#0067 Aston Martin DBR1

Le Mans 24 Hours 1959

#5
Carroll Shelby / Roy Salvadori
overall winner

Sir David Brown's ambitions did not wane, despite continued disappointments with more advanced vehicles for many consecutive years. Beginning with the DB2, its promising sports cars progressed through the DB3 Spyder and coupés, whose best results were a second place finish in 1955 and 1956, to the elegant DBR1, pictured here, which first saw action in 1956. Brown had high hopes for this car but was unsuccessful on its first outing, again in 1957 with two DBR1s and in 1958 with three, although there was success at other tracks. In 1959 he entered four cars and finally Sir David's aspirations and goals were fulfilled when the DBR1 took first and second place. Aston Martin also won the World Sportscar Championship that year. Pictured is the winning car driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori. Texan Shelby retired from racing after this race for health reasons and developed the successful AC Cobra with the intention of beating the Ferraris. Salvadori, the versatile British driver, has also had quite a successful career in Formula One. His best result was fourth place in the 1958 World Championship for the Cooper Car Company