1953' Aston Martin DB2

Bonhams are delighted to offer at our forthcoming Collectors' Motor Car Auction on Sunday 10th September at The Chantilly Sale, Château de Chantilly, France, 34 collectors motor cars.

1953 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Drophead Coupé
Chassis no. LML/50/376

•One of 98 drophead coupés built
•One of only 75 original left-hand drive examples
•An original Vantage model
•Replacement Vantage engine
•Known ownership history

Aston Martin owner David Brown's 1947 acquisition of Lagonda made the latter's W O Bentley-designed, twin-overhead-camshaft, 2.6-litre six available for a new sports car. Announced in April 1950, with production commencing the following month, the DB2 owed much to the Claude Hill-designed DB1, using a shortened and modified version of the latter's chassis and identical suspension. Italian-inspired, the timelessly elegant GT bodywork was the creation of Frank Feeley, and with more power (105bhp at 5,000rpm) and less weight, the sleek DB2 comfortably out-performed its predecessor.

Writing in 1952, Autosport's John Bolster enthused: 'The DB2 is a very fast sportscar of immense stamina, as a long list of racing successes has proved. (The) model is remarkable for its comfort and luxury, and is also about the easiest thing there is to drive, outside of the "automatic transmission" carriages.' Bolster enjoyed the DB2's outstanding performance, particularly that of the 120mph Vantage version, and remarked on the car's inherent safety and versatility: 'Whether one would go shopping, to the theatre, on a long-distance tour, or even race at Le Mans, one could have no more perfect companion than the Aston Martin.'

The body of the DB2 afforded its two occupants a generous amount of interior space and the considerable convenience, from the maintenance and accessibility point of view, of a forward-hinging entire front section. DB2 bodies were coachbuilt in the traditional manner, a situation that resulted in numerous differences between individual examples, most obviously in the treatment of the front grille. A drophead coupé version was announced towards the end of 1950. When production ceased in April 1953, a total of 411 DB2s had been made, 98 of them dropheads.

This ultra-rare DB2 variant was delivered new on 24th November 1953 to Mr Louis Comito of Long Island, New York via the local agent, Stanley Harold 'Wacky' Arnolt. Louis Comito is said to have been a gentleman racer who competed in Alfa Romeo Giuliettas at Sebring in the 1950s.

The Aston's original colour combination was Burgundy with beige convertible hood and red interior. It was built to USA specification with left-hand drive and windshield vent frames. The engine listed on the build sheet is number 'VB6E/50/1205', an export-specification Vantage unit. Later this was changed to another Vantage engine, number 'VB6B/50/1088'.

Later on, in the 1970s, the DB2 passed to Charlie Turner in Atlanta, a well-known Aston Martin collector. It changed hands many times in the '70s, belonging to Gene Garratt in Ohio, to Albert Schneider in Cleveland (1975) and to Aston Martin historian Nick Candee in Ohio in 1979.

In the late 1990s, the DB2 was treated to a full body-off restoration by Hyannis Restoration of Massachusetts. The car was then refinished in its present colour combination of Fiesta Red with red-piped grey leather upholstery and black soft-top. The current Vantage engine ('1088') was rebuilt by Vantage Motors of Connecticut

An older restoration to concours condition, the car presents extremely well today with only some minor flaws in stress areas. The paint is shiny and bright, and panel fit seems very good after more than 20 years. Accompanying documentation consists of a copy of the Aston Martin build sheet; sundry invoices; State of Florida Certificate of Title; and proof of EU import duties paid.