This particular and most attractive drophead coupe (chassis LML/504) is unusual that it was purchased by 60 district sales managers employed by Minneapolis calendar and greeting card firm, Brown & Bigelow as a gift of appreciation to their CEO, Charles A. Ward for Christmas 1953. This fact is recorded on a brass plaque ahead of the engine which lists all the generous donors names. The car is adorned by various monograms such as that seen on the wheel spinner. Special bespoke features also include a custom picnic hamper, fitted luggage and a bar that fitted under the seat. Despite being bodied by Bertone, the car was actually penned by the freelance stylist, Giovanni Michelotti. Chassis LML/506 also received similar coachwork

Seven of the eight cars are still known (see the subsequent pages) but the whereabouts of 503 are totally unknown. Indeed, whilst it is assumed that it did receive a Bertone body of unknown design, it might not have actually been sold to Arnolt. If indeed it was sold to Arnolt, it's loss could perhaps be explained by a fire at his Chicago factory where 12 similar Arnolt Bristol's were destroyed.

At some point, the Bertone bodied cars were badged as Arnolt-Aston Martin which apparently displeased David Brown. Although I don't know for sure, the Arnolt cars may have actually also been cheaper than the standard DB2/4 in the US. Subsequently no further AM's were sold as chassis only and Arnolt continued his work on Bristol cars.

All of the photographs on this page were taken at the Pebble Beach Concorse d'Elegance, 2007 where three of the Bertone bodied cars were shown together. A further four DB2/4's were sold as rolling chassis and were bodied by other coachbuilders.