1952 ASTON MARTIN DB2 COUPE - MOTORCLASSICA BEST IN SHOW - JUST CARS

1952 Aston Martin DB2 Coupe - Motorclassica Best in Show 2014

The second Aston Martin model to be introduced under David Brown ownership (hence the DB identification), the DB2 debuted in 1950. Compared to the Two Litre Sports model that preceded it (there was no official ‘DB1’), the DB2 featured an engine upgraded from a 2-litre inline four to a 2.6-litre DOHC inline six originally intended for the Lagonda marque that Brown had purchased at the same time as Aston Martin.

The DB2 body was redesigned by Frank Feeley, with a coupe added to the already-available convertible (aka drophead coupe). A total of 410 DB2s would be built in coupe form, with only 98 produced as convertibles.

The 2014 Best in Show winner had been sold new to an Ulsterman who was the Aston Martin Owner’s Club rep for all of Ireland. Raced extensively in period by that owner, the DB2 had its engine rebuilt in 1968 but was used sparingly thereafter.

More recently, it came into the orbit of Le Mans 24 Hour winner Vern Schuppan, who already owned an early (chassis #16), Australian-delivered DB2 and decided to go into joint ownership on this one with former Adelaide F1 GP chief executive Mal Hemmerling.

Schuppan had commissioned Marque Restorations in South Australia to finish the restoration on his first DB2 and tapped them again for this one.

Worn out from racing and with a rusted chassis from northern hemisphere winters, the car was in bad shape, requiring extensive repair, the welding in of new metal and even casting new components. Some subtle improvements and safety features were added during the comprehensive restoration, including a stiffer frame and collapsible steering column.

A frantic final few weeks of work by the team at Marque Restorations (with interior trimming by Allan Smith) saw the DB2 completed in time for Motorclassica 2014. That work paid off, as in addition to the Best in Show trophy, the Schuppan/Hemmerling DB2 also won the Restoration of the Year award.