Footnotes

• Recognising the need to widen the appeal of the already successful DB2, Aston Martin responded with the DB2/4, introducing its new four-seater model in October 1953. Extensive revisions to the car's rear end arrangements made room for two occasional seats and more luggage, the latter being accessed via a hatchback rear door - one of this now-common feature's earliest applications. 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. The 2.6-litre 'six' 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-litre, 140bhp engine in 1954. The car's top speed was now 118mph, with 60mph reached in around 11 seconds.
  David Brown's acquisition of Tickford Ltd in 1953 led to bodywork for the revised MkII model being manufactured by the Newport Pagnell coachbuilder. While mechanically very little different from its predecessor, the DB2/4 MkII was readily identifiable by its subtly altered lines, the most significant change being 19mm increase in roof height that afforded greater headroom.
  Two years after the introduction of the DB2/4 MkII came the DB MkIII - the '2/4' suffix being dropped - 551 of which, mainly saloons, were made between March 1957 and July 1959, 55% of which were exported. Externally the most obvious change was the adoption of a DB3S-style grille, establishing the 'hallmark' look of subsequent Aston Martins, which had been drawn up by Tickford designer, Bert Thickpenny. This restyled nose give the car a more imposing appearance, while the interior boasted a redesigned dashboard with instruments grouped in a cowled panel ahead of the driver.
  The 3.0-litre engine benefited from an extensive redesign by Tadek Marek (newly arrived from Austin) and featured, among other improvements, a stiffer block, stronger crankshaft and a new cylinder head with bigger valves. 162bhp was available with the single-pipe exhaust system, 178bhp with the optional twin-pipe version. Elsewhere there were improvements to both clutch and gearbox; Laycock overdrive became available and front disc brakes were standard rather than optional after the first 100 cars had been built, commencing at chassis '1401'. Despite the inevitable weight increase the MkIII was faster than any of its predecessors with a top speed of 120mph.
  This example should comfortably better that figure, having been fitted with the 4.0-litre engine and five-speed ZF manual gearbox from a DB5. Right-hand drive chassis number '1422' was sold new in France via Aston Martin's agent Garage Mirabeau (see letter from AML archivist the late Roger Stowers on file). In 1971 the Aston was purchased by Avignon resident Mr Claude Danse, who competed with it in hill climbs including Mont Ventoux. The car was acquired in France in 2001 by the current vendor, who registered it in the Netherlands in March 2006. Finished in green with grey leather interior, '1422' is offered with sundry invoices, old French Carte Grise, an original handbook, copy instruction manuals and current Netherlands registration papers.
  

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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