1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT

A classic Aston Martin once owned by Peter Sellers – and with some screen-time of its own – was a highlight of this year’s Concours of Elegance event at Hampton Court Palace in London.

Feb 1, 2018

A rare Aston Martin DB4GT – just one of three DB4GTs fitted with occasional rear seats – headlined a cavalcade of DB4s at this year’s Concours of Elegance classic car event in London.

The ex-Peter Sellers Aston, finished in classic British Racing Green, joined other DB4s celebrating the model’s 60th anniversary. 

This particular Aston Martin DB4GT – registration number 41 DPX – was delivered to Brooklands dealer Ken Rudd in March 1961. A ‘Type 2’ DB4GT, the car boasts several unique detail features, including aluminium bezels surrounding the headlights, a single air scoop for the oil cooler and two brake scoops. The build sheet on file notes that the DB4GT was originally ordered with two occasional rear seats, making it one of only three examples to be fitted as such. 

Less than a year after being delivered to Rudd, the car featured in the Peter Sellers film, The Wrong Arm of the Law. A comedy crime caper revolving around a gang of criminals who impersonate policeman, the DB4GT provides for an excellent getaway vehicle for the thieves at one point in the film. Most famously, the DB4GT leads a high-speed chase through Uxbridge Moor, followed by a Wolseley 6/90 police car. Post-filming, Peter Sellers was so impressed with the DB4GT, he took ownership of the car himself. 

The DB4 milestone collection was a new feature at this year’s Concours of Elegance event. Other collections curated for the occasion included a Future Classics line-up celebrating the rarest and most exotic cars released during the past few years, and the Harry’s Garage ‘Fastest Four-Doors’ celebration.  

The central attraction of the Concours of Elegance, however, remained the collection of sixty or so vehicles that gathered from all over the world to compete in the Main Concours. This year the line-up of machinery included a 1903 Panhard et Levassor 15hp, a 1931 Bugatti Type 54, a unique 1954 Jaguar XK120 Pininfarina, race-winning 1969 Porsche 917K and the 1998 Mercedes CLK LM.