Description
Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly desirable 1957 Aston Martin DB2/ 4 MKII.
The factory records on file confirm that this is an Australian delivered, factory right hand drive example that was delivered new to the Penfold family in South Australia. The car was delivered through Aston Martin agent D Brown (Australia) on the 8th July 1957. The original colour choice for this car was stunning. It was originally finished in ‘sea green’ with a ‘green’ interior, which is how the car is presented today.
This particular car is fitted with the desirable ‘special series’ VB6J/***/ L1 engine quoted as delivering 165 bhp, being 25 bhp more than the standard engine. It is also fitted with a larger sump.
The factory records note that a replacement engine, with the same number, was despatched to David Brown Australasia on the 13th November 1957.
It is understood that the Penfold family owned the car for many years. The history file picks up the ownership of the car in the 1980’s when it was owned by former politician John Goss from Brisbane, Australia. It may well be that Goss acquired the car from the Penfold family. Goss used and enjoyed his Aston Martin for many years before selling to Donald Lane from Buradoo, near Bowral in the NSW southern highlands in 2001. The current Melbourne based owner acquired the car off Lane in c2005.
Over the last 20 years the current owner has used and enjoyed his Aston Martin as its makers intended. Even though the car presents beautifully, he is unashamedly a driver and not a polisher! To ensure the car is a reliable classic and available to be driven on a whim, he has had it maintained and regularly serviced. In 2017 the front Alfin brake drums were overhauled by TypeCast in the UK. In 2018 the cylinder head was overhauled. The car has been upgraded with a Jaguar differential to enhance drivability.
Today this Aston Martin DB2/ 4 MkII presents resplendently in its original colour scheme of ‘sea green’ with a ‘green’ interior. The current owner chose to remove the bumpers for two reasons. Firstly, to give the car that Aston Martin ‘GT look’ and secondly to reduce the car’s weight. The bumpers are heavy! The paint work, which was refreshed by Lane some 20 years ago, is in very good condition with some minor blemishes and stone chips evident. Its presentation is totally consistent with a well cared for car that gets driven. The external trim is minimalistic, particularly with the bumpers removed. The trademark Aston Martin grill is in excellent condition and a real feature.
The chrome wire wheels and spinners really compliment the paintwork beautifully. All of the wheels are in reasonably good condition with no kerb rash or damage. The chrome has started to pit/ peel in places. The wheels are shod with Michelin X tyres, size 185R16 all around.
The cabin of the Aston Martin DB2/ 4 is quintessentially British. It is relatively simple, elegant and beautifully presented. The timber steering wheel is a feature and in excellent condition. The timber dash facia houses the cluster of Smiths instruments and both are also in excellent condition. The leather upholstery is soft and supple with no splits or tears. The seats are comfortable and provide good support. An Aston Martin DB2/ 4 has occasional rear seats which look to have been sparingly used.
Opening the rear hatch provides access to a large boot area. This area can be expanded by folding a panel down over the rear seats. There is plenty of room for the golf clubs here! The boot presents well, with very minor wear evident.
The massive bonnet hinges forward to reveal a beautifully presented engine bay, revealing the unique independent coil spring front suspension and chassis components as well as the 2, 922cc Lagonda twin cam engine. The engine itself is a work of art, resplendent with polished aluminium features, traditional red cylinder head and proper finishes. Everything is neat, clean and tidy.
This Aston Martin DB2/ 4 MkII is a driver’s car. The car starts easily, settling into a smooth idle without hesitation. Out on the open road it performs superbly offering a very spirited and rewarding driving experience. The engine has loads of power on tap and it pulls strongly through the rev range. The gearbox is tight and with a relatively short shift it provides slick gear changes. The car delivers a firm yet comfortable ride, direct steering and excellent braking.
Accompanying the car is an original leather bound Aston Martin DB2/ 4 Mk II handbook, an original and well used workshop manual, a copy of a parts catalogue, a factory sales brochure, Aston Martin factory records and a thick history file with many service receipts.
There are also the original bumpers, which are in excellent condition, the original differential, a spare wheel as well as the jack and basic tools which are stored in the engine bay.
If you are looking for an early pre DB4 Aston Martin it would be hard to find a better example.
Aston Martin only built 199 DB2/ 4 MkII’s, of which 146 were saloons. Of these 146 cars only a small number would be factory right hand drive with the high performance engine.
This car presents exceptionally well and drives superbly.
Highlights:
- Rare Australian delivered, factory RHD example.
- Sold new to the Penfold family in Adelaide.
- Fitted with the desirable ‘special series’ VB6J/***/ L1 high performance engine.
- Fabulous, original colour scheme.
- Great driving car.
Price AUD $399, 950
Background:
Aston Martin has produced bespoke sports cars for over 100 years. The company began in 1913, when founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford realised their desire to build distinctive, high quality sports cars that were both exhilarating to drive and a beauty to behold. Martin regularly competed in hill climb races at Aston Clinton, and a simple combination of the name of the event and the driver gave birth to one of the most famous automotive marques. Source: - details above.
Whilst Aston Martin produced some wonderful cars in their early years, business was always a struggle and the company was severely disrupted during both World War I and II. The company went bankrupt on more than one occasion and has endured many different owners throughout its history.
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 2, 922cc 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. The DB2/ 4 MkII was succeeded by the DB MkIII and 551 examples were built from 1957 through until 1959.
The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martin’s finest with the company winning LeMans in 1959 and the iconic early DB series cars of the 1950’s paving the way for the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models of the 1960’s.
