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Ten Great Cars You Can Buy Now
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Sold for $234,174 November 30, 2014 at Bonhams Bond Street Sale, London Vantage version of the DB2. Displacement for this VB6E engine was 2.6 L -125 hp |
| 1954 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 'MARK I' SPORTS | |
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Introduced in October 1953, the DB2/4 widened
the already considerable appeal of the DB2 by the simple expedient of
installing two occasional rear seats, the latter being facilitated by
extensive revisions to the car's rear end. The DB2 had been the first
fruit of Aston Martin owner David Brown's 1947 acquisition of Lagonda,
which made the latter's W O Bentley-designed, twin-overhead-camshaft,
2.6-litre six available for a new sports car. Introduced in May 1950,
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. As well as the extra accommodation afforded by the DB2/4, there was also room for more luggage, the latter being accessed via a hatchback rear door. A raised roofline, one-piece windscreen, larger bumpers and other detail styling changes further differentiated the new '2+2' from its predecessor. Otherwise, the DB2/4 remained mechanically much the same as the DB2, though the Vantage (125bhp) engine became the standard specification. A total of 565 DB2/4s was produced before the arrival of the MkII in October 1955, by which time the 3.0-litre 'VB6J' engine had been standardised. |
