Aston Martin Projects 212, 214 & 215

[John Turner]

At the end of 1959, having won the World Sports Car championship with the fabulous DBR1/300, Aston Martin withdrew from sports car racing and left privateers to uphold its honour on the circuits. However, increasing pressure came from the French importer of Astons, for a works entry to appear at least at Le Mans. As a result, in 1962, Aston Martin dipped its toe in the water and re-entered the 24 hour race with a genuine GT prototype, Project 212. It was driven by Graham Hill and Richie Ginther. It was promising enough to re-awaken their serious interest sufficiently for them to build 3 more cars for 1963 – 2 x 214, and a single 215. I’ve endeavoured from various sources to put together the histories of all 4 of these charismatic cars. All photos are mine and hence of varying quality!

DP212/1
1962 - Constructed using as much mechanical componentry from existing models as possible, with a 3.7litre twin plug DB4GT engine linered out to 4-litre, to take maximum benefit from the regulations. Gearbox was the rugged David Brown 5 speed box S532 also used in DBR2. A new all streamlined body was manufactured. Entered at Le Mans, it snatched the lead briefly at the start with Graham Hill driving, and came round at the end of the lap in glorious isolation, clear of the field! It then held 2nd place for a while, until delayed by an armature failure. It dropped down the order to retire from 9th place, in the sixth hour after 79 laps, when a piston failure, caused by a fractured oil pipe, occurred.
1963 – To combat substantial aerodynamic lift experienced at Le Mans the previous year, the rear bodywork was modified with a chopped Kamm tail and spoiler. In the absence of DP 215, which was not ready in time, 212 took part in the Le Mans practice, driven by Bianchi, Schlesser, Ginther and Kimberley. It did not, however, take part in the race, as by then, 215 was ready. Fitted with a 4.2 litre (DBR2) engine, it was sold onto The Hon. John Dawnay (later Viscount Downe).
1964 – Rebuilt and road registered, AYN 212B, it was entered in a few minor speed and sprint events driven by Dawnay, and Mike Salmon.
1973 – Returned to motor racing and won twice at Silverstone, and once at Castle Combe, all in the hands of Salmon
1974 – Mike Salmon won the Classic Car Championship with 1 overall win, 2 x 2nd places and 5 Class wins.
1975 – Acquired by Mike Ottway
1975 - 1981 - Raced by Mike Salmon who took several overall and class wins in Club events. A result of particular note was a very fine 2nd place, in the Group 4 historic Race at the Houbigant meeting at Brands Hatch on 15 May, 1977, when Salmon and 212 demonstrated a wet weather sure footedness not matched by the later GT40s and Chevron B8s (amongst others) it was up against, being beaten only by a Lola T70. The above results also include a much easier win in the ‘all Aston’ race at 1981 Dubai GP.
The picture below shows a ‘recovered’ photo taken at Silverstone, I believe at the AMOC St John Horsfall Meeting, 1973



At some stage, possibly the early 1990’s car acquired the registration no. 212DP

1995 – Appeared as a static exhibit at the Silverstone Coys meeting here:-



1998 – Took part in the first TT Revival race at Goodwood – Retired when in 2nd
1999 – Coys Historic, Silverstone – Pre 64 GT race – Part 1 – 2nd (Gary
Pearson/Salmon). Part 2 – Car expired on first lap having just grabbed the lead (Pearson).
Goodwood TT Revival – Car put on pole by Martin Brundle in a time of 1.27.635 (not bettered until 2006 after track had been resurfaced) but then crashed in practice by Pearson and therefore a DNS.
2000 – Major rebuild following the above accident and acquired by Nicolaus Springer
Goodwood TT Revival – 5th (Tony Dron/Tiff Needell)
2001 - Goodwood TT Revival
2002 – Acquired by Wolfgang Friedrichs
Goodwood TT Revival – 12th (Friedrichs/David Clark)
2004 - Goodwood TT Revival – DNF (Friedrichs/Clark)
2005 - Goodwood TT Revival – 10th (Friedrichs/Clark). Here seen in the Goodwood enclosure:-


2006 - Goodwood TT Revival – 10th (Friedrichs/Clark).




Notes
1) For the 1962 Le Mans, John Wyer quotes 327 Bhp @ 6000rpm
2) 212 only raced once for the factory but has since been the most actively campaigned of the surviving Project cars.
3) To commemorate Martin Brundle’s pole time at Goodwood in 1999, I commissioned Andrew Kitson to paint this achievement, and a limited edition print of this painting is available – please PM me, if interested.
4) Although, being the oldest of the Project cars, and therefore potentially the slowest (!), this car has been maintained for racing consistently for most of its life and should be capable of winning the Revival TT in the right hands. The Brundle/Pearson team in 1999 was its best chance to date.