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Collectors Corner - Aston Martin DB2/4, DB2/4 Mark II and DB Mark III


1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 LML/784 - 193 Cross Gardiner  USA

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 LML/784 - 193 Cross Gardiner USA

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Instrument arrangement

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Instrument arrangement

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 The Engine

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 The Engine

1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II AM300/1212 - 317 Chiais Foa GB

1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II AM300/1212 - 317 Chiais Foa GB

1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II AM300/1212 - 317 Chiais Foa GB

1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II AM300/1212 - 317 Chiais Foa GB

1957 Aston Martin MkIII

1957 Aston Martin MkIII

1957 Aston Martin MkIII

1957 Aston Martin MkIII

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Bertone Spider s/n LML/502

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Bertone Spider s/n LML/502

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Bertone Spider s/n LML/502

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Bertone Spider s/n LML/502

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Bertone Spider s/n LML/502

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Bertone Spider s/n LML/502

Aston Martin DB Mark III Drop Head Coupe

Aston Martin DB Mark III Drop Head Coupe

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I Interior

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark I Interior

1957 Aston Martin MkIII Saloon Dashboard

1957 Aston Martin MkIII Saloon Dashboard

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Coupe s/n LML/765

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Coupe s/n LML/765

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Spyder s/n LML/505

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Spyder s/n LML/505

Aston Martin DB2/4 Allemano Coupe s/n LML/761

Aston Martin DB2/4 Allemano Coupe s/n LML/761

Aston Martin DB2/4 Allemano Coupe s/n LML/761

Aston Martin DB2/4 Allemano Coupe s/n LML/761

1960 Aston Martin MKIII Saloon Interior

1960 Aston Martin MKIII Saloon Interior

1960 Aston Martin MKIII Saloon Interior

1960 Aston Martin MKIII Saloon Interior

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Mk II Tickford Fixed Head Coupe

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Mk II Tickford Fixed Head Coupe

 

Aston Martin DB2/4 1953-1955

Aston Martin launched at he London Motor Show in October 1953, the DB2/4 on display was a Vantage version with a 2.6 litre 125 bhp engine. The Freeley and Cutting modifications arranged more room behind the front seats, where a seat bench was replaced by single seats, to allow bucket seats to be fitted, the spare wheel found a new space under the tank, a new larger rear window found it's place in a hatchback, which was hinged on the top edge, the roofline of the was raised so as to provide extra headroom for rear seat passengers. The windscreen became a curved single piece. The new safety regulations required raised headlights. From the April 1954 the engine capacity was increased to 3 litre delivering 140 bhp.

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The production run out in 1955. In the two year production period 566 cars were built, with serial numbers ranging from LML/501 - LML/1065.
102
cars were drop head coupes
12 rolling chassis were delivered
8 of them to Bertone, 2 became drop head coupes, the others fixed head coupes and spiders (4-5). 
LML/762 was a Bertone Convertible
LML/505 was spider by Bertone designed by Scaglione
LML/765 was another Fixed head coupe by Bertone designed by Scaglione
Further 5 rolling chassis were bodied by Graber and Vignale, Allemano (LML/761)

LML/810
had be advertised by Metcalfe & Mundy with a glas-fibre body similar to the Alfa Disco Volante.

» Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone drop head coupe auctioned by RM for $847,000


In 1954 the drop head coupe LML/515 was sent to Mulliners of Birmingham to have a fixed hard top fitted. 

Due to the arrival of the DB3 the DB2/4 were not used as factory race cars on tracks. But in the 1955

LML/857 "54 DMF" - 11th place in Class - Rally Monte Carlo with Peter Collins and Graham Whitehead
LML/784 "55 DMF" - 
1st in class and 7th OA - Rally Monte Carlo with Maurice Gatsonides (the winning driver from the 1953) partnered by Marcel Becquart
LML/855 "56 DMF" - 
17th OA - Rally Monte Carlo with Reg Parnell and Louis Klementaski
Rally Monte Carlo - two private teams finished 3rd and 4th, this efforts were awarded with the team prize. 

Mercato
In May 2001 "55 DMF" LML/784 was sold in the AML auction for PDS 95,000.

A DB2/4 drop head coupe was used in the Alfred Hitchcock film, The Birds.

 

Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II 1955-1957

The DB2/4 Mark II was first shown in 1955 at the London Motor Show. In the 2 production years 199 cars were built. The majority as Saloons, 34 fixed head coupes and B drop head coupes.

Serial numbers ranged from AM300/1101 - AM300/1299 
Looking at the 1st glance similar to it's predecessor, this model came with many detail changes, the roof line was raised, the side panels of the bonnet remain fixed and the tail fins which were fashion in the 50's. The production of the bodies was moved to the new acquired Tickford Coachbuilding Works in New Pagnell.  

One DB2/4 Mark II was bodies by Ghia "Supersonic" (AM300/1132) for Harry Shell displayed in 1956 at the Turin Motor Show. 3 received open body work by Touring, AM300/1161, 1162 was displayed in Paris, 1163 was the London Show car.

Note: Some fixed head coupes may have converted to drop head coupes.

» 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Convertible auctioned by COYS - Sports Racing and Grand Prix Cars - Brands Hatch - 27th May 2007 ... £77,752

Aston Martin DB Mark III 1957-1959

The most notable change was the adoption of the DB3S style grill. The Mark III was the first Aston Martin with front disc brakes. The 2922cc engine produced 162 bhp @ 5500 rpm, the output could be raised by ordering the optional twin exhaust to 178 bhp. There were different engine options to produce up to 195 bhp.

The awkward looking peak across the top of the screen was removed the tail fins were refined. The instruments and the switches were more grouped together.

In 17 month 551 Mark III were built, 84 were drop head coupes, 5 were fixed head. 3 were fitted with an automatic gearbox.
Serial numbers ranged from AM/3A/1300 - AM300/3/1850