Lot 423: 1953 Aston Martin DB2 Saloon

Aston Martin owner David Brown’s 1947 acquisition of Lagonda made the latter’s W O Bentley-designed, twin-overhead-camshaft, 2.6-litre six available for a new sportscar. Announced in April 1950, with production commencing the following month, the DB2 owed much to the Claude Hill-designed DB1, using a shortened and modified version of the latter’s chassis and identical suspension. Italian-inspired, the timelessly elegant GT bodywork was the creation of Frank Feeley, and with more power (105bhp at 5,000rpm) and less weight, the sleek DB2 comfortably out-performed its predecessor.

Writing in 1952, Autosport’s John Bolster enthused: ‘The DB2 is a very fast sports car of immense stamina, as a long list of racing successes has proved. The model is remarkable for its comfort and luxury, and is also about the easiest thing there is to drive, outside of the “automatic transmission” carriages.’ Bolster enjoyed the DB2’s outstanding performance, particularly that of the 120mph Vantage version, and remarked on the car’s inherent safety and versatility: ‘Whether one would go shopping, to the theatre, on a long-distance tour, or even race at Le Mans, one could have no more perfect companion than the Aston Martin.’

The body of the DB2 afforded its two occupants a generous amount of interior space and the considerable convenience, from the maintenance and accessibility point of view, of a forward-hinging entire front section. DB2 bodies were coachbuilt in the traditional manner, a situation that resulted in numerous differences between individual examples, most obviously in the treatment of the front grille. A drophead coupé version was announced towards the end of 1950. When production ceased in April 1953, a total of 411 DB2s had been made, 98 of them dropheads.

This right-hand drive model has been stored for the past 40 years, and represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire this complete time warp motor car, with all parts/fitting present. The vendor advises us that the engine runs well, and the car is generally in a remarkably solid overall condition. The interior and paintwork are original and reported to be in scruffy although salvageable. A great basis for careful re-commissioning, the car is offered with Swansea V5 registration document.