Description
– Originally delivered new to Cambridge, England, finished in Black with Beige interior.
With the same French owner for 40+ years, offered with an Aston Martin Heritage certificate.
With the introduction of the ‘2+2’ DB2/4 in October 1953, Aston Martin extended the DB2’s appeal to the hitherto untapped yet increasingly important market comprised of ‘sports car enthusiasts with a family’. Modifications to the rear of the chassis, plus a reduction in fuel tank capacity from 19 to 17 gallons, liberated sufficient space within the existing design for two child-sized occasional rear seats. Alternatively, the rear seat backs could be folded down, thus creating a load-carrying platform that more than doubled the luggage space. The latter could be accessed via the 2/4’s opening rear door, a pioneering example of the now commonplace ‘hatchback’ concept.
‘This transformation gives the Aston Martin DB2/4 an unrivalled luggage-carrying capacity in a car which should be capable in favourable circumstances of achieving two miles a minute,’ reported The Motor. ‘The DB2/4 can truthfully claim to be the fastest car in the world capable of carrying two people with a month’s luggage.’
Standard specification included the 2.6-litre ‘VB6E’ engine in 125bhp Vantage tune, but from early in 1954 the 3.0-litre 140bhp ‘VB6J’ engine was installed. Equipped with the latter, the DB2/4 was one of the fastest cars then built in Great Britain – with 100mph achievable in third gear and around 120mph maximum – possessing impeccable handling plus a level of comfort rare in any high-performance car.
This wonderful example was first delivered new to the Ireland Brothers Limited, Cambridgeshire, England on 27th May 1955, finished in black with a beige leather interior. According to the Heritage Certificate, factory options include Alfin drum brakes, Radiomobile 200XB radio, 1 Marchal Grand Portee spot lamp, 1 Marchal Virages Brouillard fog lamp and instruction book. The car comes to market having been in the care of a private owner in France for over 40 years and represents a fine opportunity for the discerning collector.
