In October 1953, Aston Martin broadened the appeal of the DB2 by introducing the ‘2+2’ DB2/4, targeting an emerging and crucial market: sports car enthusiasts with families. This innovation involved modifying the rear chassis and reducing the fuel tank capacity from 19 to 17 gallons.
These changes created additional space within the existing design, allowing for the inclusion of two child-sized occasional rear seats. Alternatively, the rear seat backs could be folded down, transforming the car into a load-carrying platform that more than doubled the luggage space. This unique feature was made possible by the DB2/4’s opening rear door, a pioneering example of the now common ‘hatchback’ concept.
The transformation earned the Aston Martin DB2/4 high praise, with The Motor reporting, ‘This transformation gives the Aston Martin DB2/4 an unrivaled luggage-carrying capacity in a car which should be capable in favorable circumstances of achieving two miles a minute.’ The DB2/4 proudly claimed to be the fastest car globally capable of accommodating two people along with a month’s worth of luggage.
The standard specification included the 2.6-litre ‘VB6E’ engine in 125bhp Vantage tune. However, starting in early 1954, the 3.0-litre 140bhp ‘VB6J’ engine was introduced. With the latter engine, the DB2/4 stood out as one of the fastest cars produced in Great Britain at the time. It could reach 100mph in third gear and achieve a maximum speed of around 120mph, boasting impeccable handling and a level of comfort uncommon in high-performance cars.
Source: Bonhams Cars
