1953 Aston Martin 2.0-Litre 'Sigma' Sports (Jackman Special)
- Engine
- 2.0L Aston Martin unit (DB1-derived 'Spa' engine), four-speed Moss gearbox
A unique one-off sports car conceived and constructed by Paul Jackman, who served as Head of Design and Development at Aston Martin during the David Brown era. Built around a modified pre-war BMW 320 chassis with an Aston Martin DB1 engine and gearbox, a Triumph Gloria rear axle, and an aluminium body erected by coachbuilders Green & May of Acton, it was completed and registered in 1953. After passing through several owners including a period in the United States where it saw competition use, the car spent time in Germany, received a cosmetic restoration in 1991, and was subsequently displayed in a museum before being rediscovered and mechanically rebuilt in 2014–2015.
Ownership
- 2022-04-10Auction saleSold £135,000 (≈ $169K)
- 1953 →Factory deliveryPaul Jackmanfull documentation
Designer and builder of the car; worked as Head of Design and Development at Aston Martin before departing to the UK Atomic Energy Authority. Retained the vehicle for approximately four years after registration and wrote about the project in 1960.
- → 2011AuctionClassic car dealerpartial documentation
Purchased the car at auction following the museum's bankruptcy and identified it as having been misdescribed. A full cosmetic rebuild had been carried out in Germany in 1991, with supporting invoices and photographs.
- 2011 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Acquired the car from the dealer, motivated by its aesthetic appeal. Commissioned mechanical restoration including an engine rebuild with new internals in 2014 and gearbox overhaul in 2015.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDavid Eliadespartial documentation
Acquired the car from Jackman and subsequently passed it on to the next owner.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDavid Hughespartial documentation
Transported the car to the United States, where it was used in competition on several occasions, before eventually returning it to the UK.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownGerman museumpartial documentation
Institution based in Germany that displayed the car, incorrectly catalogued as a DB1. The museum subsequently entered insolvency during a financial crisis.
Competition
- —Various competition events in the USADriver: David Hughes
The car was entered in an unspecified number of competitive events while in the United States under Hughes's ownership; no further details on venues or results are recorded.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1991Restoration
Full cosmetic rebuild carried out while the car was in Germany; the work focused on appearance rather than mechanical components. Supporting invoices and photographs are held on file.
Mechanical systems were left substantially unaddressed at this stage.
- 2014Engine rebuild
Engine rebuilt with new internal components, addressing the mechanical deficiencies left by the earlier cosmetic-only restoration.
Approximately 6,000 miles accumulated since this rebuild.
- 2015Mechanical
The four-speed Moss gearbox was overhauled as part of the broader mechanical recommissioning programme.
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