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Aston Martin DB 2 - racing quality workmanship by conviction

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Created on February 24, 2013

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Courtesy RM Auctions

Bruno von Rotz

Oldtimer Galerie Toffen

Jochen Hätty

Balz Schreier

Archiv Aston Martin Heritage

Jürg Kaufmann

Michael Furman (RM Auctions)

RM Auction PMImage

Artcurial

Archiv Aston Martin

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Courtesy RM Auctions

Bruno von Rotz

Oldtimer Galerie Toffen

Jochen Hätty

Balz Schreier

Archiv Aston Martin Heritage

Jürg Kaufmann

Michael Furman (RM Auctions)

RM Auction PMImage

Artcurial

Archiv Aston Martin

Archiv

100

Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - 2009 verkauft durch RM Auction in London

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1950) - Instruktionen für den Testfahrer im Jahr 1951

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1950) - der Le-Mans-Teilnehmer als Pressefahrzeug im Jahr 1951

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Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1950) - der aufgerüstete 1950-er Aston auf Testfahrt im Jahr 1951

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1950) - Blick in den Motorraum

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1950) - letzte Kontrollen vor der Testfahrt

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1950) - die ganze Motorhaube lässt sich bei den frühen Autos hochheben

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Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports Car (1949) - der posthum "DB 1" genannte Nachkriegs-Erstling an der London Motorshow 1948

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Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports Car (1949) - heute wird er auch "DB 1" genannt, hier am Genfer Automobilsalon 1949

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1949) - Titelblatt des ersten Verkaufspropspektes

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - der vierte Prototyp, der gebaut wurde, eingesetzt als Direktionswagen, Pressefahrzeug und Rennwagen

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - das Pressefahrzeug und David Browns persönlicher Wagen

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - der vierte Prototyp hat einiges erlebt, wurde 2010 in die Schweiz verkauft

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1949) - Durchsichtszeichnung enthüllt die Details

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) die Durchsichtszeichnung enthüllt die Mechanik des Sportwagens

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - noch mit dem mehrteiligen Kühlergrill

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - die Karosserie wurde von Aston Maritn selber gebaut

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - nur die ersten 49 Exemplare hatten einen dreiteiligen Kühlergrill

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1951) - auf dem Genfer Automobilsalon

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1951) - Chassis wird an der London Motorshow 1951 gezeigt

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1951) - Blick auf das Chassis - London Motorshow 1951

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1951) - Der Reihensechszylinder-Motor des Le-Mans-Rennwagen mit Weber-Vergasern

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - 108 PS für 30'200 Franken

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - an einen solchen Wagen kann man sich schon stolz anlehnen

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - moderne Vorderradaufhängung

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - Fertigung des Fahrgestelles

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - das Doppel-Nockenwellen-Vantage-Aggregat

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - Motorenfertigung

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - ein fertiggestellter Motor, im Hintergrund AR-Chefredaktor Braun

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - die Karosseriefertigung

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - fertiggestellte Karosserie

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - ein fast fertiggestelltes Fahrzeug

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - am 22. Automobilsalon in Genf

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - am Genfer Automobilsalon 1952 wird der Reihensechszylindermotor gezeigt

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - wunderschön restauriert

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Aston Martin DB2 (1952) - der 195 DB 2, in vielen Schweizer Bergrennen erprobt

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Aston Martin DB2 (1952) - unverfälschte Linie des ursprünglichen DB 2

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - auch am Armaturenbrett erkennt man die gehobene Klasse eines Aston Martin

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - der Reihensechszylindermotor

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - kurz vor Beginn beim Grossen Bergpreis der Schweiz im Jahr 1956

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - besonders attraktiv auch als Convertible, der etwa 25% der Produktion ausmachte

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - stimmige Linienführung der offenen Variante

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - elegant und sportlich sieht dieser Graber-Entwurf aus

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - Cabriolet von Hermann Graber

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - von der Karosserie Graber eingekleidete Variante für einen St. Galler Kunden

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - Interieur des von Hermann Graber aufgebauten Cabriolets - gezeigt am Genfer Salon 1952

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1953) - Karosserie von Hermann Graber

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1953) - mit speziellen Kühlergrill auf einer Ausstellung

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1954) - Frontansicht des am Genfer Automobilsalon 1954 gezeigten Astons mit Sonderkarosserie

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1952) - für Schweizer Prospektaufnahmen verwendetes Exemplar

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1953) - an einem Oldtimerevent in den Achtzigerjahren

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1953) - die Rücksitze, gesehen am Automobilsalon in Paris 1953

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1953) - elegantes Drophead-Coupé

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1953) - Zusammenklappbare Rückbank beim Drophead Coupé

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1955) - das "Mark II Drophead Coupé" setzte die Tradition des offenen Astons fort

