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1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Navigation
After serving time at the Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, Charles A. Ward found employment at the Brown & Bigelow Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. When the company's founder drowned in a fishing accident in 1933, Ward was elected to take over the firm. Under his guidance, the company continued to prosper and flourish.
In 1953, the 60 regional sales managers of the Brown & Bigelow Company pooled their resources and purchased Mr. Ward a special automobile for Christmas. They ordered the car through Chicago importer and Bertone board member S.H. Arnolt, one of the two Bertone-bodied DB2/4 drophead coupes produced. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, these unique automobiles wore a distinctive radiator grille, a curved windshield, a subtle hood scoop, and thin bumpers.
Per the sales manager's request, the Bertone-built Aston Martin for Mr. Ward had a monogrammed CAW hood button, a two-piece fitted luggage set, a custom picnic hamper, a single rear seat, and a set of chrome-plated tools in a varnished wooden box. The luggage set was monogrammed and stocked with china and picnic accessories. A large commemorative brass plaque under the hood was engraved with the names of all 60 sales managers. The plaque on the dashboard stated, 'This motor car was specially designed and created for Charles A. Ward by S.H. Arnolt, Chicago and Carrozzeria Bertone, Torino, Italy.
This Aston Martin remained with Mr. Ward until his passing in 1959. Reportedly, he had offered it for sale shortly prior, at $5,500, but found no takers.
After his passing, the car was sold by his estate back to S.H. Arnolt, who resold it to another St. Paul businessman, William Peters, Sr., of Peters Meat Products, for $2,000. At the time, the car had a non-functioning engine. Mr. Peters had the engine removed and replaced by a Shelby Cobra engine, after which he drove it from St. Paul to Tampa, Florida, to begin his retirement. Rather than discard the blown DB2/4 engine, he had Mark Doins repair it with new sleeves and a complete rebuild.
Virgil Campbell of Nebraska paid Mr. Peters $250 to bring the car to Omaha in 1975, saying that if he liked the car, he would pay for Mr. Peters's return flight. After approving of the car and purchasing the return ticket, Mr. Campbell began a restoration, refinishing it in all-over red, including the paint, carpeting, and seats, which were upholstered in red Bridge of Weir leather cut to the original patterns. The original fabric top (matte material) was replaced with a Haartz cloth top in the correct pattern. The original engine, now rebuilt, was reinstalled.
Tom and Ellin Dunsworth acquired the DB2/4 from Mr. Campbell in 1983 and eventually completed the restoration, changing the car back to the original blue livery while preserving its correct trim and tools. Upon competition, the DB2/4 won 3rd in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1987.
The Aston Martin was later sold to James Vandergrift, who in 1997 returned it to Pebble Beach and again finished 3rd in Class. Gene Ponder became the car's next owner, and under his care, the car was refinished in bright red livery. In 2006, the car was sold to Michael Schudroff, who displayed it for the third time at Pebble Beach, his time as part of the Aston Martin feature, finishing 2nd in Class.
The car's next owner was Paul and Chris Andrews, and it resided in their Texas collection until the dispersal in 2015. It returned to auction in 20024 and found new ownership.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2024
In 1953, the 60 regional sales managers of the Brown & Bigelow Company pooled their resources and purchased Mr. Ward a special automobile for Christmas. They ordered the car through Chicago importer and Bertone board member S.H. Arnolt, one of the two Bertone-bodied DB2/4 drophead coupes produced. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, these unique automobiles wore a distinctive radiator grille, a curved windshield, a subtle hood scoop, and thin bumpers.
Per the sales manager's request, the Bertone-built Aston Martin for Mr. Ward had a monogrammed CAW hood button, a two-piece fitted luggage set, a custom picnic hamper, a single rear seat, and a set of chrome-plated tools in a varnished wooden box. The luggage set was monogrammed and stocked with china and picnic accessories. A large commemorative brass plaque under the hood was engraved with the names of all 60 sales managers. The plaque on the dashboard stated, 'This motor car was specially designed and created for Charles A. Ward by S.H. Arnolt, Chicago and Carrozzeria Bertone, Torino, Italy.
