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Q by Aston Martin: ‘DBS 59’ marks legendary 1959 Le Mans win

Q by Aston Martin: 'DBS 59' marks legendary 1959 Le Mans win

Published: Nov 01, 2018

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by
Neil Allison

One of the greatest moments in Aston Martin Lagonda's (AML) illustrious motorsport history is the inspiration for the latest Q by Aston Martin: Commission; the 'DBS 59'

01 November 2018, Gaydon: One of the greatest moments in Aston Martin Lagonda’s (AML) illustrious motorsport history is the inspiration for the latest Q by Aston Martin: Commission; the 'DBS 59'
Inspired by Aston Martin’s historic 1-2 finish in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans with its iconic DBR1, Aston Martin Cambridge has commissioned a collection of 24 very special DBS Superleggeras – one for every hour of the legendary endurance race. Called the ‘DBS 59’, each is identified by bespoke design features, hand-crafted interiors and graphic elements drawing directly from the DBR1 and the race it so famously conquered.
A marque synonymous with success in the world’s toughest endurance race – the most recent being a dramatic class win for the V8 Vantage GTE in last year’s race – Aston Martin’s outright victory in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans is the stuff of motorsport legend. Facing stern opposition from works Ferrari and Porsche entries, plus a team of Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars, the David Brown Racing Aston Martin DBR1s fought valiantly to score a famous 1-2 finish in a masterful display of pace, reliability and teamwork.
Since described by Sir Stirling Moss – who helped Aston Martin win the 1959 World Sportscar Championship – as ‘the most important Aston Martin ever produced’, the DBR1 has deservedly attained iconic status. Just five were built between 1956 and 1959, making it one of the rarest Aston Martins ever, and when one last went to auction (at Monterey in 2017) it set a new world record as the most valuable British-made car ever with a sale price of £17.5m ($22.5m).
Immediately identifiable by its timelessly beautiful Aston Martin Racing Green paintwork, the DBS 59 features extensive use of gloss finish Carbon Fibre, most strikingly on the roof, roof strake and painted bonnet louvres. A classic combination of Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan leather is used throughout the interior, together with fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material used to trim the ‘DBS 59’s’ seat backs and door inserts. Bronze detailing is strategically deployed around the exterior and interior, with the front grille surround, ‘Superleggera’ bonnet script, rear Aston Martin script and Q Fender Badge amongst the items painted.
Additional Q by Aston Martin detailing include bespoke Saddle Leather Helmet Pods in the rear compartment to hold special ‘DBS 59’ crash helmets, race suits and gloves, and a bespoke ‘DBS 59’ logo embroidered in the seat headrests. Each of the ‘DBS 59s’ will be identifiable by a small painted white roundel adjacent to the side strakes, with each car numbered from 1-24.
Further accessories include period blue race overalls complete with Aston Martin and ‘DBS 59’ logos; replica string-backed racing gloves modeled on those worn by 1959 Le Mans-winning driver Caroll Shelby; replica 1959 race helmet; bespoke 2-piece luggage set to match interior trim; bespoke car cover in Aston Martin Racing Green and featuring white roundels with specific edition number.
The DBR1’s proud genetic legacy is very much evident in the 2018 DBS Superleggera. The fastest and most powerful series production model in Aston Martin’s multi-award winning range, this 211mph, 715bhp Super GT is an inspired combination of imperious performance and impeccable style. Having received the attention of Q by Aston Martin: Commission it is a truly covetable car; one aimed at those who appreciate the lasting significance of DBR1’s historic victory and world-beating contemporary performance and handling of the DBS Superleggera.
Speaking of the ‘DBS 59’, Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Sproule said: “When Aston Martin Cambridge expressed a desire to create a limited run of DBS Superleggeras inspired by the DBR1’s famous Le Mans victory we knew it had to be something special. The soft metallic hue of the Aston Martin Racing Green paintwork is classy and timelessly beautiful; the level of thought and detailing is exceptional. My favourite element on the ‘DBS 59’ are the seat backs that feature fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material, but there are countless touches that will intrigue and delight”.
The ‘DBS 59’ limited edition is the fourth Q by Aston Martin: Commission from Aston Martin Cambridge, following on from the success of last year's Red Arrows Edition Vanquish S, and the earlier success of V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80 Edition, marking 80 years of the Supermarine Spitfire's first flight, and the Vantage S Blades Edition, developed in collaboration with the Blades Aerobatic Display Team.
‘DBS 59s’ 1 through 24 are available to order now from Aston Martin Cambridge. To place your order please contact Simon Lane at simon.lane@jardinemotors.co.uk.

FCA sales up, Ford sales down in October

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October 31, 2018 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 86,053 vehicles in the U.S. to reflash a powertrain controller. These vehicles may – in rare instances – exhibit engine stall during deceleration, most often while slowing to a stop. If a stall occurs under these circumstances, the engine may… Continue reading Statement: Reflash

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Auto dealers see slowing sales, sparking fears that a long-expected decline is here

Suzanne Kreiter | The Boston Globe | Getty Images
Keith Monnin, CEO of Bernardi Auto Group, looks over a dealership in Framingham, MA.

A growing number of auto dealers around the country is seeing a noticeable drop in retail sales and customer traffic in showrooms, raising the possibility that a long-anticipated slowdown in auto sales has arrived.

“We are definitely seeing business pull back,” said Scott Adams, the owner of a Toyota dealership in Lee's Summit, Missouri, just outside Kansas City. “September was off some, but this month our car sales are down 12 percent and our truck sales are down 23 percent.”

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Other dealers tell CNBC they saw a significant drop in sales last weekend. One dealer in metro Tampa Bay, Florida, who asked not to be identified, said sales this month are down 13 percent.

“Customer traffic has moderated,” said Mark Scarpelli, president of Raymond Chevrolet and Kia in Antioch, Illinois.

Scarpelli said sales at his dealership are “keeping pace” with last October, but he has seen customers taking longer before buying a new car or truck. “There is a little bit more of a pause because of the higher interest rates,” he said.

Auto loan interest rates have moved steadily higher as the Federal Reserve has raised rates this year. In the second quarter of this year, the average new vehicle interest rate was 5.76 percent, up from 5.2 percent at the same time in 2017, according to Experian, which tracks millions of auto loans.

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Gary Barbera, who sells Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler models in Philadelphia, said his sales team has to “dig a little deeper” to close a sale. Still, business is up more than 6 percent this month, he said.

The pace of auto sales for October is expected to be close to 17 million vehicles, according to the auto website Edmunds.

Jeremy Acevedo, Edmunds' manager of industry analysis, said the number might not be showing signs of weakness due to auto fleet sales. If automakers increase fleet sales to corporations and government agencies, it would offset weaker retail sales through dealerships.

For more than a year, analysts have said auto sales are primed to slow down for a variety of reasons, including a surge in 3-year-old models entering the used car market. That wave of pre-owned models with relatively low mileage gives potential buyers an attractive option at a far lower price. Still, auto sales have remained robust and are on pace to top 17 million vehicles for a fourth-straight year, which would be a record for the industry.

Dave Fischer, chairman and CEO of the Suburban Collection, which has more than 50 retail stores in Michigan, California and Florida, said if sales slowing around the country, he's not seeing it.

“We will be up over last year. People are still buying,” he said.

—CNBC's Meghan Reeder contributed to this report.

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