1952 Aston Martin DB2
David Brown’s 1947 acquisition of Lagonda provided Aston Martin with W.O. Bentley’s twin-camshaft straight-six engine, forming the mechanical foundation for this capable GT. Frank Feeley designed the elegant fastback coupe body, mounted on a shortened tube-frame chassis derived from the earlier 2-Litre Sports model.
The 158 cubic inch (2.6-liter) engine produced 105 horsepower with dual SU carburetors, rising to 125 horsepower in Vantage specification with higher compression and larger carburetors.
Racing success validated the design immediately. At the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours, two DB2s finished fifth and sixth overall, claiming first and second in the three-liter class.
The following year brought a third-place overall finish for Lance Macklin and Eric Thompson. Contemporary testing recorded a top speed of 116 mph with 0-60 mph acceleration in approximately 11.2 seconds.
Production spanned May 1950 through April 1953, yielding 411 examples including 102 drophead coupes. Early cars featured a three-part chrome grille and rectangular fender vents, later simplified to horizontal bars.
The combination of lightweight construction, advanced engine design, and balanced handling established the DB2 among Britain’s premier sporting motorcars.
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