1952 Aston Martin DB2 FastBack Coupe

The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car that was sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. The DB2 was the successor to the 2-Litre Sports model that uses an advanced dual overhead cam 2.6-liter straight-6 cylinder engine in place of the previous pushrod straight-4. It was offered in a variety of body styles including a closed 2-door, a 2-seater coupe called a sports saloon, and later also as a drophead coupe which accounted for a quarter of the model's total sales. The closed version was known to have considerable success in racing.

The DB2 debuted at the New York Auto Show in April 1950 and continued in production until April 1953 with a mere 411 produced. The first 49 had a chrome-framed front grille in three separate parts, and large rectangular cooling vents in the front wings. Subsequent cars such as this example had a one-piece grille with horizontal chrome slats, and no side vents.

Under the direction of David Brown, Aston Martin would be the first manufacturer to team up directly with a tire manufacturer on a production car. Dunlop would work with Aston Martin with the sole purpose of achieving and promoting superior ride and handling. The relationship worked, and they were able to convince both Phil Hill and Briggs Cunningham to purchase DB2's.

This car was purchased new 12/31/1952 by Schneider Motors Inc, St. Paul, Minnesota, from S. H. Arnolt of Chicago. As the story goes, Mr. Schneider was cooped up all winter and just had to have the 'super car' of the era.

Luckily, David Brown had answered an anonymous ad in February of 1947 which led him to purchase Aston Martin and later Lagonda. Members of the outstanding staff included Claude Hill, the brilliant chassis engineer, W.O. Bentley, designed a 2.6-liter DOHC hemi-head and hemi-piston cross flow six-cylinder engine and Frank Freely who penned the brilliant slippery aluminum body.

Aston's competition record is legendary. It includes total distance and class wins at Le Mans and elsewhere.