Aston Martin DB2/4

Manufacturer	Aston Martin
Production	1953 to 1957
Produced	764
Class	Sports car
Body style	2+2 hatchback 2-seat drophead 2-seat fixed head
Layout	FR layout
Engine	2.6 L Lagonda I6 2.9 L Lagonda I6
Wheelbase	99 in (2,515 mm)
Length	169.5 in (4,305 mm)
Width	65 in (1,651 mm)
Height	53.5 in (1,359 mm)

The DB2/4 is a sports grand tourer from the 1960s sold by Aston Martin from 1953 through to 1957.

History

The DB II was been replaced by the DB2-4 which has greatly increased luggage accommodation and two small seats in the rear of the car. The weight of the car with the new body had by some 7 per cent It was based on the DB2 it replaced, available as a Drophead coupe (DHC) and 2+2 hatchback (known by Aston Martin as a Saloon) well ahead of the times. Other changes included a wraparound windscreen, larger bumpers, and repositioned headlights. A handful of Bertone bodied spiders were commissioned by private buyers.

The front end and centre section of the chassis of the newly introduced DB2-4 are identical with the preceding DB II. The frame is a built-up construction of square tubes, and the front wheels are attached by a system of trailing arms in conjunction with vertical coil springs. Similar springs are used at the back of the car, the rear axle being located by single trailing arms and a Panhard rod. It is behind the location point of the rear springs that the changes distinguishing the model are to be found. By modifications to the frame and petrol tank design (and ' by reducing the capacity of the latter from 19 to 17 gallons) it has been possible to provide a clear space above the tank which runs from behind the individually-adjustable front seats to the tail of the car.

The designers have made over the rear axle two small seats which provide room for two children luggage space remains behind the occasional seats, the entire rear section of the body can be opened by lifting it around a hinge placed above the top of the greatly-enlarged rear window.
with the large opening dust-proof and water-tight, and in conjunction with this constructional change the top of the roof has
been lifted slightly so as to provide greater headroom above the occasional seats. So, the luggage accommodation can be more than doubled. by folding down the back of the rear seats

The Lagonda engine was initially the same dual overhead cam straight-6 designed by W. O. Bentley used in the Vantage version of the DB2. Displacement for this VB6E engine was 2.6 L (2,580 cc/157 in³), giving 125 hp (93 kW). The torque of the engine has been increased by 91 per cent. and that the power unladen ton has actually gone up from 95 to 119 b.h.p. The main mechanical features of the engine remain unchanged. With deep iron casting gives 360 degrees support for the four main crankshaft bearings which together with the shaft are inserted end wise into the block. The main casting also divides the outer walls of the water jackets, the cylinder liners being individually inserted and readily replaceable when necessary. The cylinder head carries two valves each 30 degrees from the vertical, the six separate inlet ports lying on the inside of the engine with six exhaust ports on the right-hand side. Two overhead-camshafts are used, driven by a duplex chain from the front of the engine Mixture is fed to the engine by two horizontals S.U. carburetors, each in turn drawing air through separate Vokes-type filters. The power is transmitted through a four-speed David Brown gearbox giving synchromesh on the upper three ratios, and choice of three final back-axle ratios is provided, the alternatives from the 3.73: 1,4.1 and 3.5: 1 respectively.

In September 1953 for the Saloon & April 1954 for the Drophead, a 2.9 L (2,922 cc/178 in³) VB6/J version was used, pushing power to 140 hp (104 kW) allowing the car 120 mph (193 km/h).

Of the 565 Mark I models produced, 102 were Drophead Coupe models. Three works cars were prepared for the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally and two for the Mille Miglia, but the company's focus was on the sports-special DB3 model.

• Performance: 2.9 litre
• top speed of 118.5 mph (190.7 km/h)
• acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 10.5 seconds.
• fuel consumption of 23.0 miles per imperial gallon (12.3 L/100 km; 19.2 mpg_-US)

Mark II

The Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II model was released in 1955 and offered an optional large-valve, high compression (8.6:1) engine with 165 horsepower (123 kW). Small tailfins, bubble-style tail lights similar to those on the Morris Minor, and more chrome are additional improvements. Additionally, the horizontal split line for the bonnet was moved from being at door sill height to being at the top of the front wheel arch. Along with the continuing Drophead, a new 2-seat Fixed Head Coupé (FHC) was introduced. Only 34 of the 199 Mark II cars—David Brown's personal preference—used the redesigned coupe body.

Three Mark II chassis were sent to Carrozzeria Touring in Italy to become Spider models. Touring would later help Aston with the Superleggera design of the DB4.

The Aston Martin DB2/4 In Film and T.V

A drophead coupé (DHC) appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds.