1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII Sports Saloon

Registration no. TYN 125 Chassis no. AM300 1129 Engine no. VB6J 778

Footnotes

One of only 199 DB4 Mark IIs built, 149 of which were saloons, '1129' is believed (although not confirmed) first owned by Billy Cotton, the popular bandleader and broadcaster. The car's early history is incomplete, but there are a few owners listed on the old-style continuation logbook (issued 1959).
This DB2/4 was in need of refurbishment when acquired by the previous owner's wife in 1993, and Classic Coachbuilders of Sittingbourne, Kent were commissioned to carry out overhauls of the mechanicals and bodywork. To keep the car's authenticity, as many as possible of the original parts and body panels were retained and restored. By 2020 it was felt that further improvements were required, and marque specialists Prestige Restoration of Chertsey, Surrey was enlisted to tackle the comprehensive list of mechanical and cosmetic enhancements deemed necessary.

To this end, the interior was treated to a sympathetic partial re-trim and including new door cards and new carpets, while the instruments have been re-calibrated and a new wiring loom installed.

Repainted in the late 1990s (with some more recent attention to the sills), the body still looks great and is very straight, with no obvious dings or scratches, while the shut lines all look good. The chrome is very presentable, with just a few blemishes, and the glass and replacement rubbers are good. The period-correct Lucas lights are all in working order. The chassis has been under-sealed and looks very clean. Prestige Restoration's rebuild of the engine and running gear included the following: new valve seals, new gaskets, SU carburettor rebuild kits, electronic ignition conversion, new coil and HT leads, new fuel sender and fuel tank clean, new rear suspension arms and springs, new brakes and hoses, new steering rack and re-cored radiator

The engine bay is pleasingly clean and features a recently purchased original jack, spare spark plugs and, unusually, the original grease gun. Only a couple of hundred miles have been covered since Prestige's recent improvements. In the same family ownership (for 37 years) until very recently, 'TYN 125' has been well looked after and is 'on the button'.

Accompanying history dates back to 1984 and consists of a folder of receipts and information from specialist parts and service suppliers; the current V5C Registration Certificate; and the aforementioned old-style logbook.