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1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Spyder

American Stanley 'Wacky' Arnolt commissioned the Italian coachbuilding company Bertone, of which he was a director, to build a Spyder body for the DB2/4 chassis, and he persuaded Aston Martin to let him have some rolling chassis to work with. In all, about eight cars were built by Bertone: two drop-head coups, two fixed head coupes, and four or five spyders. This particular car is the work of Franco Scaglione, the chief designer at Bertone who also developed the body for Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5 that same year. This car has a 3-litre Vantage engine installed after the bodywork was in place.
Stanley H. Arnolt, a self-made millionaire, opened a foreign car dealership in Chicago selling MG, Riley, Bentley, Morris, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin vehicles. In 1951, he struck a deal with Nuccio Bertone to build 100 examples of each of the coupe and cabriolet-bodied MGs that he had seen on the Bertone stand at the Torino Salon. This led to a partnership that would produce many memorable sports car designs of the 1950s, including this Aston Martin DB2/4 Spider.

Arnolt purchased five sequential Aston Martin DB2/4 chassis in 1953 and had them sent to Carrozzeria Bertone to be clothed with custom coachwork. The even-numbered chassis were given opulent, luxurious bodies, while 503, 505, and 507 were given sporting designs penned by Franco Scaglione. This example wears one of those designs by Scaglione.

After these three cars were completed, it became clear to Aston Martin that these cars were competition to their traditional product lineup, and refused to sell the Chicago businessman any more chassis. Nonetheless, Mr. Arnolt was able to acquire two other chassis.

Two of the three chassis fitted with this body were designed for competition and were minimally equipped for the purpose. This car, the third example, was given more luxurious appointments and a full windscreen, intricate grille, bumpers, and a full soft top. It was shown at the 1954 New York Auto Show, where it wore an Aston Martin badge in an attempt to compel the company owner, David Brown, into making the Bertone-bodied roadster an Aston Martin production model.

This car's first owner was Mr. Schwaumbauer of Wichita, Kansas, who purchased it directly off the New York show stand in 1954. Two Air Force captains, C.S. Wallen, and Charles Barnett, owned the car consecutively from 1958 into the 1970s. Captain Barnett began a restoration that was completed by its next owner, Mr. Jerry Rogers, who purchased the car in 1973. The next caretaker was W.W. Child who later sold it to Annie Abensur in Switzerland. In May of 1996, it was consigned to an auction in Geneva, where it was purchased by Carlos Monteverde. The car, which had been restored to a high standard in Switzerland, was then sold by Mr. Monteverde to its current owner sometime prior to 2003.

Roger McCouat of Somerset, England, was tasked with completely restoring the car to its original livery. The completed car was shown at the 2004 Aston Martin Owners Club's Spring Concours at Woburn Abbey, where it won the 'Feltham Aston' class. It was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2007, where it earned a class award in the Aston Martin Postwar Custom Coachwork category.

This car is powered by a 2922cc dual overhead cam six-cylinder engine fitted with two SU side-draft carburetors and offering 140 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel Alfin Drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2016

Provenance *
* Please note, dates are approximate

2016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $3,000,000-USD $4,000,000 
Sale Price :
USD $3,080,000

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Aston Martin DB2/4

(Data based on Model Year 1954 sales)
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupe by Bertone
Chassis#: LML/765
Sold for USD$1,105,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : New York
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon Coachwork by Mulliners of
Chassis#: LML/574
Sold for USD$164,095
  2023 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4
Chassis#: LML/572
Sold for USD$168,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Graber
Chassis#: LML 562
Sold for USD$687,500
  2022 RM Sothebys : Gene Ponder Collection
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon
Chassis#: LML/748
Sold for USD$77,532
  2022 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 MK1 Saloon
Chassis#: LML728
Sold for USD$103,600
  2022 Bonhams : The Greenwich Auction
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon
Chassis#: LML/574
Sold for USD$143,669
  2022 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques a Monaco
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Bertone
Chassis#: LML/506
Sold for USD$1,022,500
  2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
Chassis#: LML/506
Sold for USD$968,000
  2021 Gooding : Geared Online : Scottsdale Auction
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI
Chassis#: LML 639
Sold for USD$145,935
  2020 Bonhams July Motoring Auction
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4
Chassis#: LML687
Sold for USD$161,000
  2020 Silverstone - Race Retro Classic & Competition Car Sale
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
Chassis#: LML/562
Sold for USD$720,000
  2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon
Chassis#: LML/551
Sold for USD$190,400
  2019 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupe
Chassis#: LML/765
Sold for USD$566,000
  2019 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4
Chassis#: LML849
Sold for USD$140,382
  2018 Silverstone Auctions : Silverstone Classic Sale
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Sports Saloon
Chassis#: LML/739
Sold for USD$195,770
  2018 Bonhams : The Aston Martin Sale
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II Drophead Coupé
Chassis#: 300/1266
Sold for USD$300,109
  2018 Bonhams : The Aston Martin Sale
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 'Mark I' 3.0-Litre Sports Saloon
Chassis#: LML/668
Sold for USD$209,193
  2018 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Drophead Coupé
Chassis#: LML/710
Sold for USD$480,578
  2018 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
 
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
Chassis#: LML/506
Sold for USD$1,430,000
  2017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 image  

Aston Martin DB2/4s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Sports SaloonLML 7842023 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival $325,000$400,000
1954 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 INDIANA SPIDERLML/7622023 Gooding & Company : London Auction $1,200,000$1,800,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 MK I SaloonLML/5762023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center $220,000$260,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead CoupéLML/8392023 Bonhams : Festival of Speed $300,000$350,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI 3.0-Litre Sports SaloonLML7912022 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival $95,000$115,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2-4 2016 Barons Connoisseurs Classic Car Collection   
1954 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 MARK I 3.0-LITRE DROPHEAD COUPÉLML/8162016 Bonhams : The Aston Martin Works Sale $200,000$250,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead CoupéLML/8182015 RM Sotheby's London Auction $220,000$270,000
1954 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 DROPHEAD COUPELML/7362015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction $450,000$500,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 – Two Owners from newLML/6492013 Coys Blenheim Palace $95,000$110,000
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 2.9 Litre SaloonLML/7302012 H & H Newbury Racecourse   

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1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle thumbnail image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle thumbnail image  
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1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle thumbnail image  1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle thumbnail image  
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1954 Aston Martin DB2/4

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
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Other Aston Martin DB2/4 model years

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Vehicle Profiles

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Saloon
Chassis #: LML/576
Engine #: VB6E/50/1299
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Drophead Coupe
Coachwork: Bertone
Designer: Giovanni Michelotti
Chassis #: LML/506
Engine #: VB6E/50/337
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Spyder
Coachwork: Bertone
Designer: Franco Scaglione
Chassis #: LML/505
Engine #: VB6J/91
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Fastback Coupe
Coachwork: Mulliner
Chassis #: LML 551
Engine #: VB6J/120
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Drophead Coupe
Designer: Graber
Chassis #: LML 562
Engine #: VB6E/50/1294
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Fastback Coupe
Coachwork: Touring
Chassis #: LML 664
Engine #: VB6E/50/1371
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Coupe
Coachwork: Bertone
Chassis #: LML/765
Engine #: VB6J/213
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 vehicle information
Fastback Coupe
Coachwork: Mulliner
Chassis #: LML/747
Engine #: VB6J/185