1957 Aston Martin DB 2/4 MKIII FastBack Coupe

Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had joined forces as Bamford & Martin the previous year to sell cars made by Singer from premises in Callow Street, London. Martin raced specials at Aston Hill near Aston Clinton. The first car to be named Aston Martin was created by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta Fraschini.

The DB name came from Sir David Brown who purchased the Company in 1947 after numerous bankruptcies. David Brown also acquired Lagonda that year, and both companies shared resources and workshops. In 1955, David Brown bought the Tickford coachbuilding company in Newport Pagnell, and that was the beginning of the classic series of cars bearing the initials 'DB'.

The DB2 was the company's first post-war road car. In 1957, Aston Martin introduced the final derivation of the DB2 series, the DB MK III. The Mark III was the ultimate evolution of the line, its most obvious visual cue being the grille design that echoed the DB3S race car and is still being used on Aston Martin models today. It would continue production until 1959 and amass a production total of 551 units. It was offered in Saloon or Convertible body styles and consisted of 4 seats. The base engine produced 162 horsepower, propelling the vehicle to a top speed of 120 mph.

Brown ultimately purchased Aston Martin (1947), Lagonda (1948), and Tickford (1955). Manufacturing was consolidated at the Tickford factory in Newport Pagnell. In 1953, the DB2/4 MKI emerged. The series featured a 2+2 saloon or drophead style. The design went through minor changes, the most notable being at the front of the car.

This Mark III is powered by a 2922cc 6-cylinder twin SU carburetor engine and is the dual exhaust version producing 178 hp. It was restored in 1998.