Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II 1956

Originally finished in dark gray, the aluminum bodywork on this car was repainted blue during a refurbishment performed several years ago. Closeups in the photo gallery show the finish, trim, glass etchings, and lighting. The latter includes Lucas blue-dot headlamps and Raydyot fog lamps. A vintage Orange County Auto Club water-transfer decal is retained on the rear hatch glass.

16” wire wheels feature body-colored rims and chrome spokes and are secured with two-eared knock-offs. They wear Avon Turbospeed Mk 4 tires. Girling hydraulic brakes utilize 12″ drums, the outer surfaces of which have also been painted blue. Independent front suspension incorporates a transverse torsion bar, while the solid-axle rear is positioned by trailing arms and a Panhard rod. Coil springs and Armstrong lever-arm shock absorbers are featured all around.

The cabin has been re-upholstered in tan in lieu of the original green trim, with leather covering the front bucket seats and contoured fold-down rear bench as well as the door panels and dash. Tan carpeting lines the floors, center tunnel, and rear cargo area, and a matching-color headliner is fitted up top. A split, wood-rimmed steering wheel is situated on the right-hand side of the burl wood-accented dash.

Smiths instrumentation includes a 140-mph speedometer and 6k-rpm tachometer, as well as a combination gauge showing oil pressure, amperage, coolant temperature, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 64k miles, about 100 of which have been added by the selling dealer. The headlight switch was replaced in summer 2020.

The 2.9-liter VB6J inline-six features dual overhead camshafts, hemispherical combustion chambers, and twin SU HV6 carburetors. An uprated cylinder head with larger valves was a factory option, and was fitted to this car’s engine in 1958 according to copies of Aston Martin service records. Upgraded intake manifolds were also installed at that time. Servicing carried out in summer 2020 included steam cleaning and chemical-pressure flushing the radiator, restoring the fuel tank, refreshing the ignition components, and performing a tune-up. A new thermostat, thermostat housing, and brake fluid reservoir were also installed. Results of a compression test performed by the selling dealer are shown in the gallery below, displaying readings of between 155 and 170 psi for each cylinder.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and a 3.54:1 rear end. A spare wire wheel wearing an older tire is housed in a compartment underneath the rear of the car. Copies of factory records note that a twin exhaust was installed in 1958, though a single exhaust is currently fitted.