LOT 309

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon Coachwork by Mulliners of Birmingham Registration no. NOU 660 Chassis no. LML/748 Engine no. VB6J/198

Sold for £88,550 inc. premium

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Lot 309

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon

Goodwood Revival: Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia|17 September 2022, 13:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon
Coachwork by Mulliners of Birmingham
Registration no. NOU 660
Chassis no. LML/748
Engine no. VB6J/198

• One of 565 made
• Professionally restored in the early 2000s
• Offered from an extensive UK private collection
• Beautifully presented
• Matching numbers example

Footnotes

"The Aston Martin DB2/4 is an expensive car designed to cater for the connoisseur of sports cars who is not limited by financial considerations." - Autocar, 2nd October 1953.

With the introduction of the '2+2' DB2/4 in October 1953, Aston Martin extended the DB2's appeal to the hitherto untapped yet increasingly important market comprised of 'sports car enthusiasts with a family'. By modifying the rear of the chassis and reducing the fuel tank capacity from 19 to 17 gallons, Aston's engineers liberated sufficient space within the existing design for two child-sized occasional rear seats. Alternatively, the rear seat backs could be folded down, thus creating a load-carrying platform that more than doubled the luggage space. The latter could be accessed via the 2/4's opening rear door, a pioneering example of the now commonplace 'hatchback' concept.

"This transformation gives the Aston Martin DB2/4 an unrivalled luggage-carrying capacity in a car which should be capable in favourable circumstances of achieving two miles a minute," reported The Motor. "The DB2/4 can truthfully claim to be the fastest car in the world capable of carrying two people with a month's luggage."

In addition, a raised roofline, one-piece windscreen, larger bumpers and other detail styling changes differentiated the newcomer from its predecessor. Otherwise, the DB2/4 remained much the same as the DB2, employing the latter's rectangular-tube chassis, trailing arm independent front suspension and well-located live rear axle. Bodies were supplied by Mulliners of Birmingham until the advent of the Mark II version in October 1955, when Tickford - recently acquired by Aston Martin's owner, David Brown - took over.

Designed at Lagonda by Willy Watson, under the supervision of W O Bentley, the 2.6-litre, six-cylinder, twin-cam power unit came in tuned (125bhp) Vantage specification as standard for the 2/4. Despite this, the redesign's inevitable weight gain was not fully compensated for until the arrival of the 3.0-litre, 140bhp engine in 1954. The DB2/4's top speed was now 118mph with 60mph reachable in around 11 seconds, making it one of the fastest British-built cars of the day. In total, 565 of all types had been produced by the time the Mark II version arrived in October 1955.

Beautifully presented, the matching-numbers DB2/4 we offer was supplied new to Muirhead & Sons Ltd, timber merchants of Grangemouth, Falkirk, Scotland. The (copy) guarantee form lists the original colour scheme as Blue Haze with matching interior trim. A letter on file from a previous owner recounts his and his wife's use of the car, which included competing in a number of MCC events. In the early 2000s the Aston (formerly registered 'FWG 1') was professionally restored, including body repairs and a bare-metal re-spray, as recorded by numerous photographs on file. In recent years the DB2/4 has formed part of a substantial collection of Aston Martins and numerous other classic cars in the UK. Offered with a V5C document.

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.
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Like the vast majority of auctioneers Bonhams charge what is known as a Buyer's Premium. Buyer's Premium on all Automobilia lots will adhere to Bonhams group policy:
27.5% on the first £20,000 of the hammer price;
26% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £20,000 up to and including £700,000;
20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £700,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
For Motor Cars and Motorcycles a 15% Buyer's Premium is payable on the first £500,000 of the final Hammer Price of each Lot, and 12% on any amount by which the Hammer Price exceeds £500,000. VAT at the standard rate is payable on the Premium by all Buyers, unless otherwise stated.
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Collection of Motor Cars will be postponed to Tuesday 20 September from 0900 until 1200, after which any uncollected Lots will be removed to store at Buyer / Vendor expense, as the case may be.
Automobilia Lots will be removed on the evening of Sunday 18 September.
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MOTORCYCLES If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £125 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice.CARSIf purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (CARS) to undertake the NOVA on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £250 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice.
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UPLIFT AND STORAGE CHARGES
£25 + VAT uplift and storage at £5 + VAT per lot per day.
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UPLIFT AND STORAGE CHARGES
£50 + VAT uplift and storage at £10 + VAT per lot per day
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SPECIALIST SHIPPING AND STORAGE
All lots marked with 3 diamonds will require specific shipping and storage arrangements, as they are either extremely heavy or large items, they will be removed by Autofreight Ltd, who provide independent uplift and storage services for larger lots. There are charges for this service and for storage in their warehouse in Guildford, Surrey, at the buyers expense.
Please contact John Wood, Autofreight Ltd, by phone 01483 222256, or email [email protected] for further information, details of costs and charges or to arrange collection from GU3 3HD.
Shippers or Agents wishing to collect on behalf of the purchaser must provide written instruction from the client before Bonhams will release the lot(s). All purchases are at Buyers risk from the fall of the hammer.
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