Aston Martin DB2 (1950 - 1953)

The DB2 production car was first shown in April 1950 at the New York Motor Show. Demand was incredibly strong and Astons were not able to build cars fast enough. The success of the team cars  during the 1950 Le Mans 24 hour race (hastily snatched from the production line) will certainly have made the DB2 a more attractive car to the post war sporting motorist.

During a production run of three years a total of 411 DB2's were built including 102 examples of an attractive drophead coupe.

The early cars (the first 49) feature a three part grille similar to that of the DB1, a large rectangular side vent behind each front wheel and bright trim along the side beneath the door. This fine car, one of those from the first 49 was photographed at the AMOC meeting, Waddesdon Manor, May 2001.

db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002

The three part grille was replaced by a simpler arraignment of horizontal bars, which lasted through to the DB2/4 mark 2 in 1957. The rear 'boot' lid is really for entry to the spare wheel. Since the DB2 is strictly a two seater, there's plenty of space for luggage behind the seats. This particular car has the addition of indicators which were not available from the factory when the car was new.

 db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002 db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002
db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002 db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002 db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002 This DB2 was privately entered at Le Mans, finishing well in both 1951 and 1952. And the car is still racing today as I pictured this in the paddock at Donnington Park at the AMOC race meeting in 1997 and racing in 1999.

Low weight together with an six cylinder , twin overhead cam engine of 2580cc initially producing 105bhp, made the DB2 a very quick car for the time.  Motor tested the DB2 to a maximum of 110mph, with a 0-60 time of 12.4 seconds. Post war low octane 'pool' kept the compression ration low at 6.5 to 1

From January 1951, an optional 125bhp Vantage engine with bigger carburettors and a 8.2 to 1 compression ratio made the DB2 even quicker. At this time, the 'vantage' option represented a more powerful engine but nothing else. Access to the engine is easy with the massive front hinged single piece bonnet.

db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002 db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002 db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002

  This famous car belongs to long time Aston Martin owner Tom May. On his 79th birthday in 1995 (his 80th year), Tom drove his DB2 around the banked circuit at Millbrook at an average speed of 80mph for 80 minutes. This remarkable record is thus just known as the 80-80-80. At one time the DB2 and driver reached 114 mph with a lap at an average of 108.5mph. db2 © Tim Cottingham 2002

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  Page Updated Mittwoch Juli 09, 2008