Aston Martin DBR1 raced by Jack Brabham hits auction block

A RARE Aston Martin DBR1 once raced by Jack Brabham could fetch more than $US20 million when it comes up for sale in August.

Built in 1956, this DBR1 was campaigned by the some of the biggest names in the racing world – Carroll Shelby, Roy Salvadori, Stirling Moss, and Aussie Jack Brabham all took turns behind the wheel of this beauty.

Only five were built, of which this is the first.

This particular car competed in a number of high-profile events, most notably the 1000km Nurburgring where it won overall in 1959 after previously entering in 1957 and 1958.

It also raced three times in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – where it made its debut in 1956 – and twice in the 12 Hours of Sebring.

With a 3.0-litre straight-six mated to a five-speed transaxle gearbox housed inside a spaceframe chassis with Girling disc brakes at all four corners, it was one of the most advanced cars competing at the time.

RM Sotheby’s – the auction house handling the sale – has claimed it to be “the most important Aston Martin ever produced”, which they would say as they are trying to sell it.

However, it’s easy to agree with them given this DBR1’s storied history.

Expected to fetch more than $US20 million ($A26 million), the DBR1 could become the most valuable British car ever sold. The current record holder is a 1955 Jaguar D-Type that sold last year for $US21.8 million.

For those with a budget unable to stretch that far, three other Aston racers are listed among the Monterey lot – a 1935 Ulster Competition Sports, a 1959 DB4 GT, and a 2006 DBR9 are also listed.

As for us mere mortals lacking such boundless amounts of cash, at least we can admire the bite-the-back-of-your-hand beauty of this thing on our screens.