1949 Aston Martin DB1 2-Litre Sports
- Engine
- 2.6L straight-six, originally designed by W.O. Bentley for Lagonda, later used in DB2
- Colour
- Botticelli Blue
Chassis AMC/49/5 is one of only 13 Aston Martin DB1 (2-Litre Sports) cars built, and one of nine known survivors. Commissioned by English explorer and amateur racing driver Robert Lawrie at the 1948 London Motor Show, it was delivered in June 1949 with a lightweight body and a Spa Replica competition engine. Lawrie and co-driver Dr Richard Parker drove it to 11th overall at the 1949 Le Mans 24 Hours, making it one of two DB1s to finish. Subsequently upgraded to a 2.6-litre Lagonda-derived straight-six engine in 1953, the car later passed through several owners and was notoriously stolen by a Yakuza associate after being shipped to Japan in 1994, remaining missing for over a decade before its rightful owner's claim was upheld by a court in 2007. It retains its original chassis, body, and interior.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,050,000 – US$1,300,000
- 1949-06-01 → 1949-09-01Factory deliveryRobert Lawriefull documentation
Commissioned the car specifically for Le Mans entry; it was built to his personal competition brief. Returned to the factory post-race for road conversion before being given back.
- 1949-09-01 →Factory deliveryRobert Lawriefull documentation
Received the car back from the factory after conversion to near-standard road specification, retaining certain competition features.
- 1991 → 2007Acquisition unknownColin Gordonpartial documentation
New Zealand owner who believed he sold the car to a Japanese buyer in 1994, but the vehicle was stolen from the docks upon arrival. After over a decade of attempts to recover it, a court confirmed his ownership rights in 2007 and he was able to transfer it to a new buyer.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownC. Redheadpartial documentation
Identified as second owner in the factory build record; brought the car to Aston Martin in 1953 for an engine upgrade and a colour change from the original green to Botticelli Blue.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJulian Bootypartial documentation
Owned the car by the 1970s when it had been repainted green; chose to have it returned to Botticelli Blue, the finish it retains today.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownRobert Edwardspartial documentation
One of several owners in the chain between Booty and the New Zealand acquisition; no further detail provided.
Competition
- 19491949 Le Mans 24 HoursDriver: Robert Lawrie11th overall
Driven by Lawrie and co-driver Richard Parker as private entrants alongside the factory team; a deliberately conservative pace secured a finish, with Parker yielding the final lap so Lawrie could take the chequered flag. One of only two Aston Martins to complete the race that year.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1949ModificationAston Martin Works
After Le Mans the car was returned to the Aston Martin works and converted closer to standard road specification, including fitting a full windscreen, while retaining its competition pistons and the distinctive centre-folding Le Mans bonnet.
Car returned to Robert Lawrie after this work in September 1949.
- 1953Engine rebuildAston Martin Works
Original Spa Replica racing engine replaced with a 2.6-litre straight-six unit (VB6B/50/51), the Lagonda-derived engine developed by W.O. Bentley that was also used in the DB2. Colour was also changed from Suffolk Green to Botticelli Blue at the same time.
Work recorded on the factory build sheet; brought in by Mr C. Redhead.
- —Bodywork
Car, by then repainted Suffolk Green, was repainted back to Botticelli Blue by owner Julian Booty; this paintwork is still present on the car.
Carried out at some point during Booty's ownership in the 1970s.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.