The Aston Martin DB2 – An in depth take a look at this sports activities automobile together with efficiency, technical knowledge, options, evaluating rivals, historical past, used pricesfrom Traditional to ModernTHE CARThe Aston Martin DB2 sports activities automobile was launched in 1950 on the New York Motor Present, because the pure successor to the DB1 Two Litre Sports activities, and priced at £1,914.It was supplied as a two door, two seater mounted head coupe and, later that yr, as a drop head coupe.Early DB2’s had a three-piece chromed entrance grille with giant cooling vents within the entrance wings, however later fashions had a one-piece grille, and no vents.The bonnet was hinged on the entrance, the spare wheel was positioned on the rear, and there was area for baggage behind the entrance seats.The primary few DB2’s used a tubular metal chassis from the DB1 that had been each shortened and strengthened, along with a six cylinder, 2.three litre Lagonda engine, and 4 wheel coil spring suspension, unbiased on the entrance.It used Girling hydraulic drum brakes all spherical, and had a kerb weight of 1207 kg.Nevertheless, the ultimate manufacturing model was based mostly on the works automobiles that used the Lagonda 2.6 litre engine, and aluminium physique panels.With orders for 100 automobiles being positioned on the launch, gross sales of the DB2 had been such that the corporate was stretched to maintain up with demand.By the point manufacturing resulted in 1953, 411 DB2’s had been constructed, comprising 339 of the coupe and 102 drop heads.THE ENGINEIn the DB2, the two litre, straight 4 engine of the DB1 was changed by the extra highly effective Lagonda 2.6 litre, straight six, DOHC engine, accessible because of David Brown securing each Aston Martin and Lagonda in 1947.When fitted with a 4 pace handbook gearbox, a compression of 6.5:1, and two SU carburettors, it developed 105 bhp at 5000 rpm, and 125 ft/lbs of torque at 3100 rpm.This produced a high pace of 110 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of 12.four secs.In 1951, the extra highly effective DB2 Vantage sports activities automobile was launched, and featured a modified engine with bigger carburettors, a unique camshaft, and a compression ratio elevated from 6.5 to eight.2:1.This developed 125 bhp, and produced a high pace of 116 mph, with 0-60 mph in 11.2 secs.Nevertheless, this variant was not appropriate for the house market owing to the provision of solely post-war low octane gasoline.THE DB2 ON THE TRACKRepeating the pre-launch trial of the DB1 sports activities automobile within the 1948 Belgium Spa 24 Hour race, a pre-production works DB2, fitted with the Lagonda straight six engine, was entered within the 1949 Le Mans 24 Hour race, however needed to retire.To not be outdone, a month later, it completed third within the 1949 Belgium Spa 24 Hour race.A yr later, works DB2’s completed in place 5 and 6 within the 1950 Le Mans, with Aston Martin profitable the primary two locations within the three litre class.Additionally that yr, a DB2 got here second in its class within the very first Sebring 12 Hour race in Florida.In 1951, the works crew got here in fourth and fifth at Le Mans.COMPETITIONTypical opponents of the Aston Martin DB2 included the next sports activities automobiles: Jaguar XK120, Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, BMW 507, and Facel-Vega Facellia.SPORTS CARS FOR SALEA 1952 or ’53 Aston Martin DB2, in first-class situation, would fetch between £105,000/$170,000 and £124,000/$200,000.Alternatively, an early 1951 instance would command within the area of £190,000/$300,000 to £270,000/$425,000.An attention-grabbing reality was that, in 2010, one of many unique works DB2’s of Aston Martin was offered at public sale of £570,000/$910,000.This concludes my Aston Martin DB2 Sports activities Automobile Overview.
