In 1947 David Brown, a sports car enthusiast, rescued Aston Martin and Lagonda from collapse by taking over both concerns. The Aston Martin sports cars and grand tourers which followed bore his DB initials.

 

In 1955 the DB2/4 Mark II was introduced. 199 were built; only 34 of them the new notchback hardtop, and 16 were dropheads. The Mk II had little tailfins on more angular rear wings, Hillman Minx tail lights, more chrome trim and the option of a large-valve 165bhp engine. Three Mark II Spyders were built by Touring in Italy, who later helped to produce the Superleggera body of the DB4. Allemano built a coupe body on a Mk II chassis, and Wacky Arnolt of Chicago ordered eight chassis to be bodied by Bertone, the last time an Aston Martin chassis was sold for special bodies. 

 

In 1957 the DB Mark III replaced the DB2/4 Mark II. This car had a new grille design resembling the DB3S. The four seater hatchback body from the previous cars continued, as did the drophead coupe (84 sold), and five fixed head coupes were built as well. It had a new dashboard design, and options of disc brakes, overdrive or automatic transmission (only five buyers chose the latter). The tail fins were altered to fit Humber Hawk rear lights. The 162bhp DBA engine had twin SU carburettors, but more power was available from the 180bhp DBD with triple SUs or the 195bhp DBB with twin three-choke Webers. 551 Mark IIIs were built in all. 

 

At the 1958 London Motor Show  a truly great Aston Martin was launched, the DB4, with a new 3.7 litre engine designed by Tadek Marek. It had exciting new Italian styling with superleggera (tube-frame) body design by Touring of Milan, and an egg-crate grille, over a Harold Beach designed chassis. The DB4 was the first car built at the new Newport Pagnell factory, under the control of John Wyer as general manager. Frank Feeley had left the company, as he was unwilling to move to Buckinghamshire. The new engine produced 240bhp when fitted with twin SU carburettors. Suspension was independent at the front, with a live rear axle on coil springs with Watt linkage and rack and pinion steering. The DB4 went through a number of Series, from II to V. The Series IV, from 1961 onwards,  had distinctive bars in the grille, and it was also offered in 266bhp DB4 Vantage form with three SU carburettors. 136 saloons and 32 convertibles were sold with the Vantage engine. From September 1962 the Series V had a longer, taller body, giving more interior space, but smaller wheels reduced the overall height. The new front end treatment on the Series V continued over to the DB5. The DB4 Series V was also available in Vantage form. 70 convertibles were sold in all, and a few factory hardtops were also built. A total of 1,110 DB4s of all types were made. 

 

From 1959 the lightweight high performance 302bhp DB4 GT was added, with enclosed headights and a shorter wheelbase. Very few cars had rear seats fitted in the reduced space. The 3.7 litre or 3.8 litre engine had two spark plugs per cylinder, two distributors and three twin-choke Weber carburettors. Its top speed was 153mph. 75 DB4 GTs were built, plus one Bertone Jet, and 20 of the the DB4 GT Zagato. That DB4 GT Zagato was first seen at the 1960 London Motor Show, its sleek low body with short overhangs styled by Ercole Spada at Zagato. Its 314bhp engine gave a top speed of 154 mph. Production of 25 cars was planned, but only 20 were sold, making this car one of the rarest Aston Martins. The DB4 GT Zagato came third on it first race at Goodwood in 1961, driven by Stirling Moss. Two Zagatos, registered 1 VEV and 2 VEV entered Le Mans in 1961, but both cars retired, though they had minor successes later in the year. Zagatos participated again at Le Mans in 1962 and 1963. 

 

In 1991, four unused chassis numbers were applied to DB4 chassis which were bodied by Zagato as Works Approved Replicas called the Sanction II cars. Zagato had two more bodyshells, so in 1992 permission was granted to make two more Sanction III Zagato Coupes, completed in 2000. A number of other Zagato replicas have been privately built. 

 

Aston Martin Review and Scale Models Available From Here

Extract from Auto Review 057 Aston Martin - available from Oxford Diecast at £5.95 plus postage

 

I have been out on the road a lot in the last few weeks, and saw a Cresta parked up in a service station, several people were looking it over. So I thought as I have 20 minutes free I would post this little update, with the help of Rods' Vauxhall Album from the Auto Review series, 

