1952 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage

The Aston Martin DB2

Unveiled at the 1950 New York Motor Show, the Aston Martin DB2 marked a pivotal moment for the British manufacturer. It was the first production model fully developed under the stewardship of David Brown – whose initials would become synonymous with the marque – and it set the template for the luxurious, sporting grand tourers that followed. The DB2 evolved directly from Aston Martin’s post-war racing programme, most notably the Atom, a lightweight experimental prototype, and the Claude Hill-designed tubular chassis that underpinned early Brown-era cars.

At the DB2’s heart was the famous Lagonda 2.6-litre twin-cam straight-six, originally designed by W.O. Bentley. Compared with its predecessor, the DB1, the DB2 was a far more modern and performance-led machine, featuring a sleek fastback body designed by Frank Feeley, a stiffer chassis, and suspension tuned for high-speed stability. In period road tests, it was praised for its blend of refinement and genuine sporting ability.

Naturally, competition played a central role in the DB2’s development and reputation. Prototypes raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1949, and the production DB2 itself made an impressive showing at the 1950 edition, achieving class wins and high overall placings. The lessons learned at La Sarthe were fed back into customer cars, giving the DB2 a sporting pedigree that few rivals of the era could match.

Between 1950 and 1953, approximately 410 DB2s were produced, making it one of the rarer early post-war Aston Martins. Offered primarily as a closed saloon – though a small number of stylish drophead coupés were also built – the DB2 represented the company’s rebirth and set the stage for the celebrated DB lineage.

This car - LML/50/128

Completed in April 1952, chassis LML/50/128 left the Feltham factory finished in Almond Green over Beige Connolly leather, a suitably elegant specification for Aston Martin’s sporting flagship. First registered in the UK as ‘JWP 9’, it returned to the works just two months later to receive the full Vantage upgrade – Aston Martin’s highest-performance tune for the Lagonda twin-cam engine and a desirable factory option seldom documented so clearly.

Its early history is incredibly well documented. Regular maintenance at the factory is logged through until the mid-1950s, by which point the DB2 had already covered some 44,000 miles, a testament to enthusiastic use. Much of that mileage was likely accrued under the stewardship of T.H. Leggett, who campaigned the car with considerable success. Period results include 3rd place overall on the 1953 Ayrshire Rally, class wins and strong overall placings on major Scottish club events in 1954, and outright victory on the MGCC Scottish Rally – a compelling competition pedigree for a genuine Vantage-specification DB2.

The car later travelled to the USA in the early 1980s, before returning to the UK in 1993 and re-registered ‘USK 474’. Its accompanying history file is exceptionally rich and includes a QE2 loading slip to New York from its trip across the Atlantic, early tax discs, period registration documents, 1990s advertisements and features – including a 2000 Oldtimer Markt article devoted to this very chassis – plus extensive service invoices and a complete workshop manual and parts list.

In recent years, LML/50/128 has been prepared to an extremely high standard by David Morris, formerly Ayrton Senna’s mechanic at Lotus. Over £125,000 has been spent on the car since 2021, including a full engine rebuild with new crankshaft, fresh limited-slip differential, brake and suspension work, and comprehensive race preparation. Dyno tested at 172 bhp in 2024, it has since proven both fast and reliable in Peter Auto’s Gentleman Trophy and this year’s Le Mans Classic. It holds a current FIA HTP (valid until the end of 2031) and a 2021 FIVA identity card (B/3).

Beautifully sorted, eligible for blue-riband events including Le Mans Classic, 1000 Miglia and Tour Auto, and supported by a remarkable history file, this is a rare opportunity to secure a DB2 that is not only significant on paper but deeply satisfying to drive and genuinely ready to enjoy at some of the world’s greatest motoring events.