1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Sport Saloon - Period Competition Car

Highlights

• Period competition history, including Goodwood, Aintree, Oulton Park, Snetterton and the RAC Rally
• Owned since 2014
• £32,000 engine rebuild by Aston Service Dorset in 2015
• Over £20,000 spent since 2020
• Well-documented ownership history from new
• The perfect candidate for a host of continental tours and events

The Appeal

The 1950s were a golden era for GT racing, where amateurs and professional drivers were thrown together in an equally diverse paddock of road cars from the world's leading manufacturers. It's this period that so many of today's historic motor racing events endeavour to rekindle. Indeed, a burgeoning interest in this form of racing makes now a particularly exciting time to happen upon cars like this 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4, a car that boasts rich and varied period competition history in the hands of its first owner, Mr Frank Defty.
No sooner than it rolled out of David Brown's Feltham works, this DB2/4 was put to the test in top-tier competition. Entered in 1954's inaugural Aintree meeting, Defty stood across from his car ready for the Le Mans-style start alongside none other than Colin Chapman, Carroll Shelby, Roy Salvadori, Tony Brooks, and the Marquis de Portago...
Mr Defty was evidently an ambitious man, confident in his brand-new Aston Martin's sporting credentials. Ultimately, the experience of his fellow drivers proved the better of him. He finished last.
Undissuaded, Defty entered the car into the two-thousand-mile RAC International Rally, and continued to campaign the car at several British short circuits during the remainder of the 1954 season, selling it in early 1955. The remainder of the Aston's history to date is equally well-documented, although perhaps a tad less illustrious than its eventful first year on the road. The car travelled some seventeen thousand miles in its first seven months!
Today, it stands as a superlative example of the marque having been mechanically prepared to a very high standard.
Included in the sale are some evocative period photographs of the car participating in various events, including the RAC Rally, Blackpool Test, Prescott, Goodwood and Aintree.

History and Paperwork

• First registered on 11th February 1954 to Mr Frank Defty's company, Kirk & Kirk Ltd, and supplied through Brooklands of Bond Street
• Originally finished in Moonbeam Grey with grey-piped red leather interior
• Competed in the inaugural Aintree race meeting in 1954, the RAC International Rally, and at various UK circuits
• Covered approximately 17,000 miles in just seven months with first owner
• Subsequent registered keepers include B Rhodes, N Vampleau, John Wall (1960-1974), and Harry Gadsby
• Damaged in a garage fire and subsequently restored by Alan Ball, including a respray in British Racing Green
• Placed in storage for approximately 20 years before being recommissioned in 2007
• Purchased by the current owner in November 2014
• Engine rebuilt by Aston Service Dorset in 2015 at a cost of £32,000
• Extensive history file includes period photographs, old-style RF.60 continuation logbook, copy guarantee form, correspondence with Mr Defty, invoices, and UK V5C Registration Certificate
• Exempt from road tax and MOT testing with 36,835 miles indicated

The Condition

• Presents in British Racing Green, changed from the original Moonbeam Grey during restoration
• Interior appears to have been retrimmed from the original grey-piped red leather
• Bodywork presents in very good condition following the restoration by Alan Ball
• Wire wheels were shot-blasted and repainted during the 2007 recommissioning
• Fitted with new tyres during the 2007 recommissioning
• Dashboard and instrumentation present well with appropriate patina of age

This terrific car looks fabulous with its racing roundels and auxiliary driving lamps which offer a subtle nod to its sporting past. A mere glance at the accompanying photographs show it to be in superb overall condition; eminently presentable while showing a time-earned patina as befits its age and history.

The Mechanics

• 2.6-litre straight-six engine
• Four-speed manual gearbox
• Engine rebuilt by marque specialists Aston Service Dorset in 2015
• The car has been used sparingly in various events since the engine rebuild
• Reported to be in good running order, suitable for touring events

2007 recommissioning work included:

• Fuel system cleaned and overhauled
• New front wheel bearings fitted
• All fluids and filters changed
• New points, condenser and rotor arm fitted

Lift the DB2/4's large bonnet to reveal an immaculately presented front subframe and engine compartment. The predecessor to Takek Marek's DOHC straight-six, the DB2/4 is powered by the Lagonda-derived unit originally designed under the watchful eye of W.O. Bentley. Our engine was rebuilt in 2015 by Aston Service Dorset at a considerable cost of £32,000. Since 2020 the DB2 has been subject of much further work. Including a front suspension refresh, rear axle and suspension strip down and rebuild, the fuel tank removed and flushed and replaced. The wheels received a strip and repaint, and most importantly the walnut dashboard was removed, refurbished and re-fitted resulting the in the car on offer here.

The vendor has kept the car in a fit state and well serviced, to ensuring it's ready to take part in touring events worldwide. As Chris Harris recently commented in his video, the period racing photos in the file must be seen to be believed.
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