View source for Aston Martin DB3

{{Refimprove|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
:''See [[Aston Martin DB Mark III]] for the road car often called "DB3"''
{{Racing car
| Car_name         = Aston Martin DB3
| Image            = [[File:1952 Aston Martin DB3.jpg|250px|Aston Martin DBR1]]<br>''Aston Martin DB3/5, at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009''
| Category         = [[24 Hours of Le Mans#Cars|Le Mans Racer]] [[Sports car racing]] 
| Constructor      = [[Aston Martin Lagonda Limited|Aston Martin Lagonda LTD]]
| Designer         = [[Robert Eberan von Eberhorst]]
| Team             = {{flagicon|UK}} [[David Brown Ltd.|David Brown]]
| Drivers          = {{flagicon|UK}} [[Reg Parnell]]
| Technical ref    = 
| Chassis          = Twin-tubular, aluminium body, open two seater 
| Front suspension = [[Torsion bar suspension|Torsion bar]] and [[trailing arm]]s
| Rear suspension  = [[Torsion bar suspension|Torsion bars]], parallel links, panhard rod, [[De Dion tube|De Dion]] axle
| Length           = 13 ft 2½ in (4,026 mm)
| Width            = 5 ft 1½ in (1,562 mm)
| Height           = 3 ft 4 in (1,016 mm)
| Wheelbase        = 7 ft 9 in (2,362 mm) 
| Track            = 4 ft 3 in (1,295 mm)
| Engine name      = [[Lagonda]]
| Capacity         = 2,580 cc/2.9L
| Configuration    = Straight 6, Twin OHC, [[Front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout|FR Layout]], 3 twin-choke Weber 36 DCF5 carburettors
| Turbo/NA         = 
| Engine position  = 
| Gearbox name     = [[David Brown Ltd.|David Brown]] S527,
| Gears            = 5-speed [[Manual transmission|Manual]], later a David Brown S430/63R, 4-speed
| Type             = [[Manual transmission|Manual]], 9" single clutch
| Differential     = 
| Weight           = 
| Fuel             = 
| Tyres            = Dunlop 16 x 6
| Debut            = 
| Races            = 
| Wins             = 
| Cons_champ       = 
| Drivers_champ    = 
| Poles            = 
| Fastest_laps     = 
|}}
The '''Aston Martin DB3''' and later '''DB3S''' were [[Sports car racing|sports racing car]]s built in the 1950s.  Although they used some [[Aston Martin DB2|DB2]] parts, they were quite different, being designed specially for racing.  The original modifications were done by ex-[[Auto Union]] engineer, [[Eberan von Eberhorst]], though others handled the later DB3S work.

==DB3==
[[Image:1952-06-14 Le Mans Aston DB3-1 Parnell.jpg|thumb|left|DB3/1 at Le Mans in 1951, driven by [[Reg Parnell]] and [[Eric Thompson (racing driver)|Eric Thompson]].]] 
The DB3 was originally going to be fitted with "a new V12 commissioned at around the same time", however "funds had to be spent on making the DB3 competitive".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howe |first=James |date=2024-03-13 |title=Aston Martin V12 engine tech guide |url=https://prestigeandperformancecar.com/aston-martin/aston-martin-v12-engine-tech-guide/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Prestige & Performance Car |language=en}}</ref> The DB3 was introduced in 1951 with a 133&nbsp;hp (99&nbsp;kW) 2.6&nbsp;L ''[[Lagonda Straight-6 engine|Lagonda]]'' [[straight-6]] engine from the DB2 ''Vantage''.  The car was unsuccessful, so a larger 2.9&nbsp;L engine, producing 163&nbsp;hp (122&nbsp;kW), was introduced in June 1952.  The car was placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] May 1952 (in 2.6&nbsp;L form) that year behind a [[Jaguar C-Type]].  The cars were forced out of [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]], but did claim the 9-hour race at [[Goodwood Circuit|Goodwood]]. 

In 1953 a DB3 driven by Parnell/Abecassis placed 2nd at the Sebring 12 Hours, the opening race in the World Sports Car Championship, behind a Cunningham CR4 and then at the second round at the Mille Miglia, Reg Parnell drove a DB3 to 5th place, the highest position ever reached by a British sports car in the Italian classic. The car was then replaced as Astons front line car by the DB3S.    

===Chassis numbers===
In total 10 DB3s were made between 1951 and 1953, with chassis numbers from DB3/1 to DB3/10.  Cars 1 to 5 being used as works cars and cars 6 to 10 being sold as customer cars. Ended her sporting life, chassis number 1 was sold to Eric Forrest Greene in 1953; unfortunately he only used once, at the [[1954 1000 km Buenos Aires]]. The car crashed and fired, causing the death of his pilot. After the accident, the chassis 1 was repaired and reformed, and used in competition by the son Jack.

===Coupés===
[[File:Aston Martin DB3 Coupe.jpg|thumb|left|Aston Martin DB3 Coupe]]
Several Aston Martin DB3s have received coupé style bodies over the years. Pictured left is Aston Martin DB3/7 Coupé at Silverstone Classic 2008

==DB3S==
{{see also|Aston Martin DB3S}}
The DB3S was a lighter version of the car, introduced in 1953.  It was somewhat more successful, and was produced until 1956.  

Originally two 'works' [[coupé]] versions were also built.

In 1956 the DB3S was replaced by the [[Aston Martin DBR1|DBR1]], which claimed victory in the [[1959 24 Hours of Le Mans]].
{{Listen|filename=Aston Martin DB3 (1952).ogg|title=1952 Aston Martin DB3|description=Aston Martin DB3 at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009}}

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==References==
{{reflist}}

* {{cite web|url=http://www.astonmartins.com/racing/index.html|title=Post War Competition Cars|work=AstonMartins.com|accessdate=24 June 2005 }}

{{David Brown Ltd.}}
{{Aston Martin Sportscar Racers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aston Martin Db3}}
[[Category:Aston Martin racing cars|DB3]]
[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans race cars]]