1955 Aston Martin DB2/4

The 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 is a fascinating chapter in the storied legacy of Aston Martin. It represents the transition from a pure sports car to a more refined grand tourer, while still keeping the performance and racing heritage that defined the brand. Here's a deep dive into the story and history behind this iconic car:

Background: The DB Lineage
The DB series stands for David Brown, the English industrialist who bought Aston Martin in 1947. Brown was instrumental in transforming the company from a small sports car maker into a prestigious luxury performance brand.

The DB2/4 followed the DB2, which had been launched in 1950 and received critical acclaim, especially for its performance in endurance racing like Le Mans. The DB2/4, introduced in 1953 and continuing through 1957, was an evolution of that earlier model.

The "2/4" in the Name
The "2/4" refers to the car’s 2+2 seating arrangement—two seats in front, and two occasional-use seats in the back. This was a significant development, as it marked Aston Martin’s move toward offering a more practical, luxurious sports car that could serve both as a performance vehicle and a long-distance tourer.

Design and Engineering
Bodywork: The DB2/4 had a stylish fastback body, originally designed by Frank Feeley, with later versions built by Tickford, a coachbuilder that Aston Martin had acquired.

Innovative features: It was one of the first cars to feature a rear hatchback, adding to its practicality—something extremely rare for high-end sports cars at the time.

Chassis and Suspension: It had a steel box-section chassis with independent front suspension and a live rear axle.

Engines:

Early DB2/4s used a 2.6-liter Lagonda inline-six (derived from W.O. Bentley’s design for Lagonda).

In 1954, the engine was upgraded to a 2.9-liter version, producing around 140 hp, which improved top speed and acceleration.

Performance
Top Speed: About 120 mph (193 km/h) with the 2.9L engine—very respectable for the mid-1950s.

0-60 mph: Around 10 seconds, depending on the variant.

The DB2/4 was competitive in both performance and refinement, putting it in league with Jaguar, Ferrari, and early Porsche models.

Variants
Mark I (1953–1955): First production models, mainly with the 2.6-liter engine.

Mark II (1955–1957): Featured minor styling updates, new taillights, and the option for different body styles such as drophead coupe (convertible) and fixed-head coupe. Some coachbuilt versions were made by Carrozzeria Touring and others.

Racing Heritage
While the DB2/4 was more of a GT car than a track-focused racer, it still participated in motorsport. Some notable entries include:

Monte Carlo Rally

Mille Miglia

Le Mans (in privateer hands, though the factory focused on the DB3S during this time)

Cultural and Historical Significance
The DB2/4 paved the way for more famous successors, particularly the DB4, DB5, and DB6—the models most closely associated with James Bond.

It helped establish Aston Martin's reputation for building beautiful, fast, and luxurious cars with a distinctly British flavour.

A 1954 DB2/4 Mark I even had a cameo in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), starring Jimmy Stewart.

Legacy Today
The 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 is a prized collectible today, admired for its blend of elegance, rarity, and early post-war performance engineering. Values have steadily climbed, particularly for well-documented and restored examples.

This stunning 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 was purchased in 2016 as a “barn find”, it had been sitting under a tarpaulin for over 40years in a heated workshop!

The car was subsequently dismantled and subject to a complete nut & bolt restoration.

The majority of parts have been retained and overhauled. Only those parts beyond repair have been replaced and those have been original or remanufactured parts courtesy of marque specialist Aston Service Dorset.

The car was repainted in its original colour of Moonbeam Grey and its interior redone in leather to original specification.

A matching numbers car, its original engine having been fully and painstakingly rebuilt to new zero time specification.

Transmission and braking systems all overhauled.

Complete with period correct tools and jack.

The odometer shows 21020 miles , believed to be correct.

This car has been kept as part of a private collection in a controlled environment since restoration where it has been sparingly used.

The full set of restoration pictures give a good idea of the time labor and expense of this fastidious restoration and are well worth viewing in their entirety.

The car would be eligible for many sporting events like the Mille Miglia, it would also make a concouse winning car owning to the fine detail of the restoration and correctness.