To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Monterey
event, 15 - 17 August 2019.
Estimate:
$300,000 - $450,000
- Fascinating history; beautifully unrestored bodywork and
interior
- Frequent vintage rally participant, including the 2013 Mille
Miglia
- Mechanically sorted; wonderful example to drive and enjoy
- An unusual and exciting head turner
To simply call the Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II on offer here
"patinaed" would be a gross understatement. In fact, this Aston
Martin tells a story�where it has been, what it has accomplished,
and where it might go next.
The Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II was the first Aston Martin to be made
at Newport Pagnell, the historic home of Aston Martin. With
bodywork now being controlled wholly by David Brown, subtle
differences were introduced�small side vents reminiscent of the
DB2, flashing turn indicators, nicer-shaped seats, and a proper
fly-off handbrake. Overall, just 199 Mk II saloons were crafted
during the nearly two-year production run.
According to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, chassis
AM300/1293 was shipped to Cyril Williams Motors Limited in
Staffordshire, England, on 26 July 1957. Finished in Black over
black leather, the home market car likely would have remained in
England for some time, but by 1995 the car was owned by British
expat Malcolm Buckeridge of Pasadena, California. In 2008, the
DB2/4 was discovered in the California desert by Aston Martin
collector, specialist, and enthusiast Don Rose, who knew it was
something exceptional. An advert by Buckeridge, dated May 2008,
notes that he had started a restoration but was selling, as he was
unable to complete the bodywork. Purchased complete and running but
stripped of paint, with its bare aluminum sunbaked, Don sent the
car to Aston Martin specialist restorers Kevin Kay�with explicit
instruction to touch none of the patina.
Kevin Kay performed a comprehensive mechanical restoration
including a concours-quality engine bay. The chassis was cleaned
and detailed, while importantly, none of the interior or the
bodywork was touched. Don went on to rally the DB2/4 for several
years, during which time its interesting conception was the subject
of a feature article in Octane magazine in March 2011. Shortly
after publication, Don was informed that the storage facility that
the Aston shared with 35 other collector cars had suffered a
collapsed roof, the consequence of a vicious cycle of snow and ice.
RM Auto Restoration jumped at the chance to restore the car but
were cautioned by Don once again to retain as much of its patina as
possible. As he explained, "I wasn't afraid of having the car
repaired, but I didn't want it to become 'ordinary' in the
process." True to their word, the shop knocked out the roof but
made sure to leave bare all its characterful pimples and dimples,
including its now-chipped "Press on Regardless" moniker.
The current owner saw the DB2/4 Mk II parked under a tree at the
Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este after it had just completed the
2013 Mille Miglia. A standout in any location, surrounded by
concours-quality restorations, the Aston Martin drew a lot of
attention�and the current owner knew he had to own it. A deal was
done that weekend, and after the DB2/4 was shipped back to his home
in the United States, he added his own touches to it�including the
"Can't Be Crushed" hot-rod script.
From the yellow bug screen to the David Brown tractor badge, this
Aston Martin DB2/4 is a veritable scrapbook of every moment it has
been a part of�it needs only a new owner to add to its story.To
view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19.