The Vauxhall PA Velox

New for 1957 were the six-cylinder PA Velox and Cresta. The body stying was again US-influenced, with various Buick and Pontiac features scaled down into a harmonious design, influenced by Gerald Palmer, who had scaled down US designs for his previous car projects. Its wrap-around glass, long tail fins and abundant chrome produced an iconic design of its period. The large rear window was made in three sections, later replaced by one piece of curved glass. Proponents of more staid British cars disliked the PA’s candy colours, optional whitewall tyres and a grinning chrome grille. But others saw it as an exciting flash of American style in dull, grey 1950s Britain. The PA was not ‘smart’; your solicitor would never be seen in one, but it was flashy; pop singers loved them (Don Lang of ‘Frantic Five’ fame was an early owner). The PA had the 2262cc ohv engine and three speed gearbox from the E-type, plus independent coil spring front suspension and an anti-roll bar with a rigid axle and semi elliptic leaf springs at the rear. It had bench seats, fitted carpet and a heater as standard. Options included a radio, exterior mirrors, fog lamps, a reversing light, and two tone paintwork. The Cresta was better equipped than the Velox, and had two tone paintwork, but was otherwise mechanically similar. The PA could reach almost 90mph, at 25mpg (not seen as poor consumption at the time) and cost over £1000 including tax. In February 1959 the two millionth Vauxhall was made, a PA Cresta.  The PA was facelifted in October 1959 with an enlarged grille (it looked as if the original grille had been turned upside down), a single curved rear window replaced the three piece design, and overdrive was an optional extra. In 1960 the engine grew to 2.6 litres, and Hydramatic automatic transmission was offered as an option. Higher performance was now demanded, and the PA could reach almost 95mph with its new engine. Every Luton-built PA was a four door saloon, but from 1960 Friary of Basingstoke offered a factory-approved conversion to produce the PA estate car. There were optional separate front seats and disc brakes from 1961, and the PA stayed in production until 1962. The PA helped Vauxhall reach two million sales. 

 Above Image: PA Velox in Red

Above Image: PA Velox Late Type Black DT

 Above Image: Velox-Cresta PA pink

Extract from Auto Review 049 Vauxhall Album - available from Oxford Diecast at £5.95 plus postage. 32 packed pages.

 Vauxhall Auto Review and Scale Models Available Here

The Vauxhall FB Victor

In 1961 the FB Victor was announced, with smoother and more balanced lines than its F-type predecessor. It came as the standard version, Super, De Luxe or estate car, each with the 56bhp 1508cc four cylinder engine. The faster VX Four-Ninety (soon shortened to VX4/90) had twin carbs and a higher compression ratio, increasing the power output by 44%. It also had disc brakes to all four wheels, optional on other Victors. In 1963, the engine grew to 1594cc, giving 69bhp, the VX 4/90 version now capable of over 90mph. A four speed all-synchro box with floor change was now fitted. Many Vauxhall fans think this was the best-balanced of the five Victor designs, and it sold well in the UK and overseas, though US sales were killed by GM’s new home-grown compacts. By 1964 328,642 FBs had been sold. 

Above Image: Vauxhall Victor FB De Luxe 2 tone

Above Image: Vauxhall Victor FB Estate

Above Image: Vauxhall Victor FB De Luxe

Extract from Auto Review 049 Vauxhall Album - available from Oxford Diecast at £5.95 plus postage