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Aston Martin DB 2-4 (1954) - als viersitzige Variante

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1955) - Mark II Sports Saloon - ein sogenanntes Notchback Coupé - sehr selten

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1955) - Rücksitze der vierplätzigen Saloon-Variante

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1955) - Rücksitze des Mark II

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1956) - eleganter Spider Superleggera von Touring

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1956) - Frontansicht des Spiders Superleggera von Touring, gesehen am Automobilsalon von Turin 1956

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1956) - Spider Superleggera am Automobilsalon von Turin im Jahr 1956 - elegante und flache offene Variante von Touring

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1956) - Spider Superleggera auf dem Turiner Autosalon von 1956, insgesamt drei Autos soll Touring gebaut haben

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1957) - der 3-Liter-Motor des Mark III

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1957) - das Drophead Coupé Mark III

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1957) - der Mark III Saloon, mit Kühlergrill ähnlich zum DB3S Rennwagen

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1957) - ausklappbares Fenster beim Mark III

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1957) - Mark III Saloon mit ausklappbarem Fenster hinten, nun mit 3-Liter-Motor und Girling-Scheibenbremsen

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1957) - Fahrer- und Beifahrersitz im Mark III

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1957) - Rückbank des Mark III Sports Saloon mit knappen Platzverhältnissen

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Aston Martin DB 2/4 (1958) - ein Mark III Convertible

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Aston Martin DB2 LM (1951) - im Plateau 2 (1949-1956) an der Le Mans Classic 2012

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1953) - angeboten an der DolderClassics-Auktion der Oldtimer Galerie Toffen vom 10. Juni 2012

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1953) am Michaelskreuzrennen 2011 (Startnummer 335)

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Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Coupé (1952) - angeboten als Lot 251 an der RM Auction London vom 26. Oktober 2011

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Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Coupé (1952) - am Bonhams Paris Sale 2012 nicht verkauft, Höchstangebot € 135'000 (Lot 240)

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Aston Martin DB2 1951 an Le Mans Legend 2011

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Aston Martin DB 2 an der Gstaad Classic 2011

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Aston Martin DB 2 4 MK II (1956) - an der Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP3 075)

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Aston Martin DB 2 4 DHC (1955) - an der Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP3 071)

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Aston Martin DB 2 4 Mk II Cabriolet LHD (1955) - angeboten als Lot 138 an der Artcurial-Versteigerung von Paris vom 30. Oktober 2011 (Automobiles sur les Champs)

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Aston Martin DB 2 4 MK III (1958) - an der Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP3 097)

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Aston Martin DB 2 4 Marklll (1959) - an der Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP3 098)

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Aston Martin DB 2 Mk III - OSMT Juli 2011

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Aston Martin DB 2 4 MKlll (1959) - an der Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP3 098)

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Aston Martin DB2 Mk III (1958) - im Feld der Touren- und Sportwagen aus der Nachkriegszeit am GP Mutschellen 2012

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Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Competition Spider 1954 - wunderschöner Sportwagen - angeboten an der RM-Versteigerung Villa d'Este 2011

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Aston-Martin DB 2 4 (1954) - Werbung aus dem Jahre 1954 - und Lagonda

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Summary

Aston Martin built the DB 2 and its derivatives from 1949/1950 to 1957. A modern chassis, a powerful engine and a streamlined body predestined the car to be the first choice not only for road use, but also for participation in racing competitions. DB 2 won class victories at Le Mans and the Mille Miglia. This report describes the history of the Aston Martin DB 2 and goes into detail about two special examples and their development. The article is illustrated with almost 100 contemporary and current pictures, some of which have never been published before, as well as sales brochures and data sheets from the time. A delight, not only for Aston Martin fans.

This article contains the following chapters

The DB 1
"Styled for Strengh"
W. O. Bentley's legacy in the Aston
Elegant and streamlined bodywork
High-quality craftsmanship and series production
At the steering wheel of the DB 2 Vantage
Further development of the DB 2/4
Special bodies on Aston Martin chassis
VMF 64 - the all-rounder
Number 191 in Switzerland
Production figures (overview)
Further information

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The sports car company Aston Martin went through its third financial crisis after the Second World War, with no money to develop new vehicles. The helpless owners placed an anonymous advertisement in "The Times". A certain David Brown, industrialist and chairman of a family business that manufactured tractors and military vehicles, noticed this advertisement and bought the ailing company without further ado in 1947, putting down just £20,500 for it, roughly ten times the price of a DB 2 three years later. That model was to be a critical milestone, confirming Aston Martin as the leading sports car manufacturer. Before that, however, David Brown also took over the Lagonda company for another £52,500, laying the foundations for Aston Martin Lagonda, as the company would later be called.

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