1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupé by Bertone (Michelotti)
- Engine
- 2.6L inline-six Vantage, twin 1.5-inch SU carburetors, 8.16:1 compression, 125 bhp
- Colour
- Blue
One of just two Drophead Coupes among six special Aston Martin DB2/4 chassis bodied by Carrozzeria Bertone under the direction of Nuccio Bertone, with styling by Giovanni Michelotti. The project arose from a partnership between Chicago industrialist Stanley 'Wacky' Arnolt and Bertone following their 1952 Turin meeting. Delivered new to Mrs. Edith C. Field of San Francisco, the car was shown at Pebble Beach in 1955, then passed through several owners including Grand Prix driver Innes Ireland before undergoing a documented full restoration in 2007.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,022,500
- 1986 →Private saleInnes Irelandpartial documentation
Noted Aston Martin Works driver and Grand Prix competitor who acquired the car after its UK import intending a full restoration, but was persuaded to part with it before that work began.
- 2007 →Acquisition unknownTarek Mahmoudfull documentation
Commissioned a comprehensive restoration managed by Goldsmith & Young, involving bodywork repairs, a full repaint to original blue by SprayTec, and interior retrimming by LA & RW Piper; the entire process is fully documented in the history file.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownEdith C. Fieldpartial documentation
San Francisco resident described as a wealthy eccentric with refined automotive taste; she also campaigned an AC Ace-Bristol in regional SCCA competition during her ownership.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownTennessee-based ownernone documentation
Car was rediscovered in Tennessee around the mid-1980s after roughly three decades of undocumented history; subsequently imported to the UK.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDavid Clarkpartial documentation
Retained the car in unrestored condition for approximately two decades following acquisition from Ireland.
- Date unknownPrivate salePost-restoration ownerpartial documentation
Acquired the car shortly after restoration completion and exhibited it at the 2011 AMOC Autumn Concours.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Part of a substantial private collection; the car has been maintained to a high standard since acquisition.
Competition
- 19551955 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance3rd place in two-seat sports car class, $4,500–$10,000 price range
Entered by owner Edith C. Field; trophy awarded for the two-seat sports car category within that valuation bracket.
- 20112011 AMOC Autumn Concours1st place, Feltham Class
Exhibited shortly after the completed restoration; the car claimed top honours in its designated class.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2007RestorationGoldsmith & Young
Full restoration overseen by Goldsmith & Young: bodywork required only minor remedial work, a new bonnet and boot lid were sourced from Bodylines, SprayTec carried out a full respray in the original blue, and LA & RW Piper retrimmed the interior and supplied a new canvas hood.
The entire restoration is comprehensively documented in the history file; sub-contractors included Bodylines (body panels), SprayTec (paint), and LA & RW Piper (interior and hood).
- —Modification
Original engine replaced at an unrecorded date; the replacement unit is a 2.6-litre Vantage specification engine originally offered as an option on the DB2, producing around 125 bhp with twin SU carburettors.
The substitution is noted on the factory build sheet; the replacement engine remains in the car.
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