Product	Description	Release	Retail	Bodyshape	Scale	Barcode	Quantity	Picture
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1:148 Oxford Commercials
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1:148 Oxford Military
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1:148 Oxford Omnibus
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1:18 Oxford Automobile
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1:43 Oxford Automobile
43AMVT003	Aston Martin Vantage S Sunburst Yellow	Q1/2018	£24.95	Aston Martin Vantage	1:43	5055530122482
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1:43 Oxford Military
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1:43 Oxford Omnibus
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1:72 History of Flight
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1:76 Oxford Automobile
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76MCS006	Pink Mini	Q4/2017	£5.45	Mini Cooper S MKII	1:76	5055530129832
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76TR6002	Triumph TR6 Signal Red	Q1/2018	£5.45	Triumph TR6	1:76	5055530123922
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1:76 Oxford Commercials
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76TPU001	Ford Transit Dropside Stobart Rail	Q1/2018	£11.95	Ford Transit Pickup	1:76	5055530128279
1:76 Oxford Construction
763CX002	JCB 3CX Eco Backhoe Loader Union Jack livery	Q1/2018	£23.95	JCB 3CX Eco Backhoe Loader	1:76	5055530122833
76CHV001	Combine Harvester Red	Q2/2018	£15.95	Combine Harvester	1:76	5055530126756
76JCB7001	JCB 7	Q1/2018	£19.95	JCB 7	1:76	5055530127302
1:76 Oxford Emergency
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1:76 Oxford Haulage
76SCT004	Scania Car Transporter Green Tiger	Q1/2018	£35.45	Scania P Transporter	1:76	5055530123762
76TCAB010	Scania T Cab Short Curtainside Stuart Nicol Transport	Q1/2018	£23.95	Scania T Cab	1:76	5055530123861
1:76 Oxford Military
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76HST003	Humber Snipe Tourer Old Faithful - Tripoli 1943	Q1/2018	£6.45	Humber Super Snipe Tourer	1:76	5055530123298
76LRFCS001	Land Rover FC Signals Nato Green Camouflage	Q1/2018	£9.95	Land Rover Forward Control	1:76	5055530127494
76LRL003	Land Rover 1/2 Ton Lightweight RAF - Red Arrows	Q1/2018	£5.75	Land Rover Lightweight	1:76	5055530118508
76WMB002	Willys MB US Navy Seebees	Q4/2017	£5.75	Willy MB	1:76	5055530124042
76WOT001	Ford WOT1 Crash Tender Mickey Mouse (Scampton)	Q2/2018	£14.95	Ford WOT1	1:76	5055530128507
1:76 Oxford Omnibus
76COM007	Commer Commando Skyways	Q1/2018	£16.45	Commer Commando	1:76	5055530122994
76MW6003	Bristol MW6G Eastern Counties NBC		£18.75	Bristol MW6G	1:76	5055530129795
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76PAN007	Plaxton Panorama Ribble	Q1/2018	£18.75	Plaxton Panorama I	1:76	5055530118782
76SB002	Saro Bus Maidstone & District	Q1/2018	£18.75	Saro Bus	1:76	5055530123724
1:87 Oxford Automobile
87BC55004	Buick Century 1955 New York Taxi	Q1/2018	£5.95	Buick Century 1955	1:87	5055530124080
87BS36004	Buick Special Convertible Coupe 1936 Balmoral Green	Q1/2018	£5.95	Buick Special Convertible Coupe 1936	1:87	5055530124127
87CI61002	Chevrolet Impala 1961 Convertible Roman Red/White	Q1/2018	£5.95	Chevrolet Impala 1961	1:87	5055530124103
87CN57004	Chevrolet Nomad 1957 Colonial Cream/India Ivory	Q1/2018	£5.95	Chevrolet Nomad 1957	1:87	5055530124141
87CP65004	Chevrolet Stepside Pick Up 1965 Red/White	Q1/2018	£5.95	Chevrolet Stepside Pickup 1955	1:87	5055530124165
87CSD61002	Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1961 Aspen Gold Metallic	Q1/2018	£5.95	Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1961	1:87	5055530124189
87OR50002	Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Coupe 1950 Crest Blue/Black	Q1/2018	£5.95	Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Coupe 1950	1:87	5055530124202
87PB59002	Pontiac Bonneville Coupe 1959 Sunrise Coral	Q1/2018	£5.95	Pontiac Bonneville 1959	1:87	5055530124226
ALL Oxford Specials
76SET58	RAF Centenary Set	Q1/2018	£49.95	Sets	ALL	5055530121850

Amazingly I spoke to Charles last week. He is well and despite what many said he is alive - he was unwell, which is why for three years he was not contactable. When I spoke to him he was in China, he was preparing to work. So our search for him has finished - we look forward to an exciting future......

 

 

I have been asked by many ,what this post is about.

It's about my past. I have found my roots and where I came from - I wasn't really sure until quite recently. On the one side of my family I knew a lot, as I spent a lot of early years with my grandfather (maternal side), he was a great man and was awarded the MBE, but I never knew my own father, as he died when I was very young - I have no memories of him, which has always been difficult. Recently finding out about my fathers history and where he came from in the Rhondda Valley has created a lot of energy in me. Finding a history in the coal industry - Colliery Firemen, Engine Drivers, Coal Weighers and Colliery Cashiers -  shouldn't have surprised me. Everyday I discover more about the hardship of those times, I reflect on the inequality that exists in our lives today.

I have a distant memory of a Davy Lamp with 1909 engraved upon, it celebrated the birth of my father, a tradition in those times. I draw strength from this memory.

It has created Hwyl in my heart - I fear nothing for the times ahead.

The Past Is Hidden From Me Now

His past is hidden from me now.
But be quite clear I make this vow.
To find the truth of why he went.
Those buried thoughts that he has sent.

 

The steam, the dust, which filled his eyes.
The coal, the sweat, that made him cry.
The heat, the smoke, which made him die.
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why...

 

Who is this man that I can't see.
Who is this man who lives in me?
His life was short and didn't last.
An engine driver from the past.

 

How did he look - was he strong.
Did he die, or am I wrong?
The truth is there for me to find.
And so this story will unwind.

 

His orphan son, who fathered me.
The orphan son I didn't see.
The past unknown for far too long
So now I'll try to right that wrong

 

I bare my soul to all of you.
For all these things that I will do.
To bring to you these things in me.
From both these men I'll never see.