Car Reviews 1960 Aston Martin Db24
Revolutionary for its day, and highly collectible today, the Aston Martin DB2/4 is one of the classics of English automotive history. A development of the DB2, the DB2/4 was launched onto the world at the 1953 London Motor Show.
The DB2/4 was considered an elegant redesign of the DB2 with focus on the nose, a curved single piece windscreen, and of course the introduction of rear seating. It was though at the rear that that the biggest changes occurred, with two basic versions of the car available, the Drophead coupe and also the 2+2 Hatchback. This designing would make Aston Martin the first of the major car manufacturers to design such a car.
In a two year period, Aston Martin would produce 566 Mark Is, of which about 100 were Dropheads. Aston Martin would also send off samples of the car to Bertone who would produce 8 cars, Dropheads, Fixed Head coupes and spiders.
The Aston Martin DB2/4 first came with a 2.6 litre 125bhp Lagonda engine, but this was soon updated to a larger 2.9 litre engine producing a further 15bhp. This would enable the DB2/4 to reach speeds of up to 119mph. The DB2/4 even ended up having some success in motor sports, doing especially well in the Monte Carlo Rally.
The DB2/4 was updated in 1957 when the Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II was launched, with production switching to Tickford Coachbuilders of New Pagnell. Engine improvements saw a standard 3-litre 140bhp model and also an improved 165bhp version with larger valves and also a high lift cam shaft.
It was though the styling that distinguished the model. Chrome was added to the styling, small tailfins were added and the rear fenders were squared off. Of a total production run of 199, 34 would become two seat coupes, sixteen would become drophead coupes, whilst three others would go to Carrozzeria Touring of Milan where they were transformed into Spiders.
The Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark III is an often overlooked development of the DB2, generally because it is normally simply referred to as the Mark III. Built between the 1957 and 1959, the Mark III had only slight revisions in design, although the change to the front grill resulted in the most beautiful of the DB2/4s. Girling disc brakes would come as standard, and with an upgrade of the engine 162bhp and a top speed of 120mph were now achievable.
The DB2/4 Mark III would be eventually replaced though by the DB4, with only 551 having been built. .
Throughout its production history the DB2/4 was not built in large numbers, like most Aston Martin models, hence why it is such a rarity today. Prices might not be as high as some other classic British cars but the chances of finding a mint example are rare. Rarity, along with distinguished looks and revolutionary styling has ensured that the Aston Martin DB2/4 is a classic.
