Aston Martin DB2/4

Aston Martin DB2-4 Mark I

Thomas doerfer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Manufacturer	Aston Martin
Production	1953–1957 764 produced
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	2+2 hatchback 2-seat drophead 2-seat fixed head
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	2.6 L Lagonda I6 2.9 L Lagonda I6
Dimensions
Wheelbase	99 in (2,515 mm)
Length	169.5 in (4,305 mm)
Width	65 in (1,651 mm)
Height	53.5 in (1,359 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Aston Martin DB2
Successor	Aston Martin DB Mark III

Aston Martin DB2/4

The Aston Martin DB2/4 is a grand tourer produced by Aston Martin from 1953 until 1957. It was available as a 2+2 hatchback saloon, drophead coupé (DHC) and 2-seat fixed-head coupé. A small number of Bertone bodied spiders were commissioned by private buyers.

Overview

The DB2/4 was based on the DB2, which it replaced. Changes included a wraparound windscreen, larger bumpers, and repositioned headlights.

The Lagonda straight-6 engine, designated the VB6E, was initially the same dual overhead cam straight-6 designed by W. O. Bentley and used in the Vantage version of the DB2. Displacement was 2.6 L (2,580 cc/157 in³), giving 125 hp (93 kW). In September 1953 for the Saloon and in April 1954 for the Drophead, a 2.9 L (2,922 cc/178 in³) VB6J version was used, raising power to 140 hp (104 kW) and maximum speed to 120 mph (193 km/h).

Of the 565 Mark I models produced, 102 were Drophead Coupés.

A 2.9 litre DB2/4 tested by British magazine The Motor in 1954 had a top speed of 118.5 mph (190.7 km/h) and accelerated from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 10.5 seconds. A fuel consumption of 23.0 miles per imperial gallon (12.3 L/100 km; 19.2 mpg_‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £2621 including taxes.^[1]

Three works cars were prepared for the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally and two for the Mille Miglia. Aston Martin pursued its competitive ambitions more intently with the DB3, which was designed specifically for sports-car racing.

A DB2/4 Mk I Drophead Coupé appeared in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds^[2]

Mark II

The DB2/4 Mk II model, introduced in 1955, offered an optional large-valve, high compression (8.6:1) 165 hp (123 kW) engine. Other changes included small tailfins, bubble-type tail lights as on the Morris Minor, and added chrome. The bonnet horizontal split line was also changed from door sill height to a line carried backwards from the top of the front wheel arch.

A 2-seat Fixed Head Coupé (FHC) was new, in addition to the continued Drophead. 34 of the 199 Mark II models used this new coupé body, which was the style chosen by David Brown for his own car. Three Mark II chassis were sent to Carrozzeria Touring in Italy to be bodied as Spider models. Touring would later help Aston with the Superleggera design of the DB4.

One significant behind-the-scenes change for the Mark II was the relocation of coachbuilding responsibilities from Mulliner's of Feltham to Tickford's works in Newport Pagnell. Brown had purchased Tickford in 1954 and would move all of Aston Martin's operations there with the start of DB4 production.

Production

- Mark I: 565
  - Drophead Coupé: 102
  - Bertone Spider: 4 or 5
- Mark II: 199
  - Fixed Head Coupé: 34
  - Drophead Coupé: 16
  - Touring Spider: 3

Comments

Aston Martin Lagonda road car timeline, 1948–present.

Type	1940s		1950s										1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s										2010s										2020s
	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
Owner	David Brown																								William Wilson			Minden & Sprague						Victor Gauntlett et al.											Ford															Independent consortium
City Car																																																																Cygnet
Luxury Car																																																														Rapide
		2.6 ltr				3 ltr								Rapide													Lagonda																																									Taraf
Grand Tourer											DB4					DB5 & Volante				DBS & Vantage										V8 Vantage																V8 Vantage												Vantage													Vantage
	DB1		DB2			DB2/4 & MKIII												DB6																													DB7										DB9 & V12 Virage												DB11
																						DBS V8 & AM V8																				V8 Virage							V8					Vanquish						DBS V12					Vanquish						DBS Superleggera
Limited Production																																																															One-77					Vulcan						Victor
													DB4 Zagato																										V8 Zagato																DB7 Zagato		DB AR1							V12 Zagato		DBS/DB9/Virage Zagato				Vanquish Zagato		DBS GT Zagato	Valkyrie
																																																																									Valhalla
Sports prototype																																																																									V12 Speedster
SUV																																																																									DBX
Concept Car	Atom Bulldog Vignale CC100 DP-100 DB10 Rapide Bertone Jet 2+2
Colour code	Aston Martin badge Lagonda badge

Aston Martin DB2/4

The Aston Martin DB2/4 is a grand tourer produced by Aston Martin from 1953 until 1957.
Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.