1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drop Head Coupe
Details
This absolutely stunning freshly restored Aston Martin DB2/4 Drop Head Coupe is now being offered for sale by Oldtimer Australia.
Highlights
• UK delivered factory right hand drive example
• 1 of only 73 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drop Head Coupe Mk I cars built (1 of 107 total Mk I & Mk II cars built)
• Concours standard restoration just complete
• Car out of long term ownership, circa 30 years
• Understood to be the only Aston Martin DB2/4 Drop Head Coupe in Australia
• Chassis Number – LML885, engine Number – VB6J441
• Delivery date – 25th March 1955
Preamble
David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947 and the first car produced during his ownership was the Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports, later known as the DB1, which was built in extremely limited numbers from 1948 to 1950. This was succeeded by the Aston Martin DB2 in 1950, which featured a new double overhead cam straight six engine of 2.6 litre (2580 cc) capacity, and was a car that really put post war Aston Martin on the map. Some 411 cars were built from 1950 to 1953, of which circa 100 were the convertible or drop head coupes. Its successor, known as the DB2/4, was first shown at the London Motor Show in 1953 and production started soon thereafter. Initially the car had the same engine as its predecessor, however, it was enlarged to 2922cc in April 1954. Compared to the DB2 the DB2/4 had an extended roof line with a larger rear window, a one piece curved windscreen and ‘real’ bumper bars. The biggest difference between the two cars was inside the cabin where the successor had far more room with two small occasional rear seats. The DB2/4 sold well through until 1957. In total 764 DB2/4’s were built which included 565 of the Mk I’s and 199 of the Mk II’s. The biggest change for the Mk II was that the bodies were made ‘in-house’ by the recently acquired Tickford Coachbuilding Works in Newport Pagnell, otherwise the differences between the Mk I and Mk II were subtle. The DB2/4 was available as a four seat fixed head coupe or two seat drop head coupe from the start of production with a two seat coupe introduced on the Mk II, however, the rarest and most sought after model today is the drop head coupe of which only 73 Mk I’s and 34 Mk II factory cars were built.
Oldtimer Australia is proud to offer a 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drop Head Coupe Mk I.
History
• This is a UK delivered factory right hand drive example that was sold through Brooklands to Messrs Carr & Co Ltd of Shirley, Birmingham. The car was delivered new on the 25th March 1955.
• The car was finished blue haze with a blue leather interior. The soft top was grey plastic with a fawn headliner.
• Incredibly the current owner of the car is distantly related to its first owner Mr Neville Carr (his wife’s great uncle) and according to history he was ‘the black sheep’ of the family. Having a reputation as somewhat of a rogue and playboy he is understood to have used the car as it was intended, and that was to drive it! Mr Carr was an amateur racing driver and living family members recall him driving the car in numerous sprint and hill climb events including Prescott. The car travelled circa 30,000 miles in its first five years of ownership! Carr owned the car until circa 1960.
• According to the factory documentation a replacement rear axle was fitted on the 25th May 1955 (@ 4,181 miles) and a replacement engine was fitted on the 21st August 1959 (@ 27,608 miles). This work was undertaken by Aston Martin. The mileage is noted as 38,772 on 19th June 1960 when the car was serviced by Aston Martin.
• The factory documentation also notes subsequent owners as a Mr D Conyers Esq of 18 Egerton Garden Mews SW3 (London) and in 1982 RL MacKenzie from Houghton in South Africa.
• Jaguar works racing driver Peter Sutcliffe spent significant time in South Africa motor racing in the early 1960’s and it is understood that he acquired the car in the UK and shipped it to South Africa to use when he was there. It is probable that he bought the car off Conyers.
• According to a hand written letter on the file the car was subsequently acquired by an Attorney who lived in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. In 1977 the car was discovered in generally poor condition in Elandsfontein (Johannesburg) by a Mr Mike Spencer. Spencer acquired the car and spent the next two years generally improving the car to a ‘roadworthy’ condition.
• The car was then sold to a RL MacKenzie in 1982.
• The current owner acquired the car from MacKenzie in April 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa and used it until early 1990 before deciding to take it off the road and restore it. As a senior mining industry executive his career took priority over cars and the ‘to be restored’ Aston Martin travelled with his family across the world, firstly to the USA in 1990 and then to Australia in 1997.
• It wasn’t until 2011 that the car was finally placed with a specialist to be restored. That task was entrusted to Jaguar and Aston Martin specialists, Concours Restorations based in Tuggerah north of Sydney.
• The car underwent a concours standard nut and bolt restoration and it has been painstakingly restored to its former glory over the last three years.
• The body was in reasonably good condition, however, it was fitted with a new boot skin, door skins and repairs were completed to both rear wheel arches during restoration.
• Every mechanical component was disassembled and either refurbished or replaced.
• All of the instruments were refurbished.
• All of the bright work has been re-chromed and the trim refurbished.
• The interior and soft top have been completely retimed to the highest standard.
• The owner has restored the car in its original colour scheme of blue haze with a blue leather interior. He has opted to have the soft top finished in blue rather than the original grey which really suits the car.
• The car has its original jack mounted in the boot and a full set of tools in the tray under the centre console between the front seats.
• A thick and expansive history file accompanies the car, including extensive documentation, receipts and photographs from the restoration.
Condition
• Today the car presents ‘as new’ and following its no expense spared restoration it must be one of the best surviving examples of this highly sought after and collectible Aston Martin in the world.
• This is a unique opportunity to acquire a ‘world market car’ in Australia.
The price is AUD $699,500.
Specification
- Aston Martin DB2/4 Drop Head
- 1955
- Convertible
- Manual
- 00007 miles
- 2922 cc
SOLD
Register interest if a similar car becomes available