Lot 335: 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII Drophead Coupé
Coachwork by Tickford

Only 16 drophead coupés were constructed on the DB2/4 MkII chassis, this example, chassis number ‘AM300/1104’, being the first customer car. Completed on 11th October 1955, it has coachwork by Tickford, David Brown having acquired the Newport Pagnell coachbuilder in 1954, and was first registered on 1st January 1956. The car has the desirable ‘L1’ high performance cylinder head, twin exhausts and Alfin brake drums, all factory-fitted after manufacture.
Having been off the road for a number of years, ‘SGF 654’ was acquired by Denis Brocklehurst, of Sheldon, Derbyshire (owner of Needhams Garage in Bakewell) around 1973. The car was kept at Needhams for around ten years before Mr Brockehurst commenced restoration in 1985. Sadly, he died before it could be finished and the partly restored vehicle was acquired by the immediately preceding owner in February 1996.
The engine and part of the bodywork were restored by Aston Engineering Ltd, of Derby between 1996 and 1998, the body being repainted cream at this time and the chromework re-plated by Derby Plating. The remainder of the rebuild was carried out by Marksdanes Restorations, of Somerset between 1998 and 2000. L A & R W Piper, of Somerset re-trimmed the seats in blue hide, in addition supplying and fitted a new beige-lined dark blue mohair hood, matching tonneau and hood covers and matching dark blue Wilton carpeting.
The car returned to the road in May 2000 and had covered 1,678 miles since when it was sold to the current owner at Bonhams’ Works Service Sale on 10th May 2003 (Lot 221). Driven purely for pleasure and kept in a de-humidified garage, it was presented for sale in 1st class condition, as evidenced by numerous AMOC Elite Class Concours d’Elegance successes including 1st in the Feltham Class and winner of the Barry Weir Feltham Challenge Trophy at Blenheim in 2000.
While in the vendor’s hands, ‘SGF 654’ has been cherished as part of his private collection. The car has benefited from further refurbishment, there being bills on file from AML Works Service, Chris Shenton Engineering and other specialists for in excess of £9,000 spent over the past five years, including fully refurbishing the wheels and supplying a restored, FM-converted, period HMV radio and loudspeakers.
This quite outstanding DB2/4 MkII is offered with restoration invoices, MoT to 15th July 2008 and Swansea V5 registration document.