1958' Aston Martin DB2/4KPIII
Description- DELIVERED NEW IN SOUTH AFRICA- MATCHING NUMBERS- ORIGINAL COLORS- EXTREMELY WELL PREPARED BY VERY WELL KNOWN DB2 SPECIALIST FOR OVER € 120.000,
Industrialist David Brown rescued Aston Martin after World War 2
First introduced the baroque 2-Liter Sports in 1948, powered by a wheezy four-cylinder motor, which found a mere 14 buyers, but the DB2 of 1949 changed everything. With an all new engine, a development of W.O. Bentley’s Lagonda twin-cam six-cylinder unit, in an elegant handmade aluminum-bodied coupe and with handsome convertible coachwork, Aston Martin set its sights on competition success and, at the same time, sales “across the pond.” Proceeds from the 1950 New York Auto Show totaled $70,000, and the company was launched in America.
The Mk III was the first Aston Martin to perfect the now ubiquitous, trademark grille, with this iteration most reminiscent of the DB3S sports racers. In the Mk III, that shape was mirrored in the dashboard for the first time, as the instruments were moved directly in front of the driver. With a stiffer block, stronger camshaft, and bigger valves, the three-liter DBA engine was the ultimate development of the W.O. Bentley design. As a further advancement, it was the first Aston Martin model to offer disc brakes, albeit on the front corners alone.
Meanwhile, David Brown had hired John Wyer to enter three cars for the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours. Two of which finished 5th and 6th overall and 1st and 2nd in their class. Aston Martin advertised this stunning success in motoring publications, and “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” proved true once again, as future F1 world champion Phil Hill and Briggs Cunningham each bought early DB2s.The next model was deemed the DB2/4, descriptive of the occasional rear seating found below a folding panel. By 1957, 1,175 DB2s and DB2/4s had been sold—it was still a boutique operation—and then the final and most sophisticated version of the line, sometimes just called “DB Mark III,” added 551 units to the total through 1959.
This Aston Martin DB2/4 MKIII is 1 of the only 150 Right Hand Drive examples with the so-called cathedral rear lamps. Originally the Aston was delivered in South Africa in June 1958.The car was delivered via Aston Martin agent F. Wilmot as is stated on the factory build sheet which is coming with the car.When the Aston was new it was delivered in Peony red with a black Connoly leather interior.During the extensive restoration of this Aston Martin, the original color scheme has been retained.
A very old registration document from South Africa is still with the car and one can see that the Aston changed hands in 1966 to a gentlemen called De Bruyne. It was then sold in 1973 to a person named Bentley who sold the car in 1987 to Ross Allen.In 1994, the Aston was shipped to a new owner, mister Nobert Maede in Germany.Another gentlemen from Germany bought the Aston in 1999 and he did a very impressive engine rebuild on the Aston. A total amount of 25.000,- euros was spent which was for these days an absolute fortune.In 2004 the Aston went to a friend of us in Belgium who send it to 1 of or probably the best DB2 specialists in Europe. The complete car was checked and a total of € 120.000,- was spend on the car (invoices are coming with this Aston).
A complete new wiring was installed, a DB5 clutch, an overdrive gearbox, suspension, brakes etc. etc.The Aston had to be prepared on such a way that it should be 100% reliable. We bought the Aston in 2011 from the Belgium gentlemen and drove a fantastic soft rally with the car. We then sold it to a good friend of us in The Netherlands.This extremely punctual gentlemen spend again quite some money on the car to get things exactly as he wanted to have.A complete respray has been carried out. A new exhaust system has been installed, a new front window with new rubbers have been mounted, and even a fantastic power steering system has been added on the car (easy to de-install without damages).All together this gentlemen has spend again quite some money on this Aston.
Because of all the investments and the fact that one of the best DB2 specialist has worked for such a long time on this car, this specific Aston Martin is probably the best driving example we have ever had. This car is not only looking extremely nice but the driving experience is even nicer.The Aston comes with an impressive binder including many invoices as well as very old documentation.
Classic Driver