This Aston Martin remained with Mr. Ward until his passing in 1959. Reportedly, he had offered it for sale shortly prior, at $5,500, but found no takers.
After his passing, the car was sold by his estate back to S.H. Arnolt, who resold it to another St. Paul businessman, William Peters, Sr., of Peters Meat Products, for $2,000. At the time, the car had a non-functioning engine. Mr. Peters had the engine removed and replaced by a Shelby Cobra engine, after which he drove it from St. Paul to Tampa, Florida, to begin his retirement. Rather than discard the blown DB2/4 engine, he had Mark Doins repair it with new sleeves and a complete rebuild.
Virgil Campbell of Nebraska paid Mr. Peters $250 to bring the car to Omaha in 1975, saying that if he liked the car, he would pay for Mr. Peters's return flight. After approving of the car and purchasing the return ticket, Mr. Campbell began a restoration, refinishing it in all-over red, including the paint, carpeting, and seats, which were upholstered in red Bridge of Weir leather cut to the original patterns. The original fabric top (matte material) was replaced with a Haartz cloth top in the correct pattern. The original engine, now rebuilt, was reinstalled.
Tom and Ellin Dunsworth acquired the DB2/4 from Mr. Campbell in 1983 and eventually completed the restoration, changing the car back to the original blue livery while preserving its correct trim and tools. Upon competition, the DB2/4 won 3rd in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1987.
The Aston Martin was later sold to James Vandergrift, who in 1997 returned it to Pebble Beach and again finished 3rd in Class. Gene Ponder became the car's next owner, and under his care, the car was refinished in bright red livery. In 2006, the car was sold to Michael Schudroff, who displayed it for the third time at Pebble Beach, his time as part of the Aston Martin feature, finishing 2nd in Class.
The car's next owner was Paul and Chris Andrews, and it resided in their Texas collection until the dispersal in 2015. It returned to auction in 20024 and found new ownership.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2024
2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,300,000-USD $1,600,000
Sale Price :
USD $967,500
2015 RM Sotheby's : The Andrews Collection
Sale Price :
USD $1,320,000
2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company
Sale Price :
USD $1,650,000
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Aston Martin DB2/4
(Data based on Model Year 1953 sales)
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Bertone Chassis#: LML/504 Sold for USD$967,500 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | ![]() ![]() |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupe Chassis#: LML/761 Sold for USD$671,000 2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | ![]() ![]() |
1953 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 MARK I DROPHEAD COUPÉ Chassis#: LML 558 Sold for USD$479,661 2016 Bonhams : The Aston Martin Works Sale | |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Bertone Chassis#: LML/504 Sold for USD$1,320,000 2015 RM Sotheby's : The Andrews Collection | ![]() ![]() |
1953 ASTON MARTIN DB 2/4 'NOTCHBACK' Chassis#: LML/515 Sold for USD$442,967 2014 THE ASTON MARTIN WORKS SALE | |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 Saloon Chassis#: LML/538 Sold for USD$135,248 2012 Bonhams - The Aston Martin Works Service Sale | |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Chassis#: LML 552 Sold for USD$203,500 2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | ![]() ![]() |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drop Head Coupe Chassis#: LML/504 Sold for USD$1,650,000 2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company | ![]() ![]() |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe Chassis#: LML 558 Sold for USD$293,669 2008 Bonhams - Aston Martin and related Automobilia | |
1953 Aston-Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe Chassis#: R22803045 Sold for USD$847,000 2007 RM Auctions The Ponder Collection | |
1953 Aston Martin DB 2/4 Convertible Chassis#: LML/50/244 Sold for USD$83,622 2005 Coys Auction - The Summer Sale |
Aston Martin DB2/4s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Sports Saloon | LML/539 | 2020 Bonhams : Goodwood Speedweek | $180,000 | $220,000 | |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Vantage Saloon | LML/552 | 2017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $300,000 | $350,000 | |
1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 2 DR HT | 2002 Michigan Fall Classic Car Auction The Kughn Collection | $32,500 |
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1953 Aston Martin DB2/4
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