Aston Martin DP215
The sole DP215 following restoration after two accidents during its lifetime
|
|
| Category | Le Mans Racer Sports car racing |
|---|---|
| Constructor | Aston Martin Lagonda LTD |
| Technical specifications | |
| Chassis | Lightweight tubular steel frame, drilled steel box section, alloy floor panels, Mag/alu alloy bodied, NACA ducts, Plexiglass side/rear windows (with air ducts), Front screen the same as the DB4GT Zagato |
| Suspension (front) | Fully adjustable unequal wishbones and coil springs, back to front lower wishbones (shorter than DP214's) |
| Suspension (rear) | Fully independent wide based unequal length wishbones, double wishbone layout |
| Length | 14 ft 6 in (442 cm) |
| Width | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Height | 4 ft 0 in (122 cm) |
| Axle track | Front 4 ft 7 in (140 cm) Rear 4 ft 7 in (140 cm) |
| Wheelbase | 7 ft 10 in (239 cm) |
| Engine |
Aston Martin 3,996 cc Straight 6, twin overhead cam, aluminium head, 3 Weber 50 DCO, 323 bhp (241 kW; 327 PS) at 6,000 rpm (Although John Wyer quotes 323 bhp (241 kW; 327 PS) @ 6000 rpm for the 1963 Le Mans), 198.6 mph (319.6 km/h), 96 x 92 (B/S), 9:1 Compression Later changed to a 4,164 cc engine, 98 x 92 (B/S), 10.5 FR Layout |
| Transmission | David Brown CG537 synchromesh in magnesium alloy casting 5-speed Manual, 9" single clutch David Brown 8.25" spiral bevel |
| Weight | 2,219 lb (1,007 kg) dry |
| Competition history | |
| Notable entrants |
 David Brown
|
| Notable drivers |
 Phil Hill, Lucien Bianchi, Jo Schlesser
|
| Debut | 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans |
The Aston Martin DP215 was a prototype sports car built by Aston Martin for grand touring-style racing in 1963. It was built alongside the similar DP214, both of which replaced the previous DP212. Only a single example was built, which survives today.
Again using a DB4GT chassis, the DP215 was stylistically similar to the DP214, but had the advantage of not only being slightly lighter, but also using the larger 4.0-litre Tadek Marek Inline-6-cylinder engine which had previously powered DP212. Even though the car was also intended to carry the Tadek Marek designed 5-litre V8 engine, which later appeared in the Lola Aston T70 MkIII. Even so, with this increased power and decreased weight, the DP215 was seen as better suited to Le Mans' Mulsannes straight than the DP214.
The car never had the ‘planned’ V8 fitted and it made do with a dry sump 4-litre version of the well-proven 6-cylinder, with twin plug head. More contentiously, it was also fitted with the weakest link from the older and lower-powered DBR1, its CG537 5-speed transaxle; clearly a big mistake and one admitted by John Wyer. Visually, and dimensionally, the body was the same as the DP214's but with bonnet line, only 1.5 inches lower, enabled by the dry sump engine. The car was initially fitted with engine no. 400/215/1.
Debuting at the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans, the lone DP215, driven by Lucien Bianchi and Phil Hill, started alongside the two DP214's. During practice the DP215 set a time of 3m 57.2s with Hill. During the race the DP215 was intended to be the ‘hare’ for the DP214’s, trying to break the Ferrari’s, lapping at 4m 05s. Hill led away at the start but was passed by a Maserati on the Mulsanne Straight. On the sixth lap Hill was in fifth place, but unavoidably ran over debris from an accident of a car, who was about to be lapped. Hill pitted so the mechanics could see if any damage had been caused to the under carriage, but no damage was found and Phil Hill was sent out again.
...
Wikipedia