**SOLD PRE SALE** 2019 ASM R1 Le Mans

When David Brown purchased Aston Martin in 1949, one of his ambitions was to develop an endurance motor racing program that would mean that the company would forever be associated with achievements in Motorsport. Some success at national level followed but International wins proved elusive, however, with the DBR1’s introduction in 1956, an outright win at Le Sarthe was David Brown's clear ambition. Three years of development followed, with a number of well-documented setbacks, however, in 1959 the works DBR1s took an overall first (Shelby/Salvadori) and second (Trintignant/Frere) at the Le Mans 24 Hours on their way to securing that year's World Sports Car Championship. David Brown immediately announced that the following year’s efforts were being directed towards Grand Prix cars and at a stroke the DBR1, with only five ever built, became a part of history. Their legendary status never waned and they have been an object of desire ever since.

Some 48 years later, a gentleman by the name of Andrew Soar purchased a fairly well built DBR1 replica by ARA Racing Ltd, however, as an engineer with a great eye for detail, he felt that he could do a better job and consequently in 2007 AS Motorsport was formed to offer DBR1 replicas built to a much higher standard and to each customer's individual specification.

Known as the ASM R1 Le Mans, the cars are built around a bespoke space-frame chassis clothed in accurately dimensioned, hand-laid GRP bodywork with aluminium boot, bonnet and doors and in most cases finished in Aston Martin Racing Green. Suspension is fully rose-jointed with a de Dion rear utilising a lateral Watts linkage and trailing arm set up. Fully adjustable coil-over dampers all round, disc brakes all round, cable-run handbrake, and 16” painted wire wheels as standard with ‘knock on’ spinners. Motivation is normally provided by a 3.4-litre Jaguar XK straight-six with twin SU carburettors mated to the customer’s choice of gearbox and a Cosworth LSD.

The stunning example on offer here was completed in 2019 after a twelve-month build and our vendor recalls the process as enjoyable with multiple trips and lengthy conversations with AS Motorsports on GSK 965’s progress over the period.

ASM’s intentions were to tailor each R1 to the customer’s individual requirements and consequently the list of options is lengthy. In this case alloy bonnet, boot and doors were chosen to complement the GRP bodywork and further external features included three sets of bonnet louvers, Turrino stainless wire wheels with 3-ear knock-offs wearing Avon TurboSteels and a classic AM Racing Green finish with yellow-painted nose band.

A 4.2-litre version of Jaguar’s legendary XK was chosen, fitted with a Kent Jag2 cam, fuelled by Emerald classic fuel injection with the throttle bodies housed in Weber 45DCOEs (£5,250), exhausted through wrapped headers and treated to a full ASM ‘cosmetic engine kit’. A copy of a Dyno print out from 2019 shows an output of 246bhp which, given the cars weight of around 975kg, provides the R1 with a substantial power to weight ratio.

The list of selected options is too lengthy to list here although a full specification sheet is included in GSK’s file indicating our vendor invested a further £34,000 over the original basic price. Also included in the file are the aforementioned Dyno print-out, a copy of the IVA Compliance Statement and the relevant build invoices.

Incredibly, at the time of cataloguing, the odometer shows just 338 miles, having evidently been used sparingly, and its most recent and only service was in July of 2023 as would be expected with so few miles covered. The car’s condition is simply superb, much as you might expect to find if you were picking it up freshly finished from ASM’s impressive South Norfolk showroom.

It has to be noted that in a timely manner the beloved Le Mans Classic event has shifted to running on an annual basis for the first time this year meaning 2026 will not be missed as previously thought. How fitting an experience and opportunity this ASM R1 could provide to perhaps return the DBR1’s spiritual successor to the circuit where it made its debut some 70 years ago in 1956. Sensibly guided when considering the build costs involved, this example of ASM’s R1 is worthy of any collectors serious consideration. We welcome your interest and inspection at our upcoming Collectors Car Sale at the Race Retro event.