1951 Aston Martin DB2 Drophead Coupé with Serra coachwork
- Engine
- 2.6L inline-six, Vantage tune, ~125 bhp
- Colour
- Bare metal (historically dark blue, later ivory)
Chassis LML/50/34 is one of only 98 DB2 Drophead Coupés produced at Feltham between 1950 and 1953, and among just 23 in right-hand drive. It gained early competition success in British speed trials before passing to RAF pilot James Wears, who commissioned Spanish coachbuilder Pedro Serra — noted for work on Pegasos — to replace the aluminium body, reportedly drawing inspiration from the Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet by Pininfarina. The car later underwent further rebuilding by Serra following a 1968 incident and resurfaced in Spain in a deteriorated condition before returning to the United Kingdom. It is now offered as a restoration project with the engine already rebuilt.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £138,000 (≈ $173K)
- 1951-02-01 →Factory deliveryJ Black & Co dealership, Liverpoolfull documentation
Car delivered new in Maroon over Beige hide; original guarantee form copy confirms this transaction.
- → 1952-08-01Early owner group, approximately three successive holderspartial documentation
A sequence of roughly three owners held the car before August 1952, when a documented engine upgrade to the Vantage specification was carried out at Wood Lane Garage in Timperley.
- 1986-07-01 →Private saleMr Kevin Bryant of Devonpartial documentation
Acquired the car in Spain when it was in a deteriorated state and returned it to the United Kingdom.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownMr James Wearspartial documentation
RAF pilot who based the car in Barcelona; commissioned coachbuilder Pedro Serra to replace the original aluminium body after road damage, and had the interior refitted with later DB4-style instrumentation. A 1968 incident prompted Serra to undertake a full two-year rebuild, with the colour changed to ivory.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownThe Best of British Collectionpartial documentation
Institutional collection that subsequently acquired the car from Bryant; engine rebuild work by Clark & Carter Restorations was undertaken during this ownership.
Competition
- 1951Waterloo Speed TrialsClass win
One of several competitive outings recorded in the car's first year; driver for this specific event not confirmed in the prose.
- 1951DMC Speed TrialsClass win
Companion class victory to the Waterloo event in the same season; driver attribution unclear for this entry specifically.
- 1951Turnberry eventDriver: Peter Reece
One of three events at Turnberry, Croft, and Gamston driven by Le Mans competitor and noted national racer Peter Reece.
- 1951Croft eventDriver: Peter Reece
Driven by Peter Reece as part of a trio of 1951 outings also including Turnberry and Gamston.
- 1951Gamston eventDriver: Peter Reece
Third of three events driven by Peter Reece in 1951, alongside appearances at Turnberry and Croft.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1952ModificationWood Lane Garage
The standard 105 bhp engine was replaced with the more potent 2.6-litre Vantage unit, as documented by a note from August 1952.
Workshop located in Timperley.
- 1968RepairSerra
Following an incident in 1968, Serra undertook a full rebuild of the car over approximately two years, finishing it in ivory.
Rebuild completed by around 1970.
- —BodyworkSerra
Entirely new coachwork was created by Spanish coachbuilder Pedro Serra to replace the fatigued original aluminium body. The design was reputedly inspired by the Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet by Pininfarina, and the car was refinished in dark blue. A custom fascia incorporating later DB4 instruments was also fitted.
Work undertaken while the car was based in Barcelona at the request of owner James Wears.
- —Engine rebuildClark & Carter Restorations
The engine was rebuilt as part of preparatory work ahead of offering the car for sale as a restoration project.
Body panels were stripped to bare metal at the same time.
- —Bodywork
Body panels were taken back to bare metal as part of the current restoration preparation.
Car is presented in this state as a project requiring completion.
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