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Aston Martin will mark the 50th anniversary of its one and only outright Le Mans 24hrs win with a set of 24 (one for each hour, natch) DBS Superlegerras.
The cars, all to be built by Aston's 'Q Department' special projects division, will be badged as DBS 59 and will all feature special interior and exterior styling touches to celebrate the anniversary.
The DBR1 has gone down in Aston legend as the firm's greatest racing car, winning the 1959 Le Mans 24hrs in the hands of the great Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori, and then pulling off a dramatic win at the Goodwood TT with Stirling Moss at the wheel, following a fire in the pits, to secure first place for Aston Martin in the sports car world championship that year. Moss went on to describe the car as 'the most important Aston Martin ever produced.' Last year, one of the original DBR1s sold at auction for a massive USD$22.5 million.
A DBS 59 won't cost quite that much, but they will look pretty special. They will all come in Aston Martin Racing Green paint, with lots of exposed carbon fibre on the outside, including the roof, roof strake and painted bonnet louvres.
Inside, there will be a mix of Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan leather, with fabrics said to be inspired by the interiors of those DBR1s trimming the sides and backs of the seats, and the door cards. Bronze-finished metal will be used for the grille surround, 'Superleggera' bonnet script, rear Aston Martin script and the Q badge on the front wings.
Other details include little pods for storing crash helmets behind the seats, which will be finished in bespoke saddle leather, and those will be filled, for the lucky 24 customers, with special 'DBS 59' crash helmets, race suits and gloves.
Outside, there's a small white roundel, with a number from one to 24, in the fashion of classic racing car numbers, painted on down by the front wing vent.
You want more special touches? How about period blue race overalls complete with Aston Martin and 'DBS 59' logos; replica string-backed racing gloves modelled on those worn by 1959 Le Mans-winning driver Carroll Shelby; replica 1959 race helmet; bespoke 2-piece luggage set to match interior trim; bespoke car cover in Aston Martin Racing Green complete with its own white racing roundels and numbers.
Mechanically, the DBS 59s will be unchanged from standard, but that does mean you still get the mighty 715hp V12 turbo engine, and a top speed beyond 330km/h.
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".
All 24 cars have been specially commissioned by Aston Martin's dealer in Cambridge, in England, and are available to order from there.