrod
• DB3S/5 - Converted from David Brown's road car
  • 1954 B.O.C. Prescott
  • 1955 B.A.R.C. Crystal Palace
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Aintree
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Aintree(2)
• DB3S/6 - Originally a coupé, rebodied as an open top car.
  • 1955 B.R.D.C. Silverstone
• DB3S/7 - Originally a coupé, rebodied as an open top car.
  • 1955 B.A.R.C. Aintree
  • 1955 Silverstone

• • 1955 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
  • 1956 B.A.R.C. Goodwood
• DB3S/8
  • 1955 Spa Production Sports Car race
  • 1955 Oulton Park
• DB3S/9 - Featured an aerodynamic headrest
  • 1956 Oulton Park
• DB3S/10 - Featured an aerodynamic headrest
  • None
• DB3S/11 - Not raced under Aston Martin
  • None