Aston #1162 answers.
Hi,
I just joined the forum, because I heard that a model of #1162 had been produced, I have not found that yet, but I do think I can clear up some of your questions on the car.
Yes, 1162 was the one in R&T Special cars about 1989-90. You got part of the long ago sale info right. I was told in 1970 that it could be had for $6000. It had been 'gone over' paint color was maroon. I didn't have that to spend then. It was sold to a Colorado man, who it seems ended up in divorce court, the car went to Salt Lake, ended up in a junk yard there in about 1972-3. I got it in 1985-6, the R&T story shows it 'under a tarp' as found. Sale price about doubled, it came to PA.
A bit of work and a bit of money later the Second of the Three was back to it's original beauty in Aston Racing green. Zero rust by the way--you would think that Salt Lake would have rusted it away--just one small sheet triangle in the body support tubing was damaged under the drivers door--I left it with it's rust hole as found.
Of to Special body Aston class at PB in '87, (2nd). There I met a man from SoCal that said there was one there--after not believing him--he sent a photo--sure enough there was one there chassis # 1163, this was the first time that anyone interested in Astons knew where the Earls Court Show car was--since 1957.
2 KMF (1161) was Turin Show car, 1162 was the Paris car, and 1163 the London car. 1162 converted to RH drive. and one major difference--the length of the boot lid. 1161 was short, 1162 had a weld line all the way across the end of the lid--adding about 8-10" of material, and wrapping it down to the top of the license area. 1163 was done the same way--for the same reason--the spare tire lever could not be moved to lower the tire with the bodywork in the way--they fitted the tire 'shelf' with a strap instead.
1162 was at LeMans when the DBS coupe went upside down on the high speed straight. the Weber carbs were missing when towed in (I guess after the race?) the carbs were fitted to 1162 and there is a photo of the starting line (not for the race, just sitting there) with DB3S' and just the windshield and hood scoop of 1162.
Back to Utah, the man I got it from drove a road that T'd into the junk yard, one day a large trailer had been moved and he took the photo with the tarp over the car. I just had to have it, glad I did, enjoyed many shows and a bit of Vintage racing with it too. As the latest story says it is now in the Rothschild museum in South Africa.
Sorry for the overload of Aston Spyder history. AMOC magazine ran a copy of the R&T article, and a few other stories about 61 & 62, my guess is that the gray one shown must be 1163. Anyone know about that?
whit
