A one-of-a-kind 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Vantage, the only Roman Purple example of 45 to leave the factory, is set to be auctioned by H&H Classics on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
H Lotery & Co Ltd, a London tailoring firm that grew into the UK’s largest uniform supplier before expanding into property and financial services, was the first owner of chassis DB4/973/R, through the company’s subsidiary, Wilburton Investment Trust Ltd. Lotery’s legacy carries on today as part of the trillion-dollar Invesco fund. Registered as ‘PPA 2’ on June 1, 1962 – a numberplate previously seen on several Bentleys – the Aston Martin DB4 was supplied new by Brooklands of Bond Street in Roman Purple with Blue/Grey leather, a heated rear window, 3.31:1 rear axle, electric windows and chrome wire wheels.
Chassis DB4/973/R is understood to have passed through several early owners, including L Ash of Lincolnshire and James Alexander McCall of Surrey, before being purchased by patent agent and former Isle of Man TT racer James Bridge-Butler from Cherrywood Automobiles on December 4, 1969 for £1250. Bridge-Butler retained the car for nearly 52 years until his death.
Records show that the Aston Martin DB4 was sent to HR Owen for a cylinder-head overhaul soon after his acquisition, and that it then received a factory-supplied ‘Special Series’ engine in June 1970, replacing the original unit (370/1003/SS) with 370/1171/SS. Later that year, the car was sent to renowned marque specialist RS Williams, who maintained and serviced it periodically over the following five decades. In more recent years, mechanical work has included attention to the ignition and fuel systems, triple SU carburettors, braking set-up, engine and gearbox mounts, timing chains, suspension components and cooling system – the last of these being upgraded to RS Williams’ specification.
Bodywork restoration and a repaint were carried out by DCH Autocraft of Beverley approximately 20 years ago.
Following the Aston Martin DB4’s sale in 2021 to its current custodian, it was commissioned for a full body restoration by Project Heaven Restoration Ltd of Apethorpe. The process, which began in 2022, involved stripping the car to bare metal, carrying out extensive structural and panel repairs, and refinishing it in its original Roman Purple. The work took more than two years and cost in excess of £52,000. Project Heaven also replaced the water pump and torsional vibration damper, and carried out further servicing in June 2025 at a cost of £4108.81.
The DB4 retains its original leather upholstery, which shows a well preserved patina. It is accompanied by its V5C registration document, a copy of its build record and a detailed history file dating back to the 1960s, including correspondence from Aston Martin to Mr Bridge-Butler requesting information on earlier ownership. It’s estimated at between £375k and £425k.
Damian Jones, director at H&H Classics, said: “When it comes to highly desirable and rare classics, it does not get much better than this Aston Martin DB4. It is a unique example of one of Aston Martin’s most sought-after road-going models and, fittingly, it is being sold just a short distance from the marque’s historic base in Newport Pagnell.”
More details on this Aston Martin DB4 and the H&H Auctions Millbrook Sale can be found here.
