MODEL DETAILS
The D2/4 Mark II was introduced at the London Motor Show in 1955. It shared the chassis and mechanical specifications with the D2/4. The key changes were in the bodywork, which was built by Tickford in Newport Pagnell and made it the first Aston Martin coachwork to be built by this company since its acquisition by David Brown in 1954.
The general appearance was unchanged, but there were many detailed differences: the roof was raised by ¾ inch to provide more headroom, made more visible by a chrome strip above the windscreen, longer by 2 inches and 47 kilograms heavier.
The production process for the casting of the sills and door posts were changed and the bonnet/wing assembly simplified to allow the side panels behind the front wheel arches to remain fixed. It made the bonnet lighter but with no loss of engine access and allowed permanent ventilation to be added. As was the vogue at the time, rear fins were blended into the design and repeater indicators replaced the old semaphore units and the petrol filler was hidden behind a flap opened from inside the car. The changes in the indicators left a space that was disguised with a chrome strip with the Tickford badge proudly displayed below it. Interior changes were mostly about comfort – more lateral support in the seats, more headroom and courtesy switches for the interior lights. On the controls, Aston Martin had responded to the badgering of the media by replacing the umbrella style handbrake with a more sporting fly-off type.
The standard engine specification was the 140 bhp version of the 2922 cc engine, but with the option of having an uprated version which, through larger valves and a high lift cam delivered 165 bhp. Customers could specify twin exhausts, close ratio gearbox, high compression pistons, 40 DCO Weber carburettors and Alfin brake drums.
Roy Salvadori, a member of the Aston Martin racing team, was impressed by the “Two-mile-a-minute saloon” when he tested the Mark II Saloon for the Autocourse magazine in May 1955.
When production of the DB2/4 Mark II ended in August 1957, around 199 examples had been built (146 saloons, 34 Fixed Head Coupes, 16 Drop Head Coupes and 3 Spyders by Touring) making the Mark II the rarest amongst the DB2’s.
CAR DETAILS
This rare Mark II Drop Head Coupe with chassis number AM300/1121 was registered on 21st August 1956 and three days later it was delivered to a Mr JRE Sharpe of Maidstone in Kent through the dealer Martin Walter Limited. The factory records show that it was ordered in Sea green, with red leather, a hand throttle control and "trafficators in lieu of winkers" -a customer who didn't like some of the Mark ll's improvements.
In August 1963, this MKII DHC changed hands and went to Richard Williams of Folkestone and five years later to John Higgins. In January 1970, it was registered to a transport company in Ramsgate and in 1972 found its way to a Michael Simpson in Earls Court, London. In 1977, the last entry in the second folding log book shows ownership passing to Tim O'Rorke in London. It is in his ownership that the service history of the MKII DHC resumes in the history file. Two other names appear on subsequent invoices - Ian Colquhoun of Thames Ditton and a Mr Crosby of Hunstanton - before the modern V5 Registration Document takes up the story with John Gibson of Newcastle who acquired the car in 2000 before it finished its journey with the last owner I G Campbel in Prestwick in Scotland.
He took possession of the car and immediately commissioned specialist restorers, the Aston Workshop, to undertake a comprehensive restoration of this MKII DHC. This restoration is recorded, not only in the work invoices, but also in a comprehensive photographic record of the process.
It offers a beautiful 50’s design with attractive colours and power steering to master modern traffic easily.
This very rare D2/4 Mark II Drop Head Coupe with its history, service records and immaculate restoration offers a rare opportunity to acquire a desirable Aston in the market.
RESTORATION WORKS
The Aston Workshop had taken AM300/1121 into stock and commenced the dismantling of the car before the current owner acquired the project and there is a section of the restoration record valued at over £9,000, clearly annotated "The following work was carried out on DB2 Drophead prior to you purchasing the car." It goes on to record, in diary form, the careful removal of various parts of the car - the hood, the boot floor, the seats, the doors and, where appropriate, the use of removed parts, for example, the roof header rail, to make a template for a new part. This early work was carried out from 26th July 2001 through to 22nd April 2002, on which date it is noted that the engine, gearbox and propshaft were removed.
The work continued after the previous owner acquired this Mark II DHC with all areas of structural and cosmetic bodywork being attended to with corroded materials removed and new panels and sections fabricated where appropriate. The progress sheets note the correct procedure of TIG welding being used for aluminium panels and the photographic record will provide prospective purchasers of reassurance as to the thoroughness and quality of the workmanship. The engine was completely stripped and overhauled and converted to run on unleaded fuel and with the fitment of an uprated camshaft.
The history file records that the engine was an early casualty of the owner's "shakedown" of the car on the completion of the rebuild. A consequence of an unforeseen failure of an internal part, the engine was completely rebuilt for a second time with a new cylinder block, crankshaft, con rods, pistons, oil pump, timing chains, big end bearings, main bearings, main bearing cheeses, cylinder liners and inlet/exhaust valves. The previous owner took the car to performance specialist Tim Samways in January 2008 when the cylinder head was refaced and new valve guides and springs were fitted. It offers the same level of reassurance as to the mechanical integrity of the car as there is in the bodywork. The suspension of the car was rebuilt with new uprated springs and reconditioned shock absorbers, the final element of this work is again courtesy of Tim Samways who was contracted to fit power steering and rebuild / reset the suspension and steering geometry in order to make the car better to drive in modern traffic conditions.
Over GBP 113’000 were spent during the restoration from 2001 to 2008 and no expense and details (like a gas flowed cylinder head, a one off, stainless steel straight through exhaust system, a competition "banana" exhaust manifold, twin Alpine / normal switch -over horns, rebuilt instruments, Cosworth forged pistons, special "fast road" cam shaft, triple 40 dcoe Weber carburettors, new steel crankshaft, high performance con roads, a brand new steering wheel made to the model of the old one and the addition of power steering) spared to bring this MKII DHC in today’s condition.
The original red leather interior was kept to maintain the classic feel of this MKII DHC.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
- 4 sets of keys
- Dark blue Super-Tex indoor car cover
- Extensive history file
- CD with restoration photos
PRICE ON REQUEST
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