1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon

• One of 565 made
• Delivered new to Holland
• Current enthusiast ownership for over 13 years
• Registered in Belgium

"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 the great 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 re-design'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.

The Aston Martin DB2/4 represented an important evolution of the celebrated DB2, combining its forerunner's sporting character with greater refinement and improved practicality. The model is widely regarded as one of the most desirable British grand tourers of the 1950s.

This 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4, chassis number 'LML/875', is presented in an especially attractive and sophisticated colour combination of grey with a rich red leather interior. The AMOC Register records that this car was delivered new to Holland. Its restrained grey exterior colour, dark red upholstery and beautifully detailed cabin displays the traditional craftsmanship and elegance for which Aston Martin is renowned. Owned by the same Belgian enthusiast collector for over 13 years, the car has benefited from long-term private stewardship making it a particularly appealing example of Aston Martin's classic post-war Grand Touring lineage.