Based on the Aston Martin DB2, the DB3 was developed by Eberan von Eberhorst of Auto Union fame to win races such as Le Mans. The DB" Vantage engine was tuned to 133bhp with triple Webers, and there was a 2.9-litre 163bhp version. But the DB3 was too heavy and did not have enough power; all team cars retired from the 1952 24 Heures du Mans race. Just 10 DB3 cars were built, some were given coupe bodies but these were usually converted back to open format. Chassis DB3/7 was made into a not very pretty coupe. In 1953 a brand new DB3S car was designed, engineering by Willie Watson and styled by Frank Feeley . The 6-cylinder W.O Bentley-designed Lagonda dohc engine was expanded to 2992cc and 182bhp. There were 3 bodystyles, early cars having rear fins, and some cars having 'egg crate' grilles, and from 1956 a more oval nose, faired in headlamps and front disc brakes. In 1954 some DB3S Coupes were entered at Le Mans but crashed because of high speed instability and were rebodied as open cars. The DB3S was replaced by the all new DBR1 in 1957 and achieved many wins for Aston Martin. From 1954 to 1956 20 customer DB3S cars